Announcements  Please review the exam policies on Blackboard  If you need to take the exam in the Academic Support Center, today is the final day to let me know.  There will be a review Thursday evening as usual (9:00 pm)  The essay question has to do with the “testing ground of faith”

Psalm 133:1  HINNEH MAH TOV U-MAH NA’IM  Behold how good and how pleasant (is)  SHEVET AḤIM  (the) sitting (of) brothers (sisters, too!)  GAM YAḤAD (twice)  alsotogether  HINNEH MAH TOV (twice)  Lai lai lai ……..

Joseph and Israel to Egypt

Questions for Reflection  Why is such a large portion of the book of Genesis given over to the Joseph narrative?  What was the time interval between the brothers’ betrayal of Joseph and his rise to second in command?

A foundational doctrine: The sovereignty of God  Definition: God’s exercising complete control over all circumstances as He directs them according to His good will and pleasure (Romans 8:28)  The purposes of God (Gen 45:7; 50:20) Preserve and build up the nation Teach the lesson in redemption  Sovereignty and forgiveness – an antidote to bitterness

Historical/Geographical Connections  Egypt in the patriarchal period – Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period ( ) 12 th -15 th dynasties and beyond Increase in Asiatics  Ishmaelites and Midianites Nomadic traders Spice trade  Location of the “sell-off” - Dothan

Geographical Issues  Hebron  Shechem  Dothan A place for grazing farther north – late summer A connecting route to the International Coastal Highway

Two Views of Shechem

Literary Issues  Thematic parallels Biblical – Mordecai in Persia (Esther) Extra-biblical – Anubis and Bata  The Judah narrative

Preparation of Joseph  Activities and events as favored son The “bad report” – from half-brothers The long robe – possibly indicative of status as “firstborn” Dreams Joseph, Reuben, Judah at Dothan  Favored slave of Potiphar  Prisoner  As second in command to Pharaoh Advice to Pharaoh Appointment to ruling position

“Israel” Comes to Egypt  Arrival of the brothers and the roles of Simeon, Benjamin, Judah, and Reuben What happened to Simeon? Why was Joseph so intent on seeing Benjamin? What was the difference between what Reuben promised his father and what Judah said?  Reunion with Jacob / Israel arrives in the land – settlement in Goshen  Land administration during the famine

“Semites” in Egypt

The land of Egypt

Closing Out Genesis  Jacob’s blessings Ephraim and Manasseh Blessings of the twelve sons  Deaths of Jacob and Joseph