Genesis 37:1-50:26 Summary

Joseph was Jacob’s favourite son, which led to his brothers resenting him. Joseph made this problem worse when he told them about his dreams where they bowed down to him. One day, Judah convinced the brothers to sell Joseph into slavery without their father’s knowledge, so Joseph became a slave of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officers (37). Judah also treated his daughter-in-law, Tamar, poorly. He refused to give his youngest son to her in marriage after his other sons, to whom she was married, died. This was in violation of the law, so Tamar shamed Judah through a bit of sexual trickery that resulted in Judah and Tamar having twins (38).

The Lord blessed Joseph in Egypt, and thus also blessed Potiphar’s household. One day, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he refused her. She accused Joseph of attempted rape, and Joseph was sent to prison. But even in prison the Lord blessed Joseph (39). There, Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams of the other prisoners (40). Two years later, one of those former prisoners was working in Pharaoh’s court. When Pharaoh had dreams he could not interpret, this former prisoner suggested that Pharaoh call on Joseph. Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams and warned Pharaoh about an impending famine. Pharaoh was so impressed that he made Joseph his second-in-command, and Egypt prospered. Joseph married Asenath, a daughter of the priest of On, and had two boys, Manasseh and Ephraim (41).

When the famine came, Jacob sent all his sons except Benjamin to buy grain in Egypt. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately, but they failed to recognize him. Joseph spoke harshly to them and only let them leave when they promised to return with Benjamin (42). Jacob was very upset when he heard the news, and only let Benjamin go after Judah promised to take responsibility for Benjamin’s safety. After they arrived in Egypt, Joseph had a feast prepared for his brothers; it was at this feast that they all bowed down to Joseph (43). After the feast, Joseph had their bags filled with grain and sent them on their way, but he had a silver cup planted in Benjamin’s sack. He accused Benjamin of stealing and threatened to enslave him. Judah pleaded with Joseph, asking to take Benjamin’s place and explaining the vow that he had made to his father, Jacob (44). Joseph was overwhelmed with emotion and revealed his identity. His brothers were gobsmacked, but Joseph reassured them that it was God, and not them, who had sent him to Egypt. The news soon reached Pharaoh who sent the brothers to get their father so that they could return with him and settle in the land of Egypt.

Jacob was overjoyed (45). On his way to Egypt, Jacob stopped at Beersheba and God appeared to him in a vision. God reassured Jacob that even in Egypt God would be with him. When Jacob arrived, Joseph embraced his father and wept (46). Jacob met with Pharaoh and blessed him. Then the whole family settled in Goshen, some of Egypt’s best land. Joseph continued to work for Pharaoh and helped him accumulate great wealth. Meanwhile in Goshen Jacob’s family was fruitful and multiplied. As Jacob’s death drew near he had Joseph promise to take his body back to Canaan for burial after his death (47). A little while later Jacob claimed Manasseh and Ephraim as his own children and blessed them. Though Joseph objected, Jacob gave the better blessing to Ephraim even though Manasseh was the firstborn (48). Jacob then called all his sons together and gave each of them a special blessing. To Reuben he said, “You are my firstborn, but you will be first no longer, for you went to bed with my wife,” and to Judah he said, “The scepter will not depart from Judah nor the ruler’s staff from his feet.” After Jacob finished blessing his children, he died (49). Joseph had Jacob’s body embalmed and then took him to Canaan so that he could be buried in the cave that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. With their father dead, the brothers worried that Joseph might take revenge on them, but Joseph reassured them that what they had intended for evil, God had used for good (50).