The story of Joseph

Previously, I made a comment that sibling rivalry is one of the main themes running through Genesis.
Case#1: Cain vs. Abel
This was the most primitive and brutal case. Out of jealousy, Cain murdered Abel. Nobody intervened. Their father (be it Adam or God) did not stop this tragedy. Cain refused to be the keeper of his own brother (Genesis 4:9).


Case#2: Ishmael vs. Isaac
Abraham, their father, favoured the younger son because Ishmael was born of a slave. Isaac was pampered and sheltered by his father. The two sons barely had any conflicts. At most, Ishmael only posed a threat to Isaac. Isaac was a sure winner. This is diametrically contrary to the first case.


Case#3: Esau vs. Jacob
Seldom do sibling rivalries take place on equal ground. Usually, one side has a greater advantage, such as physical strength, quick wit and even parental backing. While Isaac had the absolute background from his father Abraham, Jacob only had his mother's. Had Esau not married Hittite wives, Jacob would not have obtained Isaac's blessing. Jacob had to work twenty years to redeem his own life. He had to be cautious towards his brother even after their reconciliation (Genesis 33:5-15).


Case#4: Joseph vs. his brothers
Joseph was the favoured son of Jacob and was gifted in dreams. Therefore, he was naive in the beginning. He was naive in bring bad reports of his brothers to Jacob. He was naive in showing off the colourful garment his father made him and worst of all, he was naive in openly revealing his offensive dreams. His brother decided to kill him. Reuben the eldest brother saved his life. Judah sold him to a new career in Egypt (Genesis 37:21-27). But God was with Joseph and tutored him. In the end, this betrayed brother saved the whole family from famine. This is the best possible outcome of all sibling rivalries. May God be praised forever. Amen.

My Lord, You are one and true. You make good out of evil. You turn our mess into miracles. Glory and praise be Yours forever and ever. Amen.

Appendix:To round up the study of Genesis, I would like to collect all the etymology stories surrounding Isaac and Jacob in this appendix.
And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red pottage, for I am famished!" Therefore his name was called Edom (Genesis 25:30).

וַיֹּאמֶר עֵשָׂו אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, הַלְעִיטֵנִי נָא מִן-הָאָדֹם הָאָדֹם הַזֶּה--כִּי עָיֵף, אָנֹכִי; עַל-כֵּן קָרָא-שְׁמוֹ, אֱדוֹם

the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him (Genesis 26:20).

וַיָּרִיבוּ רֹעֵי גְרָר, עִם-רֹעֵי יִצְחָק לֵאמֹר--לָנוּ הַמָּיִם; וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם-הַבְּאֵר עֵשֶׂק, כִּי הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ עִמּוֹ

And he moved from there and dug another well, and over that they did not quarrel; so he called its name Rehoboth, saying, "For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land." (Genesis 26:22)

וַיַּעְתֵּק מִשָּׁם, וַיַּחְפֹּר בְּאֵר אַחֶרֶת, וְלֹא רָבוּ, עָלֶיהָ; וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמָהּ, רְחֹבוֹת, וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי-עַתָּה הִרְחִיב יְהוָה לָנוּ, וּפָרִינוּ בָאָרֶץ

He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day (Genesis 26:33).

וַיִּקְרָא אֹתָהּ, שִׁבְעָה; עַל-כֵּן שֵׁם-הָעִיר בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע, עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

And he was afraid, and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God (Bethel), and this is the gate of heaven." (Genesis 28:17)

וַיִּירָא, וַיֹּאמַר, מַה-נּוֹרָא, הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה:  אֵין זֶה, כִּי אִם-בֵּית אֱלֹהִים, וְזֶה, שַׁעַר הַשָּׁמָיִם

And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, "Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; surely now my husband will love me." (Genesis 29:32)

וַתַּהַר לֵאָה וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן, וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ רְאוּבֵן:  כִּי אָמְרָה, כִּי-רָאָה יְהוָה בְּעָנְיִי--כִּי עַתָּה, יֶאֱהָבַנִי אִישִׁי

She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also"; and she called his name Simeon (Genesis 29:33).

וַתַּהַר עוֹד, וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן, וַתֹּאמֶר כִּי-שָׁמַע יְהוָה כִּי-שְׂנוּאָה אָנֹכִי, וַיִּתֶּן-לִי גַּם-אֶת-זֶה; וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ, שִׁמְעוֹן

Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, "Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons"; therefore his name was called Levi (Genesis 29:34).

וַתַּהַר עוֹד, וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן, וַתֹּאמֶר עַתָּה הַפַּעַם יִלָּוֶה אִישִׁי אֵלַי, כִּי-יָלַדְתִּי לוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה בָנִים; עַל-כֵּן קָרָא-שְׁמוֹ, לֵוִי

And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "This time I will praise the LORD"; therefore she called his name Judah; then she ceased bearing (Genesis 29:35).

וַתַּהַר עוֹד וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן, וַתֹּאמֶר הַפַּעַם אוֹדֶה אֶת-יְהוָה--עַל-כֵּן קָרְאָה שְׁמוֹ, יְהוּדָה; וַתַּעֲמֹד, מִלֶּדֶת

Then Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son"; therefore she called his name Dan (Genesis 30:6).

וַתֹּאמֶר רָחֵל, דָּנַנִּי אֱלֹהִים, וְגַם שָׁמַע בְּקֹלִי, וַיִּתֶּן-לִי בֵּן; עַל-כֵּן קָרְאָה שְׁמוֹ, דָּן

Then Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed"; so she called his name Naphtali (Genesis 30:8).

וַתֹּאמֶר רָחֵל, נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים נִפְתַּלְתִּי עִם-אֲחֹתִי--גַּם-יָכֹלְתִּי; וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ, נַפְתָּלִי

And Leah said, "Good fortune!" so she called his name Gad (Genesis 30:11).

וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה, בגד (בָּא גָד); וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ, גָּד

And Leah said, "Happy am I! For the women will call me happy"; so she called his name Asher (Genesis 30:13).

וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה--בְּאָשְׁרִי, כִּי אִשְּׁרוּנִי בָּנוֹת; וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ, אָשֵׁר

Leah said, "God has given me my hire because I gave my maid to my husband"; so she called his name Issachar (Genesis 30:18).

וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה, נָתַן אֱלֹהִים שְׂכָרִי, אֲשֶׁר-נָתַתִּי שִׁפְחָתִי, לְאִישִׁי; וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ, יִשָּׂשכָר

Then Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good dowry; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons"; so she called his name Zebulun (Genesis 30:20).

וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה, זְבָדַנִי אֱלֹהִים אֹתִי זֵבֶד טוֹב--הַפַּעַם יִזְבְּלֵנִי אִישִׁי, כִּי-יָלַדְתִּי לוֹ שִׁשָּׁה בָנִים; וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ, זְבֻלוּן

She conceived and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach";
and she called his name Joseph (Genesis 30:23-24a).

וַתַּהַר, וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן; וַתֹּאמֶר, אָסַף אֱלֹהִים אֶת-חֶרְפָּתִי.
וַתִּקְרָא אֶת-שְׁמוֹ יוֹסֵף

Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." Therefore he named it Galeed (Genesis 31:48).

וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן, הַגַּל הַזֶּה עֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינְךָ הַיּוֹם; עַל-כֵּן קָרָא-שְׁמוֹ, גַּלְעֵד

Then he said, "Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." (Genesis 32:28)

וַיֹּאמֶר, לֹא יַעֲקֹב יֵאָמֵר עוֹד שִׁמְךָ--כִּי, אִם-יִשְׂרָאֵל: כִּי-שָׂרִיתָ עִם-אֱלֹהִים וְעִם-אֲנָשִׁים, וַתּוּכָל

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." (Genesis 32:30)

וַיִּקְרָא יַעֲקֹב שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם, פְּנִיאֵל: כִּי-רָאִיתִי אֱלֹהִים פָּנִים אֶל-פָּנִים, וַתִּנָּצֵל נַפְשִׁי

But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house, and made booths for his cattle; therefore the name of the place is called Succoth (Genesis 33:17).

וְיַעֲקֹב נָסַע סֻכֹּתָה, וַיִּבֶן לוֹ בָּיִת; וּלְמִקְנֵהוּ עָשָׂה סֻכֹּת, עַל-כֵּן קָרָא שֵׁם-הַמָּקוֹם סֻכּוֹת