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The story of Joseph is one of the most dramatic in the Bible. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph rose from a prisoner to become the second most powerful man in Egypt through his God-given ability to interpret dreams and his wise administration (Gen 41:39-43). This remarkable rise to power sets the stage for a pivotal moment in Genesis 42. Will the testing of Joseph’s brothers reveal their character?

In this chapter, we witness a critical turn in Joseph’s story. As Joseph foretold, a severe famine has struck the land, affecting not only Egypt but also Canaan where Jacob and his sons reside (Gen 41:56-57). Hearing that there is grain in Egypt, Jacob sends ten of his sons to buy food (Gen 42:1-2). Unbeknownst to them, they’re about to encounter their long-lost brother Joseph, now a powerful figure in Egypt. 

In the previous post, I mentioned that Joseph arrived in Egypt around 1683 BC and rose to power in 1670 BC. I believe it’s worth dedicating a blog article to explain how I made these estimates. Anyone familiar with dating Old Testament events, particularly those before the time of the kings, knows how challenging it can be to pinpoint exact dates. As a result, people often have different opinions about when these events occurred, with estimates clustering around various starting assumptions or presuppositions.

In this post, I’ll outline how I arrived at my estimates for Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt, using only the information provided in the Bible. Of course, everyone makes this claim, right? I’m not dogmatic about these dates because a single overlooked biblical reference can derail even the most carefully calculated estimates. So, it’s essential to approach these matters with a bit of grace.

Joseph, the young son of Jacob, found himself in Egypt. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph was purchased by Ishmaelite traders who in turn sold him to an Egyptian named Potiphar (Gen 37:28). Actions the brothers meant for evil, God meant for good (Gen 50:20) setting the stage for one of the Bible’s most compelling stories of divine providence.

As we read Genesis 39, an interesting detail catches our attention. Three times within the chapter, the text explicitly states that Potiphar is an Egyptian (Gen 39:1, 2, 5). Shouldn’t one mention suffice? They were in Egypt after all. Why emphasize Potiphar’s ethnicity so emphatically? The answer lies in the fascinating historical events of the time. During this period, native Egyptians did not rule lower Egypt. Instead, a group known as the Hyksos controlled the region.

Why did God send Israel to Egypt? What purpose did their sojourn there serve? Interpreters have proposed various reasons for this move. One compelling argument is that God primarily intended to isolate His chosen people from the surrounding nations. This isolation was crucial to preserve their unique identity. It would ensure they could fulfill their divine purpose of blessing all nations.

God had promised Abram that He would bless all nations of the earth through his offspring (Gen 12:3). If Abraham’s family merged with other cultures, they would prevent God from fulfilling His promises. The book of Genesis provides several examples of how Isaac’s offspring were beginning to merge into the surrounding cultures and adopt their practices and behaviors. This was a trend that threatened to derail God’s plan for Abraham’s lineage. Let’s examine some of these instances and explore how they may have necessitated divine intervention.