Outline of the Joseph Story

1
Outline of the Joseph Story

• 372a This is the story (toledoth) of the family
  of Jacob
• 372-36 Joseph is sold into Egypt
• 381-30 Tamar and Judah
• 391-20 Joseph, Potiphar, and Potiphars wife
• 3921-4023 Joseph in prison (with butler and
  baker)

2
Outline (continued)

• 411-57 Joseph in the palace (interprets dreams
  develops strategy against hunger)
• 421-38 First visit of ten brothers to Egypt
• 431-4528 Second visit of eleven brothers to
  Egypt (bring double money steward I received
  your money silver cup in Benjamins sack)

3
Outline (continued)

• 461-4731 Jacob and descendants go to Egypt
  (Joseph acquires money, livestock, and Egyptians
  themselves for Pharaoh)
• 481-5026 Last days of Jacob (taken back to land
  for burial) and Joseph

4
How to tell a story

• A little novel (contrast with the rest of
  Genesis)
• Dreams in pairs strong on symbolism, no words
  (first two get him into trouble second two get
  him out of trouble)
• sheaves (no interpretation needed)
• heavenly bodies (no interpretation needed)
• Butler and baker (Joseph interprets)
• 7 fat/7 lean cows 7 full.lean ears of grain
  (Joseph interprets God alone gives dreams)

5
Gods hidden causality

• God was with Joseph (395 Yahweh blessed
  Egyptians house for Josephs sake)
• God prospered his affairs in prison
• God-given ability to interpret dreams
• 455-8 God sent me to preserve life 5019-20 you
  meant evil God intended good

6
Joseph interprets events

• For God sent me to preserve lifeSo it was not
  you who sent me here but God he has made me a
  father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and
  ruler over all the land of Egypt.
• Do not be afraid! Even though you intended to do
  harm to me, God intended it for good in order to
  preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.

7
Bow Down

• 377 Your sheaves bowed down to my sheaf
• 379 The sun, the moon, and the eleven stars were
  bowing down to me
• 3710 Jacob Shall we indeed come, I and your
  mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground
  before you?
• 426 Josephs brothers bowed down to him on their
  first trip (cf. 4326, 28)
• 4731 Israel bowed to Joseph

8
Significance of potential wrong endings

• Joseph could have been killed in the pit
• Joseph could have succumbed to sexual temptation
• Joseph could have been executed because of the
  accusations of Potiphars wife
• Unjust imprisonment could have ended the story

9
Potential wrong endings

• The butler forgot him 4023
• Jacob might have refused to let Benjamin go on a
  second trip
• Brothers could have let Benjamin hold the bag
  when cup found.

10
The role of Chapter 38

• Joseph soldJudah buys
• Kills time while Joseph travels to Egypt
• Tamar plays a role parallel to Potiphars wife
• Reminds the reader that Judah is the other main
  character
• You are more righteous than I!

11
The Role of Judah

• 3726 Judah saves Joseph Lets sell him to the
  Ishmaelites
• 38 The adventures of Judah
• Judahs poor eyesight
• Judah sires twins as Joseph does later
• Perez beats out Zerah, just as Ephraim beats out
  Manasseh
• 431ff. Judah takes full responsibility for
  Benjamin with his father Jacob

12
Judah (continued)

• 44 Judah surpasses Joseph in love for his father.
  Let me stay as a slave in Benjamins place. (v
  33)
• 4628 Judah goes ahead when his father and
  brothers go down to Egypt
• 497-12 The scepter shall not depart from
  Judahuntil tribute comes to him and the
  obedience of the peoples is his.
• Genesis ends with focus back on Judah.