Often, our unrepentant sin keeps us from seeing Gods grace (Isaiah 26:10). No! How long is the walk from Egypt to Canaan? This apparently happy ending, however, has a dark side. May each of us rest in that biblical truth. It is also possible that they were motivated by fear. According to Josephus, Reuben tied a cord around Joseph and let him down gently into the pit. With the arrival of the Philistines, somewhere around 1250 BCE, the. There are SEVERAL calendars/dating systems in the world: Judaic, Biblical Archaeology Review is the guide on that fascinating journey. Contents [ hide] Suddenly my bundle rose and stood up straight. Dig into the illuminating world of the Bible with a BAS All-Access membership. Moslem, Indian, Chinese, European, even one for these United States. Charged the ten brothers as spies. Therefore, Josephs ten elder brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. Jacobs thinking was probably affected not only by his age, his love for Benjamin, but also by his memory of Josephs reported death twenty years before. The narrative also indicates that they went straight to Joseph or were directed to him, even by the Pharaoh himself (Genesis 41:3757). But you must bring your youngest brother to me. I did a terrible thing. Jacob found out that there was grain in Egypt. Also, they didnt know that the slave traders had taken him to Egypt. Application: The Bible says, Stop being angry and dont try to take revenge. So he accused them, Youre spies! How many years did Israelites spent in Egypt? What did Joseph do when he revealed himself to his brothers? In her article Does Archaeology Confirm Josephs Time in Egypt? published in the Fall 2021 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, Rachel Hallote looks at Josephs story from an historical perspective. Before he died, he made the children of Israel swear that when they left the land of Egypt they would take his bones with them, and on his death his body was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt. As you look out, before you are your ten brothers. When he regained control of himself, he returned and ordered a meal to be served. He comforted them and their ties were reconciled. Required fields are marked *. Joseph is gone. Yes! They began emptying their sacks. Jacob favors Joseph above all his brothers, even giving him a special coat, and the brothers are envious. Joseph had lived in Egypt for many years. That way, you wont die., 21 Were all guilty because of what we did to our brother! they told each other. You have come to see the places where our land isnt guarded very well., No, sir, they answered. Biblical figure and son of Jacob and Rachel, This article is about the Yaqoob of the Book of Genesis. [6], The Bible offers two explanations of the name Ysf: first it is compared to the Hebrew root (-s-p), meaning "to gather, remove, take away":[7] "And she conceived, and bore a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach" (Genesis 30:23);[8] Ysf is then identified with the similar root (y-s-p), meaning "to add":[9] "And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son." Say: Okay, you can open your eyes. It was during this return to Egypt that Joseph disclosed his real identity to his brothers. You can bet the life of Pharaoh that youre not leaving here until your youngest brother comes here! (Teacher Note: This point is key for next weeks lesson.). Remember, the brothers didnt know that Joseph could understand them. Moses, led there by an ancient holy woman named Serach, was able by a miracle to raise the sarcophagus and to take it with him at the time of the Exodus. Here is Canaan, where Josephs brothers and father, Jacob, lived. Now Simeon is gone, and youre planning to take Benjamin, too. How far did Joseph travel from Canaan to Egypt? When Josephs brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. Video lectures from world-renowned experts. [49] When Jacob learned their story after their return, he wept in grief till he lost his eyesight because of sorrow. The biblical storyline does, indeed, align with the Egyptian sources for the Hyksos: people originating in Canaan come to Egypt, gain in prominence, and finally leave for Canaan, being pursued by the Egyptian army. However, the LORD has a providential way of working through the events in our lives; not only for His glory but also for our benefit (Rom. (Genesis 49:3350:14), After their father died, the brothers of Joseph feared retribution for being responsible for Joseph's deliverance into Egypt as a slave. [c] Thereafter the guilty brothers painted goat's blood on Joseph's coat and showed it to Jacob, who therefore believed Joseph had died (Genesis 37:1235). Combine a one-year tablet and print subscription to BAR with membership in the BAS Library to start your journey into the ancient past today! This was an act of grace. Angered by his running away from her, she made a false accusation of rape, and thus assured his imprisonment[d] (Genesis 39:120). Your email address will not be published. This is the history of the family of Jacob. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die. 3So ten of Josephs brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. Joseph then sent them back to Canaan and Joseph had his servants place the brothers money at the bottom of the food sacks. Come back next week to see the next twists and turns in the amazing story of Joseph and Gods grace. 2. This was not only true in Josephs life, but also in our own. Say: The famine not only affected Egypt, but all the land surrounding it. We might expect Joseph to say, You almost killed me! The remaining brothers returned to their father in Canaan, and told him all that had transpired in Egypt. Following the prediction, Joseph became Vizier, under the name of Zaphnath-Paaneah (Hebrew: pna Pana),[e][19] and was given Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On,[f] to be his wife. God gives these blessings by His grace. Potiphar believed that Joseph was incapable of such an act and petitioned Pharaoh to spare his life. Crowds of people came from all around to buy grain in Egypt. They had to tell Jacob that Simeon was still in Egypt - in prison. Joseph pretended not to understand them. [h] It had been over twenty years since Joseph had last seen his father. In turn, Joseph can be gracious to his brothers who tried to destroy him. 15:1 After these things the Lord appeared to Abram in a vision and sa to him: Ten years have been completed since the day you left Hara two years you have passed here, seven in Egypt, and one year since you have returned from Egypt. In the Bible, Jacob and his sons go to Egypt to escape a famine. Each issue of Biblical Archaeology Review features lavishly illustrated and easy-to-understand articles such as: Fascinating finds from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament periods, The latest scholarship by the world's greatest archaeologists and distinguished scholars, Stunning color photographs, informative maps, and diagrams, Reviews of the latest books on biblical archaeology, 45+ years of Biblical Archaeology Review, 20+ years of Bible Review online, providing critical interpretations of biblical texts. Why should I give you anything to eat? Egypt is located around 8482 KM away from Canaan so if you travel at the consistent speed of 50 KM per hour you can reach Canaan in 169.65 hours. Joseph worked hard for his master and Potiphars wife soon began to desire him. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Josephs brothers came to Egypt to buy food, and they didnt recognize him. [53] These come in the forms of allusions written by the Bb and Bah'u'llh. The Bible doesnt tell us why Joseph chose to keep Simeon, but we can make a thoughtful guess. Joseph had his father embalmed, a process that took forty days. Jacob feared that Benjamin might be hurt and harmed. Jacob and his family came to Egypt through Beersheba (Genesis 46:1-7). His story functions as an explanation for Israel's residence in Egypt. So they named this spot Abel Mizraim. Joseph was put in charge of distributing the food and he did so fairly. We kept on watching his suffering while he pleaded with us! Then Joseph had his brother, Simeon, chained up and put in prison. The period between Abrahams call to enter Canaan (AM 2021) and Jacobs entry into Biblical Egypt is 215 years, calculated from the ages of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the period in Egypt is stated in the Book of Exodus (12:40) as 430 years, although the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch texts both give only 430. God had promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan, not Egypt. Deceptively, Joseph also ordered the steward to put his silver cup in Benjamin's sack. Pharaoh believed Joseph, and followed Gods plan. Rather, he requested to be carried to the land of Canaan to be buried with his forefathers. The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob (From thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), Even by the God of your father who shall help thee; and by the Almighty who shall bless thee With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lieth under, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. [15] Both men had dreams, and Joseph, being able to interpret dreams, asked to hear them. What did Josephs father do when he was reunited with Joseph? They reached Egypt after a 65 kilometers journey where they lived for three years until after the death of Herod in 4 B.C. (Genesis 45:128), Thus, Jacob (also known as Israel) and his entire house of seventy[22] gathered up with all their livestock and began their journey to Egypt. This would have made the journey difficult and slow-going, particularly for those travelling on foot. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? [44] In the Quran the brothers ask Jacob ("Yaqub") to let Joseph go with them. Application: If you listed all of the blessings God has given you, the list might be several miles long! This tendency, although greatly diminished, was followed throughout late antiquity, the Medieval Era, and into the Reformation. Then Israel laid his left hand on the eldest Mannasseh's head and his right hand on the youngest Ephraim's head and blessed Joseph. Joseph had a dream. [5], In rabbinic tradition, he is considered the ancestor of a second Messiah called "Mashiach ben Yosef", who will wage war against the forces of evil alongside Mashiach ben David and die in combat with the enemies of God and Israel. By Gods grace, Joseph realized that God had a purpose for placing him in this position of power, and this purpose was to save his family. Everyone close your eyes for just a minute. But Jacob, whose other name was Israel, did not send Benjamin, Josephs brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. He brought them closer and relayed to them the events that had happened and told them not to fear, that what they had meant for evil, God had meant for good. Say: Last week, we saw that Gods timing is perfect. He then fathered Gad and Asher through Leah's handmaid Zilpah (9 - 13). Bah' commentaries have described these as metaphors with the garment implying the recognition of a manifestation of God. Because God had given Joseph many blessings that he did not deserve, Joseph was able to give his brothers a blessing that they did not deserve (Genesis 43:23). Even so, Joseph was not going to harm Simeon. Or does it? The text does not say how long the famine had been in effect. The answer to this question depends on the definition of far. If one considers far to be the distance between two points on a map, then Canaan was about 100 miles from Egypt. The composition of the story can be dated to the period between the 7th century BCE and the third quarter of the 5th century BCE, which is roughly the period to which scholars date the Book of Genesis. What if instead of looking for the historical Joseph, we examine our sources for the broader historical period in which the biblical story could have been set? Your email address will not be published. Personally, Id prefer that 2023 be referred to as the year 247 using the calendar of these United States, but Ill accept the use of Dennis Littles 2023 (at least he had the right first name!). Joseph, however, recognized his brothers the moment he laid eyes on them. Everythings going against me!, 37 Feel free to put my own two sons to death, Reuben responded to his father, if I dont bring him back to you. - 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV, Props: A pouch of silver coins, and a larger satchel. They explained that the man in charge of Egypt accused them of being spies, and how they told him that they were ten brothers from Canaan. Joseph was about 38 when he and his brothers went to Egypt. Looking for a plausible historical setting, Hallote points to the fact that from the early second millennium B.C.E. Josephs brothers went to Egypt to get grain (Genesis 42:1-24).2. They commemorate him on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers (two Sundays before Christmas) and on Holy and Great Monday (Monday of Holy Week). In the second year of famine,[20] Joseph's half brothers were sent to Egypt to buy goods. This golden diadem featuring heads of gazelles and a stag with alternating rosettes mixes Egyptian and Levantine artistic traditions. Finally, Jacob said: "Now that I have seen your face again, I can die in peace." Jacob Visits Pharaoh Do you think the famine affected them? When the Vizier (Joseph) appeared, they gave him gifts from their father. The steward found the cup in Benjamin's sack - just as he had planted it the night before. "[43] The story has a lot in common with the biblical narrative, but with certain differences. Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt. Simeon is gone. Show your pouch of coins. Joseph's brothers returned to get their father and the rest of the family (Genesis 45:25-28). Jacob's family travels to Egypt to escape the famine, and it is through him that they are given leave to settle in the Land of Goshen (the eastern part of the Nile Delta). Joseph then sent them back to Canaan and Joseph had his servants place the brothers' money at the bottom of the food sacks. Then, when he spoke to him, he said: "Verily, this day, you are with us high in rank and full trusted.". In the period known as theSecondIntermediate Period [c. 17501550 B.C.E. She has also spent many years mentoring Middle School and High School girls. A professor of history at Purchase Collegeof the State University of New York, Hallote examines the archaeological record from different periods of Egyptian history and tries to anchor the biblical story in reliable historical and archaeological sources. The cup-bearer took those grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. But Israel refused saying, "but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he," a declaration he made just as Israel himself was to his firstborn brother Esau. So Josephs ten brothers took silver coins and traveled 200 miles to Egypt. He saw his money in the top of his sack. The group went on a journey that stretched for many years. The story of Joseph and his brothers is one of the most beloved stories in the Bible. The family traveled to Nazareth which took them a journey of at least 170 kilometers. to align themselves with the secular world and remove themselves from the things of God. Did you do anything to deserve your healthy lungs? Furthermore, they thought this important ruler was an Egyptian, not an Israelite. One fateful day Jacob sent Joseph to his brothers, and he was at their mercy. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) PineknollLodge All Rights Reserved, How Far Did Josephs Brothers Travel To Egypt. Joseph is commemorated as one of the Holy Forefathers in the Calendar of Saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church on 26 July. In one Talmudic story, Joseph was buried in the Nile river, as there was some dispute as to which province should be honored by having his tomb within its boundaries. Joseph turned away so his brothers wouldnt see him cry. The evidence. Genesis 42:1-38, Jacob dreams about a ladder and angels at Bethel, Jacob marries Rachel the daughter of Laban, The Cup that held the wine for the King of Egypt, Josephs brothers first trip to Egypt for food, A silver cup belonging to Joseph was put in a Sack, 12 sons of Jacob whom he blesses before he dies, Death of Jacob at one hundred and forty-seven years old, Death of Joseph at one hundred and ten years old, Timeline for the book of Genesis parts one and two . How did Joseph feel about his brothers after they sold him into slavery? (Genesis Rabbah 84:22). 4 Jacob would not send Josephs brother Benjamin to accompany them, because he was saying, Im afraid that hell come to some kind of harm. 5 Israels sons went in a caravan that included others who were going to Egypt to buy grain, because the famine pervaded the land of Canaan, too. With Reuben and Judah's persistence, they persuaded their father to let Benjamin join them for fear of Egyptian retribution (Genesis 42:2943:15). Only Gods grace can help us say No to revenge, and help us be kind to those who have been unkind to us. Did you do anything to earn all of the oxygen you breathe? (Genesis 50:1521), Joseph lived to the age of 110, living to see his great-grandchildren. All of us were the sons of one man. This goes back to before Josephs brothers sold him into slavery. Weve come to buy food. How far was Egypt from the promised land? Oversimplifications allow one to ignore compelling evidence that runs contrary to ones views, and can lead others down faulty trails. Lavish New Kingdom Tomb Uncovered at Saqqara. For the complete argument and to see how it may fit the latest theories about the Exodus, read Rachel Hallotes article Does Archaeology Confirm Josephs Time in Egypt? published in the Fall 2021 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. They said to one another, God is certainly punishing us because of our brother (Joseph). And one brother is gone. - Genesis 42:9b-13. The story concludes by Joseph praying, "My lord you have indeed bestowed upon me of the sovereignty and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams- the (only) creator of heavens and the earth! How Old Was Joseph When Brothers Came To Egypt. Then he revealed to the Hebrews that he was in fact their brother, Joseph. Special thanks to John R. Cross, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, GoodSeed International. So, out of all the brothers who wanted to harm Joseph, Simeon was the oldest. According to the Midrash, Joseph would have been immediately executed by the sexual assault charge against him by Potiphar's wife. Cause me to die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous" (Qur'an 12:101). If something should harm him as you travel, then itll be death for me and my sad, gray hair! The dream that God had given to Joseph as a young man had finally come true. It attests to the power and grandeur of the Hyksos kings.Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift,1968. [50] He thus charged his sons to go and inquire about Joseph and his brother and despair not of God's mercy. When his starving brothers come from Canaan to Egypt, Joseph allows their entire households to settle in a region called Goshen. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 34), and a whole chapter Yusuf (sura xii.) He was afraid Benjamin might be harmed. The rest of Josephs brothers stay behind in Canaan. A version of this post first appeared in Bible History Daily in September, 2021. The biblical figure of Joseph offers one of the most fascinating narratives of the Hebrew Bible. When Joseph saw his father from a distance, he stepped down from his royal carriage and ran forward to greet him. They turned to each other and said, What has God done to us? - Genesis 42:27-28. Jacobs large family ran out of food, and if they didnt find food soon they would die! According to Legend of the Jews, the name of Potiphar's wife is Zuleikha and when she was enticing Joseph to give up to her sinful passion, God appeared unto him, holding the foundation of earth (Eben Shetiyah), that He would destroy the world if Joseph touched her. The children of Israel remembered their oath, and when they left Egypt during the Exodus, Moses took Joseph's bones with him. Jacob refused to allow Benjamin to go to Egypt. How many of Josephs brothers travel to Egypt to buy grain? The cup-bearer's dream was about a vine with three branches that was budding. How many miles did Joseph travel from Canaan to Egypt? In the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite, he is known as "Joseph the all-comely", a reference not only to his physical appearance, but more importantly to the beauty of his spiritual life. This sounds familiar. Then he prepared a great ceremonial journey to Canaan leading the servants of the Pharaoh, and the elders of the houses Israel and Egypt beyond the Jordan River. Did the Israelites travel from Israel into Egypt? They also discovered that all of their money sacks still had money in them, and they were dismayed. Assuming this article summary is accurate, then the underlying article misses, among many other details, that (1) there is plenty of evidence that Hebrews lived in Egypt/Goshen at the time of the earliest levels of Avaris, predating the Hykosos, where abundant evidence for (for example, the Palace excavations, tomb excavations and artifacts including daggers) as well as the grain storage labyrinth along the canal that bears the name of Joseph to this day (at Hawara), (2) how was it that Caleb fought a battle from Canaan against a Hyskosos king (Shishak) if the Israelis were, well, *with* the Hykosos in Goshem (note also that this predates the 18th Dynasty (barely))?, and (3) it groups multiple of the Hykosos identities into one grand identify (versus the Lesser Hykosos, Greater Hykosos and the Shepards). Joseph interpreted this dream as the cup-bearer being restored as cup-bearer to the Pharaoh within three days. At one time, God had appeared to Jacob and made awesome promises to him personally (Genesis 28:13-15). Then, when the famine hit, and no food would grow, people came to Joseph to buy grain from the storehouses. He co-ruled with his son, Sensuret II during the 12th Dynasty of Egypt. Seeing his brothers this day might be the biggest challenge of Josephs life. But Gods grace gave Joseph the power to do what was right, not what was natural (Titus 2:11-12). The brothers were frozen and could not utter a word. The brothers conferred amongst themselves speaking in Hebrew, reflecting on the wrong they had done to Joseph. Reuben proposes to put Joseph in a pit and do not shed blood. Here is your ticket to join us as we discover more and more about the biblical world and its people. Heres where we are right now. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were greatly distressed. Joseph sent them back without Simeon (Genesis 42:25-38).3. Joseph sent them back without Simeon (Genesis 42:25-38). Thus we can say that Joseph was 39 years old when Jacob went to Egypt. Young Joseph lives in southern Canaan with his father, Jacob, and his many siblings. Their father Jacob said to them, You have taken my children away from me. Joseph was born in the land of Canaan in the city of Hebron. You have lungs that work and a planet full of oxygen. - 2 Corinthians 9:8. He accused us of being spies! They reached Egypt after a 65 kilometers journey where they lived for three years until after the death of Herod in 4 B.C. In response, Judah pleaded with the Vizier that Benjamin be allowed to return to his father, and that he himself be kept in Benjamin's place as a slave (Genesis 44). No mystery here. Joseph was born in the land of Canaan in the city of Hebron. The family traveled to Nazareth which took them a journey of at least 170 kilometers. There Joseph gains the favor of Pharaoh, is promoted into the highest office, and acquires grain supplies that eventually save Egypt during a famine. He could not control himself any longer and so he sent the Egyptian men out of the house. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. [28] Impressed with Joseph's interpretations, Pharaoh appoints him as second-in-command (Gen 41:41). Joseph interpreted this dream as the baker being hanged within three days and having his flesh eaten by birds. There he was bought by Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh the king of Egypt. During the seven years of abundance, Joseph ensured that the storehouses were full and that all produce was weighed. It is described in the Quran as the 'best of stories'. Now you want to take Benjamin. How Far Did Joseph's Brothers Travel To Egypt August 2, 2022 Brinley Williams Joseph And His Brothers, Jacob Goes To Egypt The distance between Canaan and Egypt is about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), so Joseph's brothers would have had to travel for at least a month to get there. Say: Josephs brothers didnt see this gift as a blessing at all. Then the Hebrew phrase shm midyanm srm in verse 28 describes Midianite traders.

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