Two sons were born to Jacob (of Rachel) -
Joseph and Benjamin. Though Jacob loved Joseph more than all his
other
children (and even made him a coat of many colours), this became a cause of envy to the other
brothers. When their envy turned to jealosy, they decided to cast him into an empty pit. Meanwhile, some merchants sold him to a caravan of the
Ishmaelites carrying balms and spices to Egypt. Joseph's brothers dipped the multi-coloured coat in goat's blood, and presented it to their father as proof that he had indeed died.
Joseph was brought into Egypt, where he was put into the custody of the Pharaonic guard. But his life in captivity was not so difficult, because the prison keeper took pity on him.
Two years passed when the Pharaoh had a troubled dream, but no one - magician or wise man - could interpret it for him.
At last, Joseph was summoned from the dungeons. Joseph interpreted the dream to mean that seven years of plenty in Egypt would be followed by seven years of famine; and the famine would consume the entire land. The Pharaoh was pleased with the answer, gave him the name of Zaphnath-paaneah (saviour of the world), and appointed him overseer of all Egypt to gather sufficient corn for the lean seasons.
Two sons were born to Joseph - Manasseh (as God had made him forget all his labours) and Ephraim (as God had caused him to be fruitful in the land of his afflictions). In the Hebrew language, the language in which the Old Testament was written, names have meaning and they are not just used to identify the persons using them. Joseph's father, for example, is also known by the name of Israel or champion of God. Israelis - the children of Israel - are actually the descendants of Jacob; whereas the land of Israel means Jacob's homeland>
When the years of famine began, there was scarcity in all the lands, but sufficient bread in the storehouses of Egypt. Joseph's brothers, too, went to buy corn in the land of Egypt. Joseph recognized but did not reveal his true identity to them; instead he sent them home with sacks filled with corn, and asked them to fetch their brother Benjamin. When they rerached home, they were surprised to find that their money had ben returned.
The years passed, but the famine did not pass, and so Joseph's brothers (once again) returned to the land of Egypt to purchase grain. Joseph inquired about the well being of their father; and - much to their surprise - invited them home to lunch. The time for grieving done, forgiveness then entered into his soul, and he declared that he was the same Joseph who had been sold into slavery not so long ago. Truly it was God, he said, who sent him to Egypt to ensure that their household would be preserved and their lives saved.