Suggested changes to the Joseph

drawing from Logos. Proposed by Rick Moe, Golden Hills

Community Church, Brentwood, CA.

(925) 516-0653, ext. 7124.

rickmoe@goldenhills.org

“Many-colored coat”—NIV footnote on Genesis 37:3 says, “richly ornamented robe. A mark of Jacob’s favoritism.” Scholars and translators have determined the Hebrew word doesn’t mean “many colors,” but, “richly ornamented”.

“Joseph holds a brother hostage”—I would recommend a different word than “hostage” which has very negative connotations. I would recommend, “Joseph put one brother in prison”

“Joseph’s remains carried from Egypt during the Exodus”—This is true, but the line down from the statement to the timeline (with a dot) makes it seem like the Exodus occurs two years after Joseph’s death. Better to remove the line or shorten it like here.

“Sold to Potiphar, captain of the royal Egyptian guard”—The Bible says this happened when Joseph was 17 years old. So you could put the line all the way down to the timeline and add a dot like you did here. (I added a line and the dot).

The big issue with this drawing is the location of things. Canaan is not south of the Dead Sea; the Arabah is. Shechem is north of Jerusalem, and what is labeled as Shechem is where Kadesh-Barnea is located. Also Jerusalem, Jericho and Gilgal are in the wrong locations, and the location of Gilgal is uncertain still. I’ve included a map where these are located.

To Mesopotamia and Padan Aram

Salem (Jerusalem)

To Egypt

Jericho

TransJordanian Highway

Shechem

BethelHebron

Beersheba

The “International Highway”Jacob sent Joseph to Shechemto report on his brothers’ welfare.Not finding them there, he was directed to the Plain of Dothan where they were said to be pasturing their flocks.

To Elat / Gulf of Aqaba

Dead Sea

Dothan

Gilgal?

“Jacob dies. He is buried in Canaan.”—You could add a line and dot at the 56th year of Joseph’s life, as this is when Jacob died—see next two charts. (The source for the information on these charts is in the “Click to add notes” section).

Recorded Event in Genesis Resultant Age of:Isaac Jacob Joseph

Birth of Esau and Jacob (25:24-26) 60 0Esau’s marriages (26:34) 100 40

All of the chronological data require a 37-year hiatus between Genesis 26 and 27. Given this, all the data harmonize.

Flight of Jacob (cf., 26:34; 27:2—28:7) 137 77Marriage to Leah & Rachel (29:20-30) 144 84Birth of Joseph (cf., 30:22-25; 31:41) 151 91 0Return to Canaan (31:41) 157 94 6Joseph sold (37:2-ff.) 168 108 17Death of Isaac (33:18) 180 120 29Joseph made ruler (41:46) 121 307-Year period of plenty begins 121 307-Year period of Famine begins 128 37Jacob & family go to Egypt (45:11; 41:30) 130 39Death of Jacob (47:28) 147 56Death of Joseph (50:26) 110

Event (Genesis Reference);Joseph’s age:

Apx.Date:

XII Dynasty Pharaoh:

Years of Reign:

Joseph taken to Egypt (37:2-ff.); age 17

1898 Amunemhet II 1929-1894

Joseph becomes vizier (41:46); age 30

1885 Sesostris II 1894-1878

7-Year period of plenty begins; age 30

1885-1878

Sesostris II 1894-1878

7-Year period of famine begins; age 37

1877-1870

Sesostris III 1878-1841

Jacob goes to Egypt (45:11; 41:30); age 39 – Joseph; age 130 – Jacob

1876 Sesostris III 1878-1841

Death of Jacob (47:28); age 56 – Joseph; age 147 – Jacob

1860 Sesostris III 1878-1841

Death of Joseph (50:26); age 110 1805 Amunemhet III 1842-1792