Joseph of Egypt (Joseph the Beautiful): family, aphorisms

The story of Joseph is full of joy and misery. Sorrow, persecuted him for many years. He endured them with patience and piety and came out victorious. The story of Joseph begins and ends with dreams. This is a story of intrigue and deceit, envy and lies, pride and passion. An instructive story of patience and faithfulness, courage and compassion.

Joseph of Egypt - who is this?

Joseph is one of the twelve sons of Jacob, the biblical patriarch. The grandson of Abraham, Jacob, in his youth, bought his birthright by cunning for a lentil stew at Brother Esau.

Once Jacob dreamed a dream that his family would leave someone who would carry the "light of God's house" and "all the tribes of the earth" would worship him. All the days he was betrayed by Jacob to God, honored his commandments and treated his family with justice, respect and love. This was taught to Joseph and his brothers.

Childhood of Joseph

Joseph was a beautiful and happy child. The father was very fond of this son, who was born when Jacob was already in his advanced years. He called it "Son of my old age". And he made to Joseph a long colored garment, which became the envy of his older brothers. After all, long clothes were worn only by those who did not work in the field.

Dreams of Joseph

Once Joseph dreamed a dream in which he and his brothers knitted sheaves. The sheaf of Joseph stood up, and the sheaves of the brothers bowed to him. I told the brothers about my dream Joseph. And his brothers became even more angry with him.

The older brothers were much older than Joseph and considered themselves worthy of respect. But blinded by hatred, they did not want to understand and accept that their brother is younger in the family, so the father treats him with special love. Envy led them astray and gave them the wrong direction, because of it they decided to revenge, nurturing her plan.

Soon Joseph dreamed a dream in which the sun, the moon and the stars bowed to him, according to the number of his brothers - eleven. Joseph told the brothers and father who scolded him, saying: "Will we bow to your mother and your brothers?" However, Jacob saw to himself that the dream of his beloved son was connected with the fulfillment of the prophecy.

Insidiousness and deceit

The whole family of Jacob grazed and bred sheep - engaged in cattle breeding. One day the brothers went to feed the herds in remote pastures, and Jacob sent Joseph to them to find out whether everything was good with the brothers, whether they were healthy or if the cattle were intact. Brothers from afar saw Joseph and said: "There goes the king of dreams." Having conspired, they decided to kill him, and his father explained the death of his brother by tearing his wild beast. But Reuben, one of them, persuaded the others not to shed blood, but to throw him into the ditch. So they did, threw Joseph in the ditch and took off his clothes to show his father.

The brothers sat on the edge of the moat and without any qualms of conscience they began to eat bread. Then a caravan appeared in the distance, and then Judas's brother offered to sell Joseph, and not kill - he was still his brother. The caravan came close, and the brothers dragged Joseph out of the ditch. Their cruel hearts did not feel pity - they were sure of their impunity, and their cunning plan worked out as well as possible. And to sell a person into slavery meant the same thing as death. In horror, Joseph was crying and pleading for mercy.

A beautiful self and a young man could bring a lot of money, and the merchants did not hide their excitement and joy from the forthcoming profits. They did not ask about Joseph. This is exactly what the brothers expected.

The caravan took Joseph to Egypt, and the brothers stabbed a kid and smeared the unfortunate's clothes with blood. Weeping and screaming, they returned to their father, who was waiting for them. Hearing their sobs, Jacob immediately realized that his deepest fear was justified.

The darkness of the night was like the darkness of their hearts. The lies easily descended from their tongue, and they told the father that the younger brother had been torn by a predatory beast, and showed bloody clothes. Jacob's heart contracted with fear and pain. The father recognized the clothes of his son, and, heartbroken, mourned for many days his beloved son. What was he to do? He shouted and cried out to God.

Sold to slavery

The day changed night, fear changed hope. I prayed to God and Joseph hoped for the best. The Egyptian slave market at this time was full of people: someone walked around, looking at the live goods, and someone unashamedly traded the unfortunate.

A handsome young man attracted the attention of many, and rates on him continued to grow. When the price reached the limit, the traders sold Joseph to the treasurer and the head of Egypt's bodyguards, Potiphar.

So the young man got into the house of the second person after Pharaoh. Potiphar saw that everything that this slave did was successful. And then he appointed an obedient and polite young man to run his house. Joseph, by the years, was wise and skillfully ruled the house of Potiphar, multiplying his wealth.

Beauty and testing

Living in the house of the courtier Pharaoh, Joseph grew up and matured. Lovely person and camp, he liked the wife of Potiphar. She came every day to look at him and even tried to seduce her. But an honest and noble youth rejected her and fled, leaving her own outer garments in her hands.

A wealthy and noble woman, whose beauty could not be resisted by many men, was offended by the fact that some slave abandoned her. Then she deceived all deceitfully, saying that the servant had molested her. Potiphar felt bitter and offended that he trusted Joseph, and he acted so disgustingly. Raging with anger, the courtier sent Joseph to prison.

From the dungeon to the palace

After some time, the Egyptian cupbearer and the baker were guilty before the king. He was angry and ordered them to be imprisoned. And they cast them into the dungeon, where Joseph had already sat.

Once these prisoners saw dreams. In the morning Joseph found them confused and puzzled, for they could not understand the meaning of their visions. Joseph explained everything, telling the baker that he would be executed, and the cupbearer promised good-will in the eyes of the king and foretold faithful service to Pharaoh.

Joseph the cupbearer asked: "Let the Egyptian king know about me. That I am stolen from the land of the Jews and undeservedly thrown into prison. " In three days it all happened, as predicted by Joseph. Hlebodar was executed, and the cupbearer was again returned to the king to serve. But he forgot the promise given to Joseph, to say a word to the king of Egypt. And Joseph remained in prison.

Meaning of Dreams

Two years after that, Pharaoh dreamed a dream - lean and thin cows came out of the river and ate obese. And there were seven of these cows. The dream greatly grieved and puzzled him. He summoned all the interpreters and sages to himself, but no one could explain his dreams to him. Then he called all his servants and slaves - the king of Egypt was so saddened by the dream. And then the cupbearer remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh about a young man from the land of the Jews who was sitting in prison. He told me that when he dreamed of a breadmaker, it was exactly what happened, as Joseph explained. Pharaoh immediately sent for him into prison.

Joseph appeared before Pharaoh and explained the meaning of his dreams: seven years of abundance come, but then seven years will be a great famine. He said: "The dream was repeated twice. Soon it will be fulfilled, the king. Dreams do not exist without meaning. It is necessary to see this disaster and fill the vaults in abundance during abundance, so as not to perish during the years of famine. "

The wise and wise young man liked the Egyptian king. He said to Joseph: "You will be over my house, only I will be higher than my throne." He put a ring on his hand from his hand and told everyone to bow to him. It was Joseph at that time thirty years.

The reign of Joseph

The great famine was on all the earth. But in Egypt, under the wise rule of Joseph, the granaries of bread were full. From the whole earth people followed him to Egypt. Jacob, the father of Joseph, also sent his sons to buy bread. He left home only the youngest son of Benjamin. The brothers came to Joseph and begged for bread, kneeling before him.

He asked them about Joseph's family. The brothers said that they had twelve fathers, but the younger one stayed with his father, and the other did not. Joseph accused them of treachery and told them to prove they were telling the truth, one of them let him return home and bring his younger brother.

They brought Joseph's brother Benjamin to Joseph. Tears came to his eyes, and he opened to the brothers. Pharaoh heard that brothers came to Joseph and said: "Bring your father and family, I will give the best in the land of Egypt for your children and wives. Come and live here. "

Patience is rewarded

Jacob gathered all his livestock and property, all children and grandchildren. He brought his whole family to Egypt. Pharaoh gave them the best lands and trusted his cattle. Many years Jacob and his entire family lived in Egypt. All his affairs in the land of Egypt were ruled by his son Joseph. Pharaoh trusted him and valued him for his wisdom and courage.

Here is a story of patience and hope that helped Joseph not only to survive, but also to become the second after the king of Egypt. In order to understand how great and unusual Joseph's way was, one must know what Judea, Ancient Egypt represented in those days, and what were the relations between the peoples inhabiting these lands.

The amazing "Egyptian"

In the same story it is told that the family of Jacob, who came from Judea, was served separately. Joseph was also given special attention to the Egyptians. "Egyptians can not eat with Jews," because "it's an abomination to the Egyptians." Joseph warns his brothers: "Pharaoh will call you and ask:" What is your occupation? "Answer:" We have been cattle-breeders to this day. " Because "every shepherd of sheep is an abomination to the Egyptians."

Despite such a complicated relationship between peoples, he won the respect of the king of Egypt. In those days it was a powerful and powerful country. And to receive the favor of her ruler and recognition was rather difficult. Joseph succeeded. He was so valuable in the eyes of the Egyptian people that Pharaoh was merciful to the whole family of Joseph.

Reading this story, you understand how unusual Egyptian Joseph was. The aphorisms associated with it, and in our time remind us of the amazing Egyptian.

So, by "Pharaoh's cows" a person, as a rule, means someone who does not have anything for future use, or a situation that can not be corrected by any efforts. In an artistic environment, they are called by people without talent, enjoying the fruits of their talented colleagues.

Arguing about financial problems and the crisis, the publicists often use the aphorism "seven skinny cows" or "the time of skinny cows". And Joseph the Beautiful can be called a beautiful and pure youth, who are alien to temptations.