Descriptions
Genesis 37:2–50:26
Toledot of Jacob
Joseph Story
David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament
- atrouble between Joseph and brothers37:2–11they hate him
- a′
- bsexual temptation involving Judah38:1–30Tamar successfully entices Judah to have sex with her; she keeps his ring and staff to produce as condemning evidence later
- b′sexual temptation involving Joseph39:1–23Potiphar's wife unsuccessfully tries to seduce Joseph; she keeps his cloak to produce as condemning evidence later
- cJoseph interprets two dreams of prison mates40:1–23
- c′Joseph interprets two dreams of pharaoh41:1–57
- dbrothers come to Egypt for food42:1–38they bow to Joseph; Joseph fills sacks with grain, money; Reuben offers his sons as surety for Benjamin
- d′brothers come to Egypt for food43:1–44:3they bow to Joseph; Joseph fills sacks with grain, money; Judah offers himself as surety for Benjamin
- eJoseph has one of his family brought to him44:4–45:15including all his brothers; weeping; joyful reunion
- e′Joseph has all his family brought to him45:16–47:12including all his brothers, their families, and his father; weeping; joyful reunion
- fprospering in Egypt: Joseph in ascendancy47:13–26Joseph prospers in his new role at Egypt; Egyptians are impoverished and enslaved to him; Joseph gives Egyptians provisions
- f′prospering on Jacob's deathbed47:27–49:32Joseph's family prospers and flourishes (cf. 47:27); Jacob's blessings cover sons
- gdeath of patriarch: Jacob49:33–50:14Jacob dies
- g′death of patriarch: Joseph50:15–26Joseph dies
Symmetry
David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament
- aintroduction: beginning of Joseph story37:2–11Joseph's dream that brothers will bow down; brothers hate Joseph; they cannot speak kindly to him; Joseph's age
- bgrievous mourning in Hebron37:12–36Jacob weeps over “death” of Joseph in Hebron when brothers take Joseph's cloak back to Jacob; Jacob refers to his own future death; Joseph goes from Canaan to Egypt (not back to father in Hebron)
- c
- dJoseph's enslavement to Egyptian39:1–23he is sold (mākar in 37:27–28), purchased (qānā), becomes a servant (ʿebed) to an Egyptian; finds favor in the eyes of (māṣāʾ ḥēn běʿênāyw) his master (ʾădōnāyw); he is second only to his master; in charge of Egyptian's bread (leḥem)
- edisfavor at pharaoh's court40:1–23dishonoring and expulsion of Egyptian servants; imprisonment; life and death
- fJoseph's revelation of pharaoh's dreams41:1–57promotion to second to pharaoh; gives God credit
- gCENTER: brothers come to Egypt for food42:1–38
- g′CENTER: brothers come to Egypt for food43:1–44:3
- f′Joseph's revelation of his identity to brothers44:4–45:15he is second to pharaoh; gives God credit
- e′favor at pharaoh's court45:16–47:12honoring and reception of Joseph's family into court; granted good place to live in Goshen; life and death
- d′Joseph's enslavement of Egyptians47:13–26they are sold (mākar), purchased (qānā) by him, and become his servants (ʿebed); seek to find favor in the eyes of (māṣāʾ ḥēn běʿênayim) Joseph their master (ʾădōnî); he is second only to pharaoh; in charge of Egyptians' bread (leḥem)
- c′reversal of elder and younger sons of Joseph47:27–49:32despite Joseph's trying to uncross Jacob's hands (yāḏ) when blessing his sons: reversal of Judah (elder) and Joseph (younger) as firstborn
- b′grievous mourning near Hebron49:33–50:14Joseph weeps over death of Jacob near Hebron when he and brothers take Jacob's body back to Hebron; Jacob's death; Joseph goes from Canaan back to Egypt
- a′conclusion: end of Joseph story50:15–26Joseph's brothers bow down before him; fear that he will hate them; he speaks kindly to them; Joseph's final age, and death
Symmetry by Halves
David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament
Each half of the Joseph story forms a self-contained chiasm with its own center.
- I
- II