Sold Into Slavery The Seeds of Jealousy Genesis

Sold Into Slavery

The Seeds of Jealousy Genesis 37: 1 -4 • The sons of Bilhah, Dan and Naphtali, and Zilpah, Gad and Asher, did something wrong while tending their father’s sheep – When Joseph informed their father, their hearts were stirred against him • Joseph, Rachel’s firstborn, was Jacob’s favorite – Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors – His brothers concluded he was loved more and hated him for it and would not speak to him

Joseph’s Dreams Genesis 37: 5 -11 • Joseph had a dream that made them hate him more – The sheaves of his brothers bowed down to the sheave of Joseph, which stood erect – They concluded he would rule over them • Joseph had another dream – The sun, moon and stars bowed down to Joseph – Jacob kept the matter in his heart

An Opportunity for Revenge Genesis 37: 12 -22 • Jacob sent Joseph to look for his brothers as they tended their father’s sheep near Shechem • After a man told him where they went, Joseph found them in Dothan – Some wanted to kill him, but Reuben convinced them to throw him in an empty cistern – He planned to rescue him and return him safely to their father

Sold By His Brothers Genesis 37: 23 -36 • Stripped of his coat, Joseph was cast into the pit • A caravan of Ishmaelites going from Gilead to Egypt was sighted by the brothers – Judah suggested they sell Joseph – They received 20 shekels of silver – They took his coat dipped in goat’s blood to their father • Jacob assumed a wild animal had killed him – Jacob mourned and would not be comforted – Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard

Judah’s Marriage to a Canaanite Woman Genesis 38: 1 -10 • Judah married a Canaanite woman and had 3 sons, Er, Onan and Shelah • Judah arranged a marriage contract for Er – Before Er and Tamar could bear children, God killed Er for wickedness – By the law of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25: 510), Judah gave Tamar to Onan – Onan, apparantly to avoid bearing a son to his brother, spilled his semen on the ground and God killed him for this act

Judah’s Adultery with Tamar Genesis 38: 11 -30 • Judah told Tamar to wait until Shelah reached an age for marriage • When Judah went to Timnah to shear sheep after the death of his wife, Tamar covered herself with a harlot’s veil • When Tamar was found with child, Judah would have burned her if she had not produced the signet ring and staff – She bore Perez and Zerah – The Lord came from the tribe of Judah