1. Joseph had reached his seventeenth year, having hitherto been engaged in boyish sports, or aiding in pastoral duties, when some conduct on the part of " the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives," seems to have been such as, in the opinion of Joseph, to require the special attention of Jacob, to whom accord- ingly he communicated the facts. This regard to vir- tue, and this manifestation of filial fidelity, greatly in- creased his brothers' dislike, who henceforth " hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him" (xxxvii, 4). Their jealousy was aggravated by the fact that Jacob had shown his preference by making him a dress (ri3ri3 d'^SS), which appears to have been a long tunic with sleeves, worn by youths and maidens of the richer class. See Attike. Their aversion, however, was carried to the highest pitch when Joseph acquainted them with the two dreams that he had had, to the effect^ — the first, that while he and they were binding sheaves, his sheaf arose and stood erect, while theirs stood round and did obeisance to his; the second, that "the sun and the moon and the eleven stars did him homage." These dreams appeared to indicate that Joseph would acquire pre-eminence in the family, if not sovereignty; and while even his father rebuked him, his brothers were filled with envy (xxxvii, 11). Jacob, however, Avas not aware of the depth of their ill will ; so that, on one oc- casion, having a desire to hear intelligence of his sons, who were pasturing their flocks at a distance, he did not hesitate to make Joseph his messenger for that pur- pose. They had gone to Shechem to feed the flock, and Joseph was sent thither from the vale of Hebron Ijy his father to bring him word of their welfare and that of the flock. They were not at Shechem, but had gone to Dothan, which appears to have been not very far distant, pasturing their flock like the Arabs of the pres- ent day, wherever the wild country (ver. 22) was un- owned. His appearing in view of his brothers was the signal for their malice to gain head. Thej- began to devise means for his immediate destruction, which they would have unhesitatingly effected but for his half- brother Reuben, who, as the eldest son, might well be the party to interfere on behalf of Joseph. A compro- mise was entered into, in virtue of which the youth was stripped of the distinguishing vestments which he owed to his father's affection, and cast into a pit. Having performed this evil deed, and while they were taking refreshment, the brothers bcln-ld a caravan of Arabian merchants (Ishmaelites = I\Iiilianit(s), who were bearing the spices and aromatic gums ol India down to the well- known and much-frequented mart, Egypt. Judah on this feels a better emotion arise in his mind, and pro- poses that, instead of allowing Joseph to perish, they should sell him to the merchants, whose trade obvious- ly from this embraced human beings as well as spicery. Accordingly the unhappy young man was sold for a slave (at the price of twenty shekels of silver, a sort of
fixed rate: see Lev. xxvii, 5), to be conveyed by his masters into Egypt. While on his way thither, Reu- ben returned to the pit, intending to rescue his brother, and convey him safely back to their father. Finding Joseph gone, he returned with expostulations to tlie wicked young men, who, so far from relenting, now con- certed a fresh act of treachery, by which at once to cover their crime and also punish their father for his partial- ity towards the unoffending sufferer. With this view they dipped Joseph's party-colored garment in the blood of a kid and sent it to Jacob, in order to make him be- lieve that his favorite child had been torn to pieces by some wild beast. The trick succeeded, and Jacob was grieved beyond measure (Gen. xxxviii, 12-35). B.C. 1895.
2. INIeanwhile the merchants sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the royal guard, who was a native of the country (Gen. xxxvii, 36). It is by no means easy to determine who at this time was the Pharaoh, or ruling monarch, though, what is far more important, the condition of the country, and there- in the progress of civilization, are in certain general and important features made clear in the course of the nar- ration. According to Syncellus, however, the general opinion in his day was that the sovereign's name who ruled Egypt at the time of the deportation of Joseph was Aphophis. See Egypt. In Potiphar's house Jo- seph enjoyed the highest confidence and the largest prosperity. A higher power watched over him ; and whatever he undertook succeeded, till at length his mas- ter gave every thing into his hands. He was placed over" all his master's property with perfect trust, and "the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake" (ver. 5). The sculptures and paintings of the an- cient Egyptian tombs bring vividly before us the daily life and duties of Joseph. The property of great men is shown to have been managed by scribes, who exer- cised a most methodical and minute supervision over all the operations of agriculture, gardening, the keeping of live-stock, and fishing. Every product was carefidly registered to check the dishonesty of the laborers, who in Egypt have always been famous in this respect. Probably in no comitry was farming ever more system- atic. Joseph's previous knowledge of tending flocks, and perhaps of husbandry, and his truthful character, exactly fitted him for the post of overseer.