Joseph - episode 2

We continue Joseph’s story. He was taken by some merchants after that his brothers had thrown him in an empty pit. He was then sold in Egypt to Potiphar, officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard; we are in Genesis’ chapter 39 and onward.

«Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian. His master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did prosper in his hand. Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. It happened from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in the house and in the field. He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He did not concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome». The blessing of the Lord is on Joseph, but a new threat arises in his path. His master’s wife falls in love with him and invites him to lie with her; Joseph refuses, but the woman takes advantage of a moment when they are alone and grabs him by his garment. Joseph leaves the garment in her hand in order to get away and the woman, in revenge of the refusal, cries and accuses him of harassment. She brings as proof the dress that remained in her hand.

 

 

Joseph does not defend himself and is thrown in jail: what a difference with the guy that used his words to speak evil of his brothers! Even in the prison, though, the Lord is with him and blesses him: «the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it. The keeper of the prison did not look after anything that was under his hand, because the LORD was with him; and that which he did, the LORD made it prosper». In this context Joseph shows a special skill, given by the Lord: the interpretation of dreams. «They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison. Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad. He asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?” They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.” The chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me, and in the vine were three branches. It was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.” Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, the way you did when you were his cupbearer. But remember me when it will be well with you, and show kindness, please, to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.” When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head. In the uppermost basket there was all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.” Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days. Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you.”».

Joseph’s explanations realize as predicted, «Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him». Joseph will wait for two more years in prison before having another chance to be freed. We will tell it in the next posts.