ADVERTISEMENT.
Jacob
had Twelve Children, whereof Joseph and Benjamin were
the two youngest, and were born to him of Rachel. The superior
Affection which Jacob shewed towards Joseph, and the Account
which the latter gave his Brethren of some of his Dreams denoting
his own future Grandeur and their Subjection to him, raised their Jealousy
and Hatred against him. Hereupon they take an Opportunity, when
they were one Day in the Field together, to throw him first into a Pit, and
afterwards to draw him out again, and sell him to a Company of mercantile
Ishmaelites who were going down to Egypt, persuading their Father Jacob, by
the Stratagem of dipping a Coat which they had strip'd him of, in Blood,
that he was devoured by a wild Beast.
The Ishmaelites being arrived with Joseph in Egypt, sold him to Potiphar, a
principal Officer in Pharaoh's Court, with whom he lived in high Favour a
considerable time, 'till at length, upon the false Accusation of Potiphar's Wife,
he was disgraced and cast into Prison. During his Confinement, the chief
Butler, and chief Baker of Pharaoh's Court, were thrown into the same Place
by the King's Order, both of whom having a Dream in the same Night,
receiv'd an Interpretation of them from Joseph, which proved true, the
chief Baker being within three Days hanged on a Tree, and the chief
Butler restored to his Employment as was foretold; but being taken into Favour
again thought no more of his Interpreter, as he had promised to do.
Here then our Drama finds Joseph, two Years after this Incident had happened.
At this Time Pharaoh himself having had two Dreams in the same
Night, the First, of Seven fat Kine coming out of the River, which were devoured
by Seven other lean Kine which came up after them; and the Second,
of Seven full Ears of Corn devoured by Seven thin ones, the Wisemen
of Egypt could not interpret them. The chief Butler calling Joseph to Remembrance
upon this Occasion, spoke of him to the King, who immediately
order'd that he should be brought before him; of whom having received a satisfactory
Explication of his Dreams, as they were both of the same Purport,
and pointed out Seven Years of Plenty, and Seven of Famine to succeed
them, Pharaoh appointed him Ruler over the Land of Egypt, to lay up
in the Years of Plenty a Store for a Supply in those of Dearth; at the same
time giving him to Wife Asenath the Daughter of Potiphera, High-Priest of
On, by whom, during the Years of Plenty, he had two Sons.
The Famine having at length spread itself into all Countries, Jacob hearing
there was Corn in Egypt, sent his ten elder Sons thither to purchase some,
keeping Benjamin the youngest with him for fear some Accident should befal
him. Joseph immediately knew his Brethren, and seeing them at his Feet, he
remembred his former Dreams, but did not make himself known to them,
speaking roughly, treating them as Spies, and ordering them to return and
bring down their younger Brother whom they spoke of, as a Proof of their
Veracity. Having detained one of them in Prison, by way of a Hostage, he
commanded his Officers privately, to restore every one of the others his
Money into his Sack, and to send them away with their Corn, for the Land
of
Canaan. Having, after a long time, prevailed on
Jacob to let
Benjamin
go with them, they returned to
Egypt and presented him before
Joseph, who
tenderly embraced him, and was so sensibly affected by the Interview, that,
not being able to refrain from Tears, he was obliged to leave the Room.
After this he made a grand Entertainment for them, giving at the same time
a secret Order to his Officers to put his Silver Cup into
Benjamin's Sack.
They had no sooner left the Town the next Morning but they were sent
after, brought before Joseph again, and charged with stealing this Cup, when,
their Sacks being examined, and the Cup found in that belonging to Benjamin,
he was doom'd to continue a Slave to Joseph.
The rest of the Brethren refusing to return to their Father without Benjamin
with them, and one of them passionately requesting to become a Bondman in
his stead, Joseph could refrain no longer, but with Tears gushing from his
Eyes, discovered himself to them. This News coming soon to Pharaoh, he
order'd Joseph to send immediately, and bring down his Father and whole
Family into Egypt, appointing one of the most fruitful Parts of the Country
for their Habitation.
