Bible Timeline · Traditional count about 1898 to 1805 BC

Joseph: From the Pit to the Palace

Jacob's favorite son Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers at 17. After years as a slave and a prisoner in Egypt, he explained Pharaoh's dreams and became second in command of Egypt. When famine came, he saved his family and forgave his brothers, saying God meant it for good.

Read it in the Bible: Genesis 37:1-36 Genesis 39:1-23 Genesis 41:1-57 Genesis 45:1-15 Genesis 50:15-26 Acts 7:9-15 Hebrews 11:22

Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob and the first son of Rachel. His jealous brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt when he was 17, which the traditional count puts about 1898 BC. He served in Potiphar's house, was thrown in prison on a false charge, and then explained Pharaoh's dreams about a coming famine. At 30, he became second only to Pharaoh. When the famine drove his brothers to Egypt for food, Joseph forgave them and brought the whole family to live there. He died at 110, about 1805 BC. His story is one of the clearest pictures of Jesus in the Old Testament.

Why Did Joseph's Brothers Hate Him?

Jacob did not hide that Joseph was his favorite.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors. Genesis 37:3

The Hebrew words for the robe are a little unclear. It may have been colorful, or it may have been a long robe with sleeves, the kind worn by someone who did not do field work. Either way, it said "this one is special." On top of that, Joseph brought a bad report about his brothers, and then he told them about two dreams in which they all bowed down to him. Telling your older brothers they will bow to you is not a great strategy for family peace.

How Was Joseph Sold Into Slavery?

Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers in the fields. When they saw him coming, they said, "Here comes that dreamer," and planned to kill him. Reuben talked them into throwing him into a dry pit instead, hoping to rescue him later. Then Judah had another idea.

So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for eight ounces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. Genesis 37:28

That was twenty shekels of silver, about the price of a slave in that era. The brothers dipped Joseph's robe in goat's blood and let Jacob believe a wild animal had killed him. The deceiver Jacob, who once used goat skins to fool his own father, was now fooled by goat's blood.

What Happened to Joseph in Egypt?

Joseph was sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard.

And Yahweh was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master. Genesis 39:2

Potiphar put him in charge of everything. Then Potiphar's wife tried again and again to seduce him. Joseph refused, saying "How could I do such a great evil and sin against God?" in Genesis 39:9. She grabbed his cloak, he ran, and she used the cloak to accuse him of attacking her. Joseph went to prison for doing the right thing.

Even in prison, God was with him, and the warden put him in charge. Joseph explained the dreams of Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker. The cupbearer was restored, just as Joseph said, but he forgot about Joseph for two more years.

How Did Joseph Become Ruler of Egypt?

Pharaoh had two dreams. Seven fat cows were eaten by seven thin cows, and seven full heads of grain were swallowed by seven thin ones. No one could explain them. Then the cupbearer finally remembered Joseph. Joseph was shaved, dressed and brought before Pharaoh, and he gave God the credit.

“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.” Genesis 41:16

Seven years of plenty were coming, followed by seven years of famine. Joseph advised storing up grain during the good years. Pharaoh was so impressed that he put Joseph in charge of all Egypt, gave him his signet ring, an Egyptian name and a wife named Asenath. They had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Now Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt. Genesis 41:46

So Joseph spent about thirteen years as a slave and a prisoner, from age 17 to 30. Many people from Canaan really did come to Egypt in this period. A famous tomb painting at Beni Hasan, from about 1890 BC, shows a group of people from western Asia arriving in Egypt, and an Egyptian papyrus from the 1700s BC lists dozens of Asiatic servants in one household.

How Did Joseph Forgive His Brothers?

When the famine hit Canaan, Jacob sent ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain. They bowed down before the governor, not knowing it was Joseph. His dreams had come true. Joseph tested them over several visits to see if they had changed. When Judah offered himself as a slave in place of young Benjamin, Joseph could not hold back any longer. He sent everyone out and wept so loudly the Egyptians heard it.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! Genesis 45:4

And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. Genesis 45:5

Jacob and his whole family, seventy in all, moved to Egypt and settled in the region of Goshen. Jacob was 130. By the traditional count that was about 1876 BC. When Jacob died seventeen years later, the brothers were afraid Joseph would finally get revenge. His answer is the theme of his whole life.

As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20

How Did Joseph Die?

So Joseph died at the age of 110. And they embalmed his body and placed it in a coffin in Egypt. Genesis 50:26

Before he died, Joseph made his family promise to carry his bones back to Canaan when God brought them out. Hebrews 11:22 counts this as faith. About four hundred years later, Moses took Joseph's bones with him in the Exodus, in Exodus 13:19, and they were buried at Shechem in Joshua 24:32. Genesis ends with a coffin in Egypt, waiting for God to keep His promise.

How Is Joseph a Picture of Jesus?

Joseph is not called a prophecy of Jesus, but the parallels are striking:

Both were loved by their father and rejected by their brothers.
Both were sold for silver.
Both were falsely accused and condemned though innocent.
Both went down into suffering and were raised up to the place of highest honor.
Both became the savior of the very people who rejected them, and both forgave.

Stephen told Joseph's story in Acts 7:9 to 10 for exactly this reason. That is why Joseph's story matters for you today. It shows that God can take the worst thing people do and use it for good, as He did most of all at the cross. If you are in the pit or the prison right now, God has not forgotten you. Your story is not over yet.

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Questions People Ask

How old was Joseph when he was sold into slavery?

Genesis 37:2 says Joseph was 17 when the story begins, and he was sold soon after. He was 30 when he entered Pharaoh's service, so he spent about thirteen years as a slave and prisoner. By the traditional count he was sold about 1898 BC.

What does Genesis 50:20 mean?

In Genesis 50:20, Joseph tells his brothers that what they intended for evil, God intended for good, to save many lives. It means God can use even the sinful choices of others to accomplish His good plans. It is one of the Bible's clearest statements of God's providence.

What was Joseph's coat of many colors?

Genesis 37:3 says Jacob made Joseph a robe of many colors. The Hebrew may also mean a long robe with sleeves. Either way it marked Joseph as Jacob's favorite, which made his brothers jealous.

How old was Joseph when he died?

Joseph died at 110, according to Genesis 50:26. By the traditional count that was about 1805 BC. His bones were later carried out of Egypt by Moses and buried at Shechem.

How is Joseph like Jesus?

Both were loved by their father, rejected by their brothers, sold for silver, falsely accused, and then raised to honor. Both saved the very people who rejected them and forgave them. Christians see Joseph as a picture of Christ.

Sources

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