Weekly Study Questions 8
Joseph
Lauren Ashley Herring
BIBL 410-B01
February 22, 2020
1. T/F—The rest of Genesis is devoted solely to Joseph. Explain your answer.
Answer: False--The story of Joseph is regarded as among the best short stories of the
world because of its “dramatic movement, its brilliant color, its play of all the elemental
passions, and its abiding human interest ... "Apart from the episode involving Judah and
Tamar (chapter 38) and Jacob’s farewell blessing (chapter 49), the rest of Genesis is
devoted to Joseph’s life. (Davis, page 262).
2. Describe in detail Jacob’s gift to Joseph and the implications of the gift.
Answer: His gift to Joseph of a “coat of many colours” (keṯoneṯ passîm), a further
evidence of his preference for Joseph, caused the brothers to hate Joseph even more. The
expression keṯoneṯ passîm has been translated three principal ways: “a coat of many
colors,” “a long-sleeved robe,” and “an ornamented tunic.” (Davis, page 263).
3. What was the basic theme of Joseph’s dreams?
Answer: The dreams of Joseph, like those of Abimelech (20:3), Jacob (28:12ff.; 31:11),
and Laban (31:24), were divinely inspired, but unlike them his was filled with
symbolism. So were those of the baker, the butler, and Pharaoh. In Joseph’s first dream
(v. 7) he and his brothers were binding sheaves in the field, and his brothers’ sheaves
“made obeisance” to Joseph’s. The meaning of the dream was obvious to Joseph’s
brothers (v. 8). In his second dream the personification of natural elements is extended to
the sun and moon. They, too, bowed down to Joseph, making him supreme even over his
parents (v. 9). When his father heard the dreams, he was astonished and rebuked Joseph
(v. 10). His brothers reacted even more strongly (v. 11). (Davis, page 264).
4. What is the irony found in the coat dipped in goat’s blood?
Answer: He apparently helped his brothers stain Joseph’s coat with the blood of a goat (v.
31). When the coat was shown to Jacob, he immediately went into mourning for his son,
thinking he had been killed by a wild animal (vv. 32-35). There is a touch of irony here:
Jacob, who had deceived his father with a goat’s skin, was deceived by his sons with
goat’s blood. (Davis, page 264).
5. List the several views of Joseph’s date of entrance into Egypt—which one is the most
compatible with Scripture and why?
Answer: Dating Joseph’s entrance into Egypt (v. 36) and his rise to power is difficult, in
part because the pharaoh of the Joseph narratives is not named. H. H. Rowley and
, Gordon place Joseph’s arrival in Egypt after 1400 b.c..; the majority of scholars place it
in the Hyksos period (ca. 1730-1570 b.c..); and some place it in the 1800s b.c.. during the
Middle Kingdom period, and specifically during the reign of Sesostris III (Senusert III,
Twelfth Dynasty). The third view is most compatible with scriptural data. According to I
Kings 6:1 the exodus from Egypt took place 480 years before the fourth year of Solomon.
The fourth year of Solomon is usually regarded as about 966 b.c.., meaning that the
exodus occurred approximately 1446-45 b.c.. The Egyptian sojourn was 430 years long
(Exod. 12:40), so it began approximately 1875 b.c.. This synchronizes with the dates
normally accepted for the reign of Sesostris III: 1878-43 b.c.. (Davis, page 266).
6. What were Joseph’s two reasons for refusing Potiphar’s wife?
Answer: Joseph’s reasons for refusing Potiphar’s wife were two: he wished to be faithful
to his master, who had helped him (v. 8); and, even more important, he wished to be
faithful to God (v. 9). (Davis, page 271).
7. What position did Joseph hold in the royal court?
Answer: Potiphar made Joseph his comptroller (mer-per), which meant being a personal
attendant to his master and overseeing his entire estate. (Davis, page 269).
8. What were Joseph’s tests of his brothers intended to do?
Answer: Determining Joseph’s real motive in testing his brothers is most difficult. Most
scholars have felt that Joseph was not being vindictive but was engaged merely in official
probing and testing. However, Joseph’s manner, coupled with the numerous tests through
which he put his brothers, gives the distinct impression that he was humbling his
previously arrogant brothers (vv. 6-14). (Davis, page 279).
9. What does this whole story of Joseph tell us about God?
Answer: Joseph’s attitude and actions provide an outstanding illustration of genuine love
and forgiveness. Humanly speaking, he could have been vindictive toward his helpless
brothers; unregenerate society would have considered vindictiveness justified. However,
the sensitive man of God does not take advantage of such opportunities for
vindictiveness, but seeks to provide the best for those whom he has forgiven. (Davis,
page 285).
10. Read Genesis 15:13-17. Show how these verses relate to the present study.
Answer: In Genesis 15:13-17, the Lord was speaking solely to the future descendants of
Abraham. God spoke of the Hebrews in verse 13 as “strangers in the land that is not
theirs” meaning that Egypt was not the land that God intended for the descendants. That
Egypt was the land where the children of Israel were held captive for approximately 430
years. The Lord goes on in verse 14 that He will “judge the nation whom they will serve”
referring to the Egyptian Pharaoh by allowing him and his army to be swallowed by the
Red Sea. God tells Abraham in verse 15, “go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried
at a good old age” which he did die at a good old age, satisfied with everything in life. In
Joseph
Lauren Ashley Herring
BIBL 410-B01
February 22, 2020
1. T/F—The rest of Genesis is devoted solely to Joseph. Explain your answer.
Answer: False--The story of Joseph is regarded as among the best short stories of the
world because of its “dramatic movement, its brilliant color, its play of all the elemental
passions, and its abiding human interest ... "Apart from the episode involving Judah and
Tamar (chapter 38) and Jacob’s farewell blessing (chapter 49), the rest of Genesis is
devoted to Joseph’s life. (Davis, page 262).
2. Describe in detail Jacob’s gift to Joseph and the implications of the gift.
Answer: His gift to Joseph of a “coat of many colours” (keṯoneṯ passîm), a further
evidence of his preference for Joseph, caused the brothers to hate Joseph even more. The
expression keṯoneṯ passîm has been translated three principal ways: “a coat of many
colors,” “a long-sleeved robe,” and “an ornamented tunic.” (Davis, page 263).
3. What was the basic theme of Joseph’s dreams?
Answer: The dreams of Joseph, like those of Abimelech (20:3), Jacob (28:12ff.; 31:11),
and Laban (31:24), were divinely inspired, but unlike them his was filled with
symbolism. So were those of the baker, the butler, and Pharaoh. In Joseph’s first dream
(v. 7) he and his brothers were binding sheaves in the field, and his brothers’ sheaves
“made obeisance” to Joseph’s. The meaning of the dream was obvious to Joseph’s
brothers (v. 8). In his second dream the personification of natural elements is extended to
the sun and moon. They, too, bowed down to Joseph, making him supreme even over his
parents (v. 9). When his father heard the dreams, he was astonished and rebuked Joseph
(v. 10). His brothers reacted even more strongly (v. 11). (Davis, page 264).
4. What is the irony found in the coat dipped in goat’s blood?
Answer: He apparently helped his brothers stain Joseph’s coat with the blood of a goat (v.
31). When the coat was shown to Jacob, he immediately went into mourning for his son,
thinking he had been killed by a wild animal (vv. 32-35). There is a touch of irony here:
Jacob, who had deceived his father with a goat’s skin, was deceived by his sons with
goat’s blood. (Davis, page 264).
5. List the several views of Joseph’s date of entrance into Egypt—which one is the most
compatible with Scripture and why?
Answer: Dating Joseph’s entrance into Egypt (v. 36) and his rise to power is difficult, in
part because the pharaoh of the Joseph narratives is not named. H. H. Rowley and
, Gordon place Joseph’s arrival in Egypt after 1400 b.c..; the majority of scholars place it
in the Hyksos period (ca. 1730-1570 b.c..); and some place it in the 1800s b.c.. during the
Middle Kingdom period, and specifically during the reign of Sesostris III (Senusert III,
Twelfth Dynasty). The third view is most compatible with scriptural data. According to I
Kings 6:1 the exodus from Egypt took place 480 years before the fourth year of Solomon.
The fourth year of Solomon is usually regarded as about 966 b.c.., meaning that the
exodus occurred approximately 1446-45 b.c.. The Egyptian sojourn was 430 years long
(Exod. 12:40), so it began approximately 1875 b.c.. This synchronizes with the dates
normally accepted for the reign of Sesostris III: 1878-43 b.c.. (Davis, page 266).
6. What were Joseph’s two reasons for refusing Potiphar’s wife?
Answer: Joseph’s reasons for refusing Potiphar’s wife were two: he wished to be faithful
to his master, who had helped him (v. 8); and, even more important, he wished to be
faithful to God (v. 9). (Davis, page 271).
7. What position did Joseph hold in the royal court?
Answer: Potiphar made Joseph his comptroller (mer-per), which meant being a personal
attendant to his master and overseeing his entire estate. (Davis, page 269).
8. What were Joseph’s tests of his brothers intended to do?
Answer: Determining Joseph’s real motive in testing his brothers is most difficult. Most
scholars have felt that Joseph was not being vindictive but was engaged merely in official
probing and testing. However, Joseph’s manner, coupled with the numerous tests through
which he put his brothers, gives the distinct impression that he was humbling his
previously arrogant brothers (vv. 6-14). (Davis, page 279).
9. What does this whole story of Joseph tell us about God?
Answer: Joseph’s attitude and actions provide an outstanding illustration of genuine love
and forgiveness. Humanly speaking, he could have been vindictive toward his helpless
brothers; unregenerate society would have considered vindictiveness justified. However,
the sensitive man of God does not take advantage of such opportunities for
vindictiveness, but seeks to provide the best for those whom he has forgiven. (Davis,
page 285).
10. Read Genesis 15:13-17. Show how these verses relate to the present study.
Answer: In Genesis 15:13-17, the Lord was speaking solely to the future descendants of
Abraham. God spoke of the Hebrews in verse 13 as “strangers in the land that is not
theirs” meaning that Egypt was not the land that God intended for the descendants. That
Egypt was the land where the children of Israel were held captive for approximately 430
years. The Lord goes on in verse 14 that He will “judge the nation whom they will serve”
referring to the Egyptian Pharaoh by allowing him and his army to be swallowed by the
Red Sea. God tells Abraham in verse 15, “go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried
at a good old age” which he did die at a good old age, satisfied with everything in life. In
