Joseph - A Narrative Criticism Exercise

1) The story of Joseph begins in Genesis chapter 30. I chose this chapter because it tells us of the beginnings of Jacob's children. This is significant because Joseph's story revolves around his relations to his brothers. In this chapter, we see the beginnings of a family at risk for dysfunction. I also contend that his story, though in the background, continues through his big introduction in chapter 37. Evidence for this is that chapter 37 picks up when he is 17 years old. Because Joseph tends to act a lot like his father, I suggest that the previous chapters help us to see where Joseph got it. It also prepares us to see upcoming family tensions. The main story of Joseph ends with chapter 47.

2) The main context of the story is Joseph being sold, his work in Egypt, and the reunion with his family. Therefore, the main context would be found starting with chapter 37 and ending with chapter 46. Chapters 30-36 and 47-50 are bookends to the Joseph story.

3) MAIN CHARACTERS:

• Joseph - what the story centers around.
• The brothers - initiators, antagonists.
• Reuben and Judah - suggested to the other brothers not to kill Joseph. Judah suggested selling him into slavery.
• Jacob - the father.
• Potiphar and his wife - Joseph thrown into jail.
• The cup bearer - finally mentions Joseph to Pharaoh who releases him from prison.
• Pharaoh - Joseph interprets his dream and Pharaoh restores him greater than he was.
• Simeon and Benjamin - Simeon is held by Joseph in captive until Benjamin the youngest and the brother that Joseph loves best come to Egypt.

4) God is not as often mentioned as in other narratives. He is, however, consistently in the background here. Hindsight is "20/20" and we can see how, in the end, God has been involved in accomplishing His will. God shows up in one of two predominate ways. The one way is likened to a conductor of a symphony. You know He is there, but He is not the one making all the noise. However, without Him it would all fall apart. This seems to be the role of God in this narrative, one of orchestration. The other is by direct intervention where God makes Himself known and wants there to be no mistake that He has intervened.

5) The Interpretation of the Dreams (40-41) - NOTES

Gen. 40:8 They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

Gen. 41:16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

41:1-7 is repeated in verses 17-24

41:25 ... "God has told Pharaoh what He is about to do." Repeated in verse 28.

The number seven is a significant number in chapter 41.

6) There can be no mistake that we are to know that God had His hand on this matter and that through Pharaoh, God was about to do something. We also see the occurrence of the number seven mentioned a significant amount of time. Seven represents the perfection and is seen in cases of redemption or when there is to be no mistake, that God is involved. This is an indication of God's sovereignty over the matters of men. We do not live and breath on our own. As earthly as everyday life seems to be, God has a purpose for humanity and a will, which He is orchestrating us all towards.

(Scripture taken from the English Standard Version. Contents authored by Lee R. Morest)