JOSEPH Mp.14; Sept. 'Iwo+11), son of Jacob and Rachel, born under peculiar circumstances, as may be seen in Gen. xxx. 22 ; on which account, and because he was the son of his old age (xxxvii. 3), he was beloved by his father more than were the rest of his children, though Benjamin, as being also a son of Jacob's favourite wife, Rachel, was in a peculiar manner dear to the patriarch. The partiality evinced towards Joseph by his father ex cited jealousy on the part of his brethren, the rather that they were born of different mothers (xxxvii. 2). Joseph had reached his seventeenth year, having hitherto been engaged in boyish sports, or aiding in pastoml 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, accordingly, he communicated the facts. This regard to virtue, and this mani. fcstation of filial fidelity, greatly increased his brothers' dislike, who henceforth 'hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto hitn ' (xxxvii. 4). Their aversion, however, was carried to the highest pitch when Joseph acquainted them with 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 paid him homage.' These dreams appeared to indicate that Joseph would acquire pre-eminence in the family, if not sovereignty ; and while even his fatlact re buked him, his brothers were filled with envy. Jacob, however, was not aware of the depth of their ill will ; so that on one occasion, 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 purpose. His appearing in view of his brothers was the signal for their malice to gain head. They began to devise means for his immediate destruc tion, which they would unhesitatingly have effected, but for his half-brother, Reuben, who, as the eldest son, might well be the party to interfere on behalf of Joseph. A compromise 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 talc ing refreshment, the brothers beheld a caravan of Arabian merchants, who were bearing the spices and aromatic gums of India down to the well known and much-fiequented mart, Egypt. Judah on this feels a bitter emotion arise in his mind, and proposes that, instead of allowing Joseph to perish, they should sell him to the merchants, whose trade obviously from this embraced human beings as well as spicery. Accordingly the unhappy young man was sold for a slave, to be conveyed by his masters into Egypt. While on his way thither, Reuben re turned to the pit, intending to rescue his brother, and convey him safely back to their father. Joseph
was gone. On which Reuben went to the wicked young men, who, not content with selling a brother into slavery, determined to punish their father for his partiality towards the unoffending sufferer. With this view they dipped Joseph's party-coloured garment in the blood of a kid and sent it to Jacob, in order to make him believe that his favourite child had been torn to pieces by some wild beast. The trick succeeded, and Jacob was grieved beyond measure.
Meanwhile the merchants sold Joseph to Pod phar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the royal guard, who was a native of the country. 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 therein the progress of civilization, are in cer tain general and important features made clear in the course of the narration. According to Syn cellus, 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.
In Potiphar's house Joseph enjoyed the highest confidence and the largest prosperity. A higher power watched over him ; and whatever he under took succeeded, till at length his master gave every thing into his hands. The Hebrew race have always been remarkable for personal beauty, of which Joseph seems to have had an unusual share. This fact explains, if it cannot palliate, the conduct of Potiphar's wife, who tried every means to bring the uncontaminated and pure minded youth to fulfil her unchaste desires. Foiled in her evil wishes, she resolved to punish Joseph, who thus a second time innocently brings on him self the vengeance of the ill-disposed. Charged with the very crime to which he had in vain been tempted, he is, with a fickleness characteristic of Oriental lords, at once cast into the state prison.
The narrative, which is obviously constructed in order to shew the workings of divine Providence, and may not impossibly have received some shape or hue from the predominant idea, states, however, that Joseph was not left without special aid, in consequence of which he gained favour with the keeper of the prison to such an extent that every thing was put under his direction. If the sudden ness and magnitude of this and other changes in the lot of Joseph should surprise any one, the feel ing will be mainly owing to his want of acquaint ance with the manners and customs of the East, where vicissitudes not less marked and sudden than are those presented in our present history are not uncommon ; for those who come into the charmed circle of an Eastern court, especially if they are persons of great energy of character, are subject to the most wonderful alternations of for tune, the slave of to-day being the vizier of to