josephlesson2

Growing up in Padan-Aram Joseph would have gained an appreciation of where he had come from, of where his roots were. For it was in this region that his great grandfather Abraham and great grandmother Sarah lived for many years. It was here that Joseph would have encountered the same religious influences as his great grandparents did. The beliefs he had been taught in his childhood would have been severely tested, for worship of Sin the Moon-god was widespread. The IVF dictionary[1] tells us that …

Padan-Aram: The ‘field’ or ‘plain’ of Aram (Mesopotamia) is the name given to the area around Harran in Upper Mesopotamia, north of the junction of the rivers Habur and Euphrates in Genesis 25:20, 28:2, 31:18, and is identical with Aram-naharaim, ‘Aram of the rivers’, of Genesis 24:10, Deuteronomy 23:4, Judges 3:8 …

Harran is referred to in texts from the Ur III period c. 2000 BC as a temple for the worship of Sin the Moon-god, and its occupation is confirmed by archæological evidence.

Joseph’s mother was Rachel. His father Jacob ‘loved her more than Leah.’[2] Leah was her sister. Joseph had one sister, one blood brother, and ten half brothers. Six of his half brothers were born to Leah, two to her servant Zilpah, and two to Rachel’s servant Bilhah. Such a parenting arrangement came about because of Rachel’s initial difficulty in becoming pregnant. Henry Morris[3] helps us to understand what was going on.

In desperation, Rachel decided to resort to the expedient that had been followed by Sarah long ago—that of having a child through her maid. How much better it would have been for husband and wife to have prayed together about the matter, trusting the Lord to answer in his own good time and will, rather than descending to such an expedient as this. Surely they knew about the unhappy results of Sarah’s venture down this route. Of course, in their defence, it should be observed that this device was an accepted social custom of the day. It fact, it is quite possible that it was for this very purpose—as a guard against barrenness—that Laban gave each of his daughters a personal maid. Humanly speaking it was an understandable and perhaps justifiable expedient. Spiritually, however, it can only be regarded as a testimony of their lack of faith in God’s promises at this juncture.

The social and ethical component of the expedient may be likened to the IVF programmes of our times. While it was culturally accepted and encouraged, the result for Jacob and Rachel was a somewhat dysfunctional family. With the children born to four different mothers, relationships in the family must have been severely tested at times. Hopefully, Joseph would have begun to learn something about maintaining good community relationships as he grew up as a member of this large family.

Paul reminds us how diligent we all need to be when he writes, “Do your part to live in peace with everyone as much as possible.” (Romans 12:18). Perhaps he had in mind what David wrote many years before …

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion.

Our first real meeting with Joseph comes when the family is back in Canaan. He is now seventeen years old. Life has been difficult for him since his mother died about two years ago.[4] Today we find him with four of his

half brothers working with the sheep. Joseph looks at them with a critical eye as they work. That night at home he tells his father what he thought they were doing wrong.

When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks with his half brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing. (Genesis 37:2b).

Gordon Wenham[5] points out that the Hebrew word behind the translation “he often tended his father’s flocks with his half brothers” contains the idea of Joseph being a ‘servant boy’ to those four half brothers. He translates from the Hebrew this way.

Joseph was seventeen years old, and he used to be a shepherd with his brothers. He had been a servant boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he told tales about them to their father. (Genesis 37:2b).

… in vs. 12 he is at home while his brothers are away ‘shepherding.’ The reason for this is explained next. ‘He had been a servant boy (for this nuance of [the Hebrew word] cf. 22:3) with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah … and he told tales about them to his father.’

… It is not clear whether Joseph’s report about his brothers was true or not, but the term ‘tales’ is always used elsewhere in a negative sense of an untrue report, and is here qualified by the adjective ‘evil’ (cf. Numbers 13:32, 14:36-37). So it seems likely that Joseph misrepresented his brothers to his father, his father believed him, and his brothers hated him for his lies. If his account was true, it would doubtless have enraged his brothers, especially since their father had never held them in high regard anyway.

Being given to the four half brothers as a ‘servant boy’ would have been something like the practice of junior boys being assigned as ‘fags’ (servant boys) to the senior students at English boarding schools. It would explain, but not necessarily condone, the increasing bitterness which Joseph felt towards his half brothers as he had to respond to their constant demands on him.

As well as their brother’s criticism the half brothers had to live with the favouritism shown to him by their father.

Now Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day he gave Joseph a special gift—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because of their father’s partiality. They couldn’t say a kind word to him. (Genesis 37:3-4).

Added to Joseph’s tale bearing was his presumption bordering on arrogance as he told his brothers of two dreams which he took to mean that one day he would be ruling over them. While this did come to pass many years later, it was something Joseph may have been wise to have kept to himself. It would have been better had he quietly trusted the Lord to bring about in his own way and for his own purposes what he had revealed to Joseph in the dreams.

“So you are going to be our king are you?” his brothers taunted. And they hated him all the more for his dream and what he had said. (Genesis 37:8).

Joseph has not done too well in this first phase of his preparation for ministry. There are lessons to be learned, attitudes that need to be changed, character traits needing to be refined. The next phase of his training is planned to take place in Egypt. Perhaps he will do better there. The Lord takes him there by means of …

The resentment Joseph’s brothers had for him continued to grow. The opportunity to vent their anger came one day as they were tending the sheep. Joseph’s father sent him to find out why they had been away for so long. Seeing him coming one can only imagine what they may have been saying about him. On impulse they decided to kill him.

When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance and made plans to kill him. “Here comes the dreamer,” they exclaimed. “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into a deep pit. We can tell our father that a wild animal has eaten him. Then we’ll see what will become of his dreams!” (vs. 18-20).

It was then that the Lord stepped in to overrule this wicked plan and replace it with his own. Reuben suggested that instead of killing him first they throw Joseph into the pit alive. They did this and Reuben left for home. He thought that he might then be able to come back later to rescue him. But God had other ideas. His purpose was to send Joseph to Egypt to continue his education there. Just at that time some traders appeared on the horizon on their way back to Egypt after a buying expedition to Gilead.

So when the traders came by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces[7] of silver and the Ishmaelite traders took him along to Egypt. Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the pit. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in anguish and frustration. Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, “The boy is gone! What can I do now?” (vs. 28-30).

If only Reuben could have known what was really happening. Joseph is safe. He is in the right training school. Its principal is God. The curriculum is just right for him at this stage of his preparation for ministry.

Likewise for all who would aspire to serve the Lord. The pathway to effective ministry is paved with troubles. The school of hard knocks conducts a number of important courses. In one the need for patience is taught. Paul writes, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure.” (Romans 5:3). Another is designed to help us discover whether our faith is real or not. Peter completed this course successfully. He writes from experience,

So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Another part of the course teaches the need for obedience. Jesus himself attended this course in the school of adversity.

So even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. (Hebrews 5:8-9).

I wonder what Joseph was thinking as his brothers pulled him out of the pit and handed him over to the traders? How did he feel as he was handed over to the traders? Anxious? fearful? He may not have realised it then, but he would come to understand later that the Lord was in control of all that was happening. It was God who was sending him to Egypt not his brothers. As Joseph would tell his brothers some years later …

“But don’t be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. These two years of famine will grow to seven, during which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive so that you will become a great nation. Yes, it was God who sent me here, not you! And he has made me a counsellor to Pharaoh—manager over his entire household and ruler over all Egypt …

As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 45:5-8, 50:20).

The brothers were no doubt glad to see him go and more than pleased with the price they received. As Wenham[8] mentions, the twenty pieces of silver would have been nearly three times as much as a shepherd could earn in a whole year.

Twenty shekels was the typical price of male slaves between five and twenty years old, both in the old Babylonian period and in Israel according to Leviticus 27:5. For shepherds who might expect to earn, if employed by others, about eight shekels a year, the sale of Joseph represented a handy bonus.

By selling Joseph into Egypt, his brothers have apparently disposed of him for good, but unwittingly they have actually helped the fulfilment of his dreams.

Back in Egypt the traders were able to find a ready buyer for the outstanding young man they had unexpectedly picked up on their way from Gilead to Egypt. There were probably many who would have liked to add him to their work force. Potiphar was the successful bidder. No doubt the traders made a handsome profit from the sale.

Now when Joseph arrived in Egypt with the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, a member of the personal staff of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was the captain of the palace guard. (vs. 1).

Joseph’s work experience in the home of Potiphar was a further step in his training for the role the Lord was preparing him for. Unlike his failure in the first phase of his training Joseph would pass this next course in the school of hard knocks with distinction. Notice that …

“The LORD was with Joseph and blessed him greatly …” (vs. 2a, cf. vs. 3, 21, 23). The Lord’s presence and blessing are not limited to the good times. His presence with his people is just as real, perhaps even more so, in the difficult times as well. As Jesus promised,

“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted …God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:4, 10).

Adverse circumstances can never negate the heavenly reality. Paul, for example, writes while under house arrest in Rome,

How we praise God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. (Ephesians 1:3).

He is diligent in his work.

This is implied in this account of his work in the home of Potiphar. “The LORD was with Joseph and blessed him greatly as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.” (vs. 2).

His work does not go unnoticed.

Potiphar could not help but notice the excellence of Joseph’s work. The affairs of his household had never been in such good shape. “Potiphar noticed this and realised that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.” (vs. 3).

He is entrusted with more and more responsibility.

“Potiphar soon put Joseph in charge of his entire household and entrusted him with all his business dealings.” (vs. 4b). This reminds us of a story Jesus told in which the householder rewarded his faithful servant with greater responsibility. "The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together.' " (Matthew 25:23).

He gains experience in administration.

“So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had. With Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” (vs. 6a NIV). Concerning the expression ‘except the food he ate’, Wenham[9] comments …"This may be a euphemism for ‘his wife’ (cf. Proverbs 30:20), but it seems more likely to be an idiom for ‘his private affairs." The suggestion that the expression was a euphemism for ‘his wife’ gains momentum as we read of Joseph’s rebuttal of her advances later on.

Joseph is doing well as the Lord prepares him for the ministry he has planned for him. He is acknowledged as a faithful servant and capable administrator. His integrity is beyond question. But how he will he cope in the next segment of his preparation. Will his integrity remain intact as he is now to be …

No one could fail to notice Joseph’s striking appearance. Our historian tells us that “Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man.” (vs. 6b). Among those who noticed him was the wife of Potiphar. Henry Morris,[10] while not finding her fascination with Joseph excusable, writes with some understanding of the marital situation she may have found herself in.

Potiphar, to whom Joseph was sold, was captain of Pharaoh’s bodyguard, and also probably in charge of political executions ordered by Pharaoh. He is also called an ‘officer’ of Pharaoh, the Hebrew word being saris meaning ‘eunuch,’ or ‘chamberlain.’ It was evidently customary in ancient pagan countries, beginning with Sumeria, to require prominent officers associated closely with the king’s court to be castrated, perhaps to ensure full-hearted devotion to the duties required of them and to minimise the possibility of their taking over the kingdom by military coup to establish a dynasty of their own.

Since Potiphar was a married man, it would seem either that he had consented to such an operation after he was married in order to acquire his high office or else that his wife had married him for political or financial reasons rather than for normal marital relations. In either case, it is perhaps understandable, though hardly justifiable, that she would be prone to adulterous episodes from time to time.

And about this time, Potiphar’s wife began to desire him and invited him to sleep with her. (vs. 7).

Joseph didn’t have Solomon’s advice to help him. Counsel that many years after Joseph’s time he gave to his son.

“My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel. Then you will learn to be discreet and will store up knowledge.

The lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But the result is as bitter as poison, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. For she does not care about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t even realise where it leads.” (Proverbs 5:1-6).

“Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do! He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I ever do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” (vs. 8-9).

He gives three reasons that the suggestion must be rejected: it is an abuse of the great trust placed in him (vs. 6): it is an offence against her husband; and it is a great sin against God.

Joseph said ‘No!’ But that was not the end of it. The wife of Potiphar keeps after him with …

She kept putting pressure on him day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and kept out of her way as much as possible. (vs. 10).

Potiphar’s wife refused to take no for an answer. She wasn’t about to be ignored, so she pressed Joseph day after day. This was an evil seductress. She was driven to have sex with Joseph. All his talk about those noble reasons for resisting only intensified her determination. She cared nothing about the sanctity of her marriage or the trust between her husband and this young man. She was interested in gratifying her sensual desires—now.

If you’re living in the imaginary bubble that somehow temptation, once resisted, will vanish, burst it this very moment. As a matter of fact, when you think like this, you become an even greater target for the tempter. Further more, it helps to keep in mind that the tempter wants the respected person, the person who is quoted by others, the successful individual, the trusted partner, the godly soul …

Potiphar’s wife dropped the bait day after day. And each time Joseph refused to take it. ‘No, no, no!’ he replied. Not only did he not listen to her, it got to where he did not even want to be near her. She was not safe to be around.

With Joseph’s continued refusal to yield to her advances, Potiphar’s wife now sets him up with …

From subtle and suggestive enticement she now turns to frontal assault. She takes advantage of him on a day when all the household servants were off duty. She may even have arranged for them to have the day off herself. Joseph is now vulnerable as he goes about his work.

One day, however, no one else was around when he was doing his work inside the house. She came and grabbed him by his shirt, demanding, ‘Sleep with me!’ Joseph tore himself away, but as he did, his shirt came off. She was left holding it as he ran from the house.

When she saw that she had his shirt and that he had fled, she began screaming. Soon all the men around the place came running. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to insult us!” she sobbed. “He tried to rape me, but I screamed. When he heard my loud cries, he ran and left his shirt behind with me.” (vs. 11-15).

This outburst was her attempt to show Joseph as the guilty one and herself as the victim. It may have been her plan right from the beginning. There is venom in the words she uses of Joseph, “this Hebrew slave.” Perhaps she objected to having a Hebrew on the palace payroll. She may even have been acting in collusion with others in the palace to get rid of him. And so this devious plan was forged ‘to set him up’. If this was indeed the case, the attempt to set him up for a charge of rape now had to be changed to one of attempted rape following his continued resistance to her advances.

The only factual account part of her account concerned Joseph’s response, “…he ran and left his shirt behind with me.” (vs. 15, 18, cf. vs. 12). Joseph’s response may well have been the example Solomon had in mind many years later when he advised his sons how to respond to the advances of the immoral woman. “Run from her!” (Proverbs 5:8). Paul offered the same advice to Timothy, the young pastor. “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust.” (2 Timothy 2:22a).

And so Joseph ran from the temptress. Where did he run to? And where may we run when temptation confronts us? Paul points the way as he continues his advice to Timothy. Run to the pursuit of what is good and to the company of people of integrity!

But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness … Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22b).

And David points us to the Lord as a safe place to run when faced with any kind of testing situation.

Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. Let me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I have come to you in prayer. Save me from my enemies, LORD; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. (Psalm 143:7-10).

Joseph’s integrity remains intact. He has gained a high distinction in this part of the course. He is now ready to move on to the next phase of his preparation for ministry.

Potiphar is completely taken in by his wife’s story. She lays part of the blame on him when she reminds him that it was he who brought Joseph into the house in the first place. “That Hebrew slave you brought to us came to me to make sport of me.” (Genesis 39:17 NIV). Her accusation stung Potiphar into action. “After hearing his wife’s story, Potiphar was furious! He took Joseph and threw him into prison where the king’s prisoners were held.” (Genesis 39:19-20).

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness … He called for a famine in the land of Egypt, cutting off its food supply. Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

There in prison, they bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfil his word, the LORD tested Joseph’s character. (Psalm 105:1, 16-19).

Joseph has now reached the lowest point of his life. Put down in a dungeon he has no where to go, no room to move. “But the LORD was with Joseph there too, and he granted Joseph favour with the chief jailer.” (Genesis 39:21). The Lord has a reason for allowing Joseph to be put down in this way. His preparation of the person he has in mind for just such a time as the coming famine is going according to plan. Joseph is being kept for the ministry he is being prepared for. He is spared the maximum penalty allowed by Egyptian law. Instead he is put into prison. But he is alive. Henry Morris[13] explains …

On hearing this story, Potiphar’s ‘wrath was kindled.’ If his wife’s story were true, he indeed would be fully justified in his wrath and in taking severe retaliation on Joseph. The severest penalty of the law (capital punishment) would be appropriate.

It may be significant, however, that Scripture does not say that his ‘wrath was kindled against Joseph.’ Furthermore, rather than having Joseph slain, he merely put him in that part of the prison reserved for political, rather than criminal, prisoners. It almost seems that Potiphar also knew both his wife and Joseph too well to really believe he had heard the whole story …

Among other things occasioning Potiphar’s anger, no doubt, was his realisation that he would now have to lose the services of one who had proved extremely valuable to him. Nevertheless for appearance’ sake he did have Joseph put into prison where he apparently remained for a long while. It is noteworthy that this was the same prison over which Potiphar himself was in charge. (Genesis 40:3); so it may be that Potiphar hoped he would one day be able to bring Joseph back to resume his previous duties.

Just as his potential became evident in Potiphar’s household, so it was that he soon came to the notice of the prison officials. Paul writes of the different gifts given to God’s people.

God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” (Romans 12:6-8).

John Thompson[14] tells us that ‘Egyptian prisons were highly organised.’ And so it was not long before Joseph’s gifts of ‘serving others,’ ‘leadership ability,’ and ‘showing kindness to others,’ were recognised by the chief jailer.

But the LORD was with Joseph there too, and he granted Joseph favour with the chief jailer. Before long, the jailer put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The chief jailer had no more worries after that, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him, making everything run smoothly and successfully. (Genesis 39:21-23).

While serving in this way in the prison Joseph was able to help two fellow prisoners with the interpretation of their dreams. They had been important members of Pharaoh’s staff before offending him and being thrown into prison. One, just as was revealed in his dream, was released and reinstated to his former position. Before he left, Joseph asked him to mention his plight to the Pharaoh on his return.

And please have some pity on me when you are back in his favour. Mention me to Pharaoh, and ask him to let me out of here. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I am here in jail, but I did nothing to deserve it …

Pharaoh’s cup-bearer however, promptly forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought. (Genesis 40:14-15, 23).

Forgotten now, Joseph must have begun to despair of his dreams ever being realised. Two years had passed by with no sign of anything happening. But God had not forgotten him. Pharaoh had two dreams that puzzled him. In the one, seven robust cows were eaten up by seven straggly ones. In the other, seven well formed heads of grain on one stalk were swallowed up by seven shrivelled up heads of grain which appeared on the stalk. None of the magicians and wise men of Egypt could offer any suggestions as to their meaning.

It was then that Pharaoh’s cup bearer remembered the way Joseph had accurately interpreted his dream for him when he was in prison. On hearing of his cup bearer’s experience Pharaoh sent for Joseph straight away. He was so impressed with Joseph’s interpretation of the dream and suggestion as to how to prepare for the coming famine that he appointed him to direct the project.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh placed his own signet ring on Joseph’s finger as a symbol of his authority. He dressed him in beautiful clothing and placed the royal gold chain about his neck. Pharaoh also gave Joseph the chariot of his second-in-command, and wherever he went the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Joseph was put in charge of all Egypt. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am the king, but no one will move a hand or a foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”

Pharaoh renamed him Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife—a young woman named Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:41-45).

Joseph is thirty years old when he takes up his appointment. It is now thirteen years since he dreamed of being in a position of leadership. It was in the experiences of those years that Joseph’s ideas of doing something great for God were slowly replaced with an understanding of what it meant to be a servant. All who aspire to the service of the Lord should likewise expect some years of preparation. The Lord knows just the right courses to provide for each person. They may be similar to those designed for Joseph or quite different. But the objective in mind will be the same. Lest we come to rely on our resources, we may be put in a position where we have none. We may be put down for a time lest we become proud. Peter’s advice comes to mind.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’[15] Humble yourselves therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5b-6 NIV).

The years of put down are now over for Joseph as he is lifted up to begin the service he has been prepared for. The rough and tumble of life in a large family, the rejection of his peers, his introduction to servanthood as a servant in the home of an Egyptian official, the strengthening of his moral fibre in the face of temptation, the humbling experience of being put down in prison, have prepared him well. In our next lesson we learn how Joseph was entrusted to distribute the abundance of grain stored in the storehouse.

[1] THE ILLUSTRATED BIBLE DICTIONARY. Three Volume Edition. Sydney and Auckland: IVF Press.
     Tyndale House Publishers. 1980. pp. 1127, 608.
[2] Genesis 29:30.
[3] Morris, Henry M. THE GENESIS RECORD. Michigan: Baker Book House. 1976. p. 466.
[4] Genesis 35:16-20.
[5] Wenham, Gordon. WORLD BIBLICAL COMMENTARY – Genesis 16-50. Texas: Word Books. 1994.
     p. 346.
[6] ibid: p. 350.
[7] About 228 grams.
[8] Wenham, Gordon. ibid: p. 356.
[9] Wenham, Gordon. ibid: p. 374.
[10] Morris, Henry. ibid: p. 559.
[11] Wenham, Gordon. ibid: p. 375.
[12] Swindoll, Charles R. JOSEPH – A Man of Integrity and Forgiveness. Nashville: Word Publishing. 1998.
       pp. 28-29, 30.
[13] Morris, Henry. ibid: pp. 563-564.
[14] Thompson, J. A. THE BIBLE AND ARCHAEOLOGY. Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing. 1972. p. 43.
[15] Proverbs 3:34.