GENESIS: THE JOSEPH STORIES

Genesis 37-50

LITERARY STRUCTURE-JOSEPH STORIES

Gets family to Egypt as functional whole

God working through the discordant notes to orchestrate a symphony of blessing for what will be Israel

LITERARY TECHNIQUE—KEY WORD

D g bgarment

bgd

SETTING OF STORIES: SERIES OF 3 CONLICTS—

GENESIS 37

CHARACTERIZATION OF JOSEPH

Brings back evil ( h [ r ) report to DaddyGets coat—favorite son whom Daddy loves ((b h a) )Feels free to share dreams of domination

CHARACTERIZATION OF BROTHERS

Hate JosephCan’t speak of peace (m l v ) to JosephJealous of Joseph

Brothers see him coming from afar (q x r m) and plot to kill (t w m) him

Joe sent to seek brothers’ peace (m l v )

“Lord (l [ b ) of Dreams”

They throw Joe down into a pit,

eat,

Dip Joe’s robe in animal blood, and go home

LITERARY TECHNIQUEWord repetition

R k n recognize

“all his sons and daughters rose to comfort (m x n ) him, but he refused to be comforted and said, ‘I will go to my son mourning (l b a to Sheol”Genesis 37:35

“My Three Sons”

arouse

generative prowess

Peace & quiet

LEVIRATE MARRIAGE

No individual afterlife except shadowy existence in SheolNeed for male heir so as to rest peacefully in SheolIf no male heir, male relative to have child by widow as dead man’s sonOtherwise, Sheol not a restful place

LITERARY TECHNIQUE

•TYPE-SCENE

•TYPE-SCENE

Sheep-shearing

LITERARY TECHNIQUE—KEY WORDD g b

garment

palm tree [fertility]

L E TH E R

LITERARY TECHNIQUEWord repetition

R k n recognize

righteous

palm tree [fertility]

STRUCTURING DEVICE

Abe Sarah

Isaac RebekkahJacob

Judah

Perez

Leah

Tamar

JOSEPH TAKEN DOWN INTO EGYPT

Joseph risesin Potiphar’s house

GENESIS 39

Joseph thrown downinto prison

GENESIS 41:42

Joseph ascends—#2 to Pharoah

GEN 43: FAMINE FORCES J’S BROTHERS TO GO DOWN TO EGYPT

Where they encounter

Joseph

Joseph understandablysuspicious

BROTHERS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR

PAST ACTION•“They (brothers) said to one another, ‘Alas, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother; we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. This is why this anguish has come upon us.” 42:21

Brothers return to Egyptwith Benjamin

RECONCILIATION HAPPENS

• “I am Joseph your brother….do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” 45:5

PROVIDENCE

God working through the discordant notes to orchestrate a symphony of blessing for what will be Israel

LITERARY STRUCTURE-JOSEPH STORIES

Gets family to Egypt as functional whole