JOSEPH, son of Jacob, n.e. 1745-1635 as is conjectured; b. Padan-Aram, Syria. As. the favorite of his father he was envied by his brothers, who, angered by his dreams, which predicted his future supremacy, sold him into Egypt. His master, Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, made him steward of his house, but, on a false accusation of Potiphar's wife, threw him into prison. The keeper put the whole prison under his His interpretation of the dreams of two of Pharaoh's officers having been fulfilled, Pharaoh called upon him to interpret his own strange dream. He did so, predict ing seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. Pharaoh gave him authority to do' whatever he deemed needful for the safety of the people, and exalted him to be ruler over all the land, second only to the king. In the plentiful years he laid up food in store houses, and in the years of famine sold it to the people, taking first their money, then their cattle. When these were exhausted they offered their bodies and their lands. So Joseph
bought for Pharaoh all the land .except that of the priests. He then gave them seed, requiring only that one-fifth of the increase should be paid to the king. The adjacent. countries sent to Egypt for grain; the sons of Jacob came also. Joseph forgave their ill treatment of him, and not only supplied them with food, but sent for his father and all the households of his brothers, and gave them houses in the best of the land of Egypt. When dying lie took an oath of the descendants of Jacob, saying, "God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bonesfrom hence," which they did about 144 years later, in the exodus under Moses. Joseph's character was one of great tenderness and moral firmness, with high executive capacity. His is one of the brightest names in history.