Joseph's Dream
Genesis 37, verse 1. Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. Genesis 37, verse 2. This is the genealogy of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the sheep with his brothers. Now the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Genesis 37, verse 3. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age. He also made him a tunic of many colors. Genesis 37, verse 4. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak civilly to him. Genesis 37, verse 5. Then Joseph had a dream, and reported it to his brothers. Genesis 37, verse 6. Thus he said to them, “Hear this dream I dreamed: Genesis 37, verse 7. There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” Genesis 37, verse 8. So his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Genesis 37, verse 9. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” Genesis 37, verse 10. So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come and bow down on the ground before you?” Genesis 37, verse 11. And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
Joseph Is Sold into Egypt
Genesis 37, verse 12. Then his brothers went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. Genesis 37, verse 13. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers shepherding the sheep in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.” Genesis 37, verse 14. Then Israel said to him, “Go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the sheep, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem. Genesis 37, verse 15. Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. So the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?” Genesis 37, verse 16. He replied, “I am looking for my brothers. Tell me where they are feeding their sheep.” Genesis 37, verse 17. The man said to him, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan. Genesis 37, verse 18. Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Genesis 37, verse 19. Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming. Genesis 37, verse 20. Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams.” Genesis 37, verse 21. But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, “Let us not kill him.” Genesis 37, verse 22. Again, Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit in the desert; and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father. Genesis 37, verse 23. So it came to pass, when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped the tunic of many colors off him. Genesis 37, verse 24. Then they took him and cast him into a pit, which was empty; for there was no water in it. Genesis 37, verse 25. They then sat down to eat a meal, and lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelite wayfarers coming from Gilead with their camels bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. Genesis 37, verse 26. So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Genesis 37, verse 27. Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh”; and his brothers listened. Genesis 37, verse 28. Thus the Midianite traders passed by, and the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit; and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of gold. So they took Joseph to Egypt. Genesis 37, verse 29. Then Reuben returned to the pit, and when he saw Joseph was not in there, he tore his clothes. Genesis 37, verse 30. So he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is not there; and I, where shall I go?” Genesis 37, verse 31. Thus they took Joseph's tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Genesis 37, verse 32. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and had it brought to their father and said, “We found this. Do you know whether it is your son's tunic or not?” Genesis 37, verse 33. So he recognized it and said, “This is my son's tunic. A wild animal has devoured Joseph and carried him off.” Genesis 37, verse 34. Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. Genesis 37, verse 35. Thus all his sons and daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” So his father wept for him. Genesis 37, verse 36. Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.