A-Z: Famous stories from the Bible: Joseph and his brothers - Part I

Definition

Jacob with his sonsJacob had twelve sons, but he made it clear to all of them that Joseph was his favourite, buying him a special robe. Joseph told his brothers about some dreams he had experienced, which, he believed, proved that he would rule over all of them one day. Angry and jealous, they saw an opportunity to kill Joseph when he was sent by his father to take supplies to them as they looked after the family’s herds. Reuben, the eldest, persuaded them to throw Joseph down a well: he hoped to save his younger brother later. However, before he could do this, the other brothers sold Joseph to some Midianite traders who were on their way to Egypt. When the traders arrived there, they sold Joseph to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s captain of the guard.

Meanwhile, the brothers told Jacob that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. He was heart-broken.  

The story illustrates:

  • The belief that God’s followers are not immune from trouble but that God is still in ultimate control.

Bible References

Genesis 37:1-11, Genesis 37:17-28, Genesis 37:36
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