Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-05-14
JOSEPH IN THE
LAND OF EGYPT

| youngest. Joseph was more Obedient
than the others, and his father, i'm.
pressed by his filial devotion, made
him coat of many colors. This sign
of the fathers preference angered the
older brothers and they grew to hate
Joseph.
The older brothers jourueyed away
from their home with their focks, and
Jacob sent Joseph to them with a
message. When Joseph came to his
brothers, the latter, filled with anger
and envy, seized him and cast him in
to pit. A caravan passed on its way
to Egypt and the cruel brothers sold
Joseph as slave.
The caravan took Joseph to Egypt,
while the brothers, dipping Joseph s
coat in goats blood, brought it to
their father, telling him that they
could find no trace of Joseph. Jacob,
grief stricken, believed they could
find no trace of Joseph, and believed
that his son had been devoured by
wild beasts and would not be comfort
ed.
When the caravan reached Egypt,
Joseph was sold as a slave to Potiphar,
captain of Pharaoh's guard His mas
ter treated him kindly and placed him
at the head of his household. But
Potiphar's wife, resentful of Joseph's g
authority in the household, turned
Potiphar against Joseph and he was
cast into prison.
In the prison Joseph's charity and
kindness endeared him to all the in
mates. Even the stern keeper liked
him and gave him many favors. And
when Pharaoh, wrathful at his chief
butler and chief baker, decided to
punish them, It was into this prison
that they were cast.
The chief butler one night dreamed
of vine with three branches, which
budded and blossomed. and from the
clusters ripe glapes came forth, and
that he took the grapes and put them
in Pharaoh's cup and gave the cup in
to Pharaoh's hand. He asked Joseph
the meaning of this dream and Joseph
told him that in thee days Pharoah
would restore him to his place The
chief baker also dreamed. In his
dream he had three white baskets on
his head, and in the top basket were
bake-meats for Pharoah, and the birds
ate them out of the basket Joseph,
asked for the Interpretation, said that
within three days Pharaoh would hang
the baker.
And on the third day both predic-
tions we're fulfilled, and the chief but
Ter, restored to bis place, speedily for
got Joseph,
Two years had passed since the chief
butler lift the prison to return to
court and Pharaoh himself had a Gu
rious dream, He believed he stood by
the river, and that seven fat cattle
came out of the river, and they were
followed by seven lean cattle, which
1evoured the fat cattle. And he
dreamed again that seven good ears of
corn were devOured bv seven bad ears.
None. of the Egyptian scholars could
tell the monarch what the dreams sig
nified, but the chief butler suddenly
remembered the young slave in the
prison and told of his prophecies.
sent for Joseph. ana when lie
appeared before him, related his
dreams and asked what they signitied.
Joseph told the Pharaoh the interpre
tation that there would be seven years
Of great plenty in Egypt, followed by
seven years of famine. He advised
Pharaoh to appoint capable officer to
collect food during the years of plenty
80 that when the years of great famine
arrived there would be provisions to
sustain his people. pharaoh, greatly
impressed by Joseph, declared that
here was no one as capable as he, and
appointed him ruler over all Egypht. |
During the seven years of plenty,
Joseph had great granaries filled with
'orn and other provisions, so that
when the years of famine followed,
Egypt, unlike the other countries, did
lot suffer.
But in the land of Canaan. where
Ioseph's father and brothers lived, the
ood was scarce, and hearing of the
bundance in Egypt, they journeyed
here. Joseph recognized the brothers
Who had treated him so harshly, al
hough they little dreame that the
reat parsonage could be their long
orgotten brother. He gave them corn,
uestioned them as to their families,
nd then, keeping one of his brothers
s a hostage, bade the rest return to
heir homes, telling them that if they
esired more corn they must bring
heir youngest biother, Benjamin,
7ith them. For Benjamin vas the
rother whom Joseph loved best.
The brothers returned in detection
} their homes and told Jacob, their
ather, what the great lord had said.
he supply of food was soon exhaust
d and they returned to Egypt, taking
'enjamin with thine, Joseph receiv-
1 them, and gave them the food that
ley asked. but he ordered servant