 | Joseph And His Brethren |  |
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
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.
| Joseph And His Brethren | |