Joseph's Coat: A Story Of Envy

The story of Joseph and his coat of many colours is a well-known tale from the Bible, specifically the first book of the Bible, Genesis. Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, was the favourite of his father, who gave him a beautiful, colourful coat as a gift. This coat has been interpreted as a symbol of Jacob's love for Joseph, but it also indicated that Joseph would assume leadership of the family. The coat was a source of resentment for Joseph's brothers, who saw it as a sign of their father's favouritism. This led to a plot against Joseph, which ultimately resulted in his sale into slavery.

Jacob gave Joseph the coat as a symbol of favouritism

The coat of many colors, or "ketonet passim" in Biblical Hebrew, was a garment given to Joseph by his father, Jacob. It is described in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. The coat is said to have been an ornate, colorful, and elaborate work of art, possibly with sleeves, that was made to stand out. It was a symbol of Jacob's favoritism towards Joseph among his sons.

Jacob had eleven other sons besides Joseph, but his favoritism for Joseph was clear. Genesis 37:3 (ESV) states, "Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors." Jacob's love for Joseph is believed to be the result of a history of deception, rivalry, bitterness, anger, and true love. Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel, and Jacob worked for Rachel's father, Laban, for seven years to earn her hand in marriage. However, on the wedding night, Laban deceived Jacob, and he ended up marrying Rachel's sister, Leah. This led to years of sibling rivalry, as Rachel was initially barren, and Leah was not. Eventually, both women gave birth to sons, with Rachel's son, Joseph, being born when Jacob was much older.

The coat of many colors was a physical reminder of Jacob's favoritism. It was not a work garment like those worn by Joseph's brothers, but rather a symbol of nobility. It set Joseph apart from his brothers, who resented him for receiving their father's undivided attention and affection. The older brothers hated Joseph and could not speak a kind word to him. This open contempt eventually resulted in a family mutiny and Joseph's hostile banishment into Egyptian slavery.

The coat of many colors, therefore, symbolizes the favoritism and family dynamics that led to Joseph's betrayal and sale into slavery by his brothers. It is a reminder of the consequences of parental favoritism and the impact it can have on family relationships.

Joseph's brothers plotted to kill him

Joseph's dreams further angered his brothers. In his dreams, he saw himself having a higher station in life than his brothers, and they did not appreciate him sharing these dreams with them.

While Joseph was travelling to Shechem to check in on his brothers, they plotted his death. They wanted to kill him and throw him into a well, making it look like he had been killed by a wild animal. However, one brother, Reuben, only pretended to go along with the plan. He secretly intended to rescue Joseph and return him to his father. When Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off his coat and threw him into a dry well.

The brothers then saw a group of Ishmaelites travelling from Gilead to Egypt. Greed took over, or perhaps they did not truly want to kill their brother but only wanted to remove him from their lives. They decided to sell Joseph as a slave for 20 pieces of silver. They covered his coat in goat blood to make it look like he had been killed by an animal.

Joseph was sold into slavery

Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel and had at least 12 siblings. Jacob had four wives, but he loved Rachel the most. Joseph was Rachel's firstborn and Jacob's eleventh son. Joseph was his father's favourite, and to signify this, he gave Joseph a "long coat of many colours". This gift enraged Joseph's brothers, who already resented him for his two dreams, which they believed symbolised his apparent supremacy.

Joseph's brothers plotted to kill him but were stopped by their eldest brother, Reuben, who suggested they throw Joseph into a pit instead. Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later. However, while Reuben was away, the other brothers decided to sell him to a group of Ishmaelite traders for 20 pieces of silver. They then soaked Joseph's coat in goat blood and presented it to their father, claiming that Joseph had been killed by wild beasts.

Joseph's brothers deceived their father

Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel, and he had at least twelve siblings. Jacob had two wives and a few concubines, but he loved Rachel the most. This meant that he loved her offspring, Joseph, more than the rest of his children. To signify this, he gave Joseph a "long coat of many colors". This caused Joseph's brothers to resent him, and they plotted his ruin.

Joseph had two dreams that further angered his brothers. In these dreams, all of his brothers bowed down to him, which symbolised Joseph's apparent supremacy. The brothers' suspicion grew, and they plotted to kill him. However, the eldest brother, Reuben, intervened and persuaded them to throw Joseph into a pit, intending to rescue him later. Unfortunately, while Reuben was away, the other brothers decided to sell Joseph to a group of Ishmaelite traders. They sold him for 20 pieces of silver.

To deceive their father, Jacob, and make him think that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal, the brothers soaked Joseph's coat in goat blood and presented it to him. Jacob was heartbroken and spent years mourning the loss of his favourite son before he discovered the truth. The brothers' consciences were troubled, and they later concluded: "In truth, we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us."

Joseph's gift for telling the future helped him escape slavery

Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, was the favourite of his father, who gave him a "long coat of many colours. This gift, along with two dreams that Joseph had, caused his brothers to resent him and plot his ruin. In his dreams, Joseph saw his family bowing down to him, which his brothers interpreted as a symbol of his apparent supremacy.

Joseph's brothers plotted to kill him, but the eldest, Reuben, convinced them to throw Joseph into a pit, intending to rescue him later. However, while Reuben was away, the others decided to sell Joseph to a group of Ishmaelite traders. The brothers then soaked Joseph's coat in goat blood and presented it to their father, declaring that Joseph had been killed by wild beasts.

Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, in Egypt. There, he was imprisoned after refusing the sexual advances of Potiphar's wife and fleeing from her. In prison, Joseph met two of Pharaoh's incarcerated officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and interpreted their dreams for them. After being imprisoned for two more years, Joseph was summoned by Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. Joseph's interpretation and his ability to foresee the future impressed Pharaoh, who promoted him to second-in-command in Egypt.

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