Answers. Questions. Genesis 37:1-36

Transcription

1 1 Answers to Questions Genesis 37: Name the twelve sons of Jacob in birth order and list the mother of each. Son Mother Reuben Leah Simeon Leah Levi Leah Judah Leah Dan Bilhah Napthali Bilhah Gad Zilpah Asher Zilpah Issachar Leah Zebulun Leah Joseph Rachel Benjamin Rachel 2. What was the significance of Beersheba in the life of Jacob? At Beersheba Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright and fled to Haron. Years later, Jacob stopped at Beersheba while he and his family were on their way to Egypt. God appeared to him there telling him to continue on to Egypt, that he would continue to bless him. 3. How old was Joseph when Jacob returned from Padan Aram and was reconciled to Esau? Six (6). How old was Joseph when he was sold

2 2 into Egypt? Seventeen (17). How old was Joseph when he entered Pharaoh s service? Thirty (30). How many years passed between the time Joseph was sold into Egypt and the time he entered Pharaoh s service? Thirteen (13). How old was Joseph when he died? One hundred ten (110). 4. How old was Jacob when he died? One hundred forty-seven (147). How old was Jacob when he entered Egypt? One hundred thirty (130). How long did Jacob live in Egypt? Seventeen (17) years. 5. Why didn t the Israelites leave Egypt and return to Canaan when the famine was over? It was God s punishment that the descendants suffer for the sins of their forefathers. 6. Why was Jacob s family dysfunctional? Give as many reasons as possible. Rebekah had shown favoritism for Jacob over Esau and Jacob showed favoritism for Joseph. This displeased the other sons and they despised Joseph because of the special treatment he received. Later, Benjamin, as Jacob's youngest, would be special to him. 7. In what ways are Jesus Christ and Joseph comparable? Joseph s brothers hated him and plotted to kill him. Christ was hated by the Jewish leaders who plotted to kill him. Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver. Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Joseph s father sent him on a mission to his brothers. Jesus was sent to the Israelites. Joseph saved the Hebrew nation from death. Jesus saved all mankind form death. 8. What is a Toledoth? How many Toledoths are found in the book of Genesis? An account of men and their descendants. Ten (10) in Genesis.

3 What did Joseph do to cause his brothers to hate him? Joseph related two of his prophetic dreams to his brothers which foretold they would be subservient to him. This only served to increase their dislike of him. 10. What did Jacob do to cause ten (10) of his sons to hate Joseph? Jacob made a special coat for Joseph which clearly indicated his preference for him. 11. How much did Joseph s ten (10) brothers hate him? They despised him so much they could not talk peaceably to him. 12. What dream did Joseph have? (See verses 5-8). In the first dream, the sheaves of the brothers gathered around his sheave and bowed down to it. 13. What other dream did Joseph have? (See verses 9-11). In the second dream the sun, moon and eleven (11) stars, representing his family, bowed down to him. 14. When is it best to speak? When is it best to remain silent? Did Joseph talk too much? Speak when you are among friends. Remain silent in the company of your enemies. 15. Joseph told Jacob about this dream? What was Jacob s response? Jacob rebuked Joseph saying, Will your mother and father along with your brothers bow down before you? 16. Describe the geography of Hebron and give its location. How were Jacob and his family connected to Hebron? Hebron was eleven (11) miles south of Jerusalem and fifteen (15) miles west of the Dead Sea. It was situated in a valley of the hill country of Judah, over three thousand 3,000 feet above sea level. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived in Hebron and Abraham, Sarah and Isaac were buried there.

4 Locate Shecham and Dothan. What were Joseph s brothers doing there? Shechem was in central Palestine sixty (60) miles north of Hebron. Dothan was fifteen (15) miles north of Shechem. Joseph s brothers were grazing Jacob s flocks. 18. What request did Jacob make of Joseph? Was this a prudent request? Why or why not? Jacob wanted Joseph to check on the welfare of his brothers and the flocks and report back to him. It was not prudent to send a seventeen (17) year old boy on such a long journey. There was the risk of attack by wild animals and danger from his jealous brothers. Jacob must have known that he was sending Joseph to hostile brothers who would not receive him well. 19. Is it always expedient for children to obey their parents? Why or why not? Usually the parents know best, but not in this instance. 20. How uncertain is life? Very. There are no guarantees in life. 21. What did Joseph s ten (10) brothers decide to do when they saw him approaching at a distance? They plotted to kill him and throw the body in a cistern. 22. What did Reuben suggest? What were Reuben s intentions in making this proposal? Reuben suggested they not kill Joseph, just throw him into the cistern. He intended to keep him alive and rescue him. 23. What use was made of the cisterns like the one in which Joseph was imprisoned? A cistern was a deep hole that collected water during the rainy season.

5 Who were the Ishmaelites? Who were the Midianites? Ishmaelites were the descendants of Abraham s son, Ishmael. Midianites were descendants of Midian, Abraham s son by Keturah. 25. In what business were these Ishmaelites/Midianites who came onto the scene engaged? They were merchants who sold spices, balm and myrrh. 26. What suggestion did Judah make? Was the decision to follow Judah s suggestion unanimous? Why did Judah make this suggestion? Judah suggested they sell Joseph to the Midianite merchants. All that were present went along with the plan. Reuben was not there at that time, but it is doubtful he would have agreed to the plan. Judah saw an opportunity to make some easy money. 27. Locate Gilead. What connection did Gilead have to these events? Gilead is the north-central section of the Trans-Jordan highlands, east of the Jordan River, Northeast of the Dead Sea. The caravan of Ishmaelites were from Gilead. 28. When troubles befall the righteous, does that mean God has forsaken them? Answer with references to the life of Joseph. Not at all. God used the evil that befell Joseph to insure the survival of the Israelite people. Joseph s position in Egypt allowed him to save the twelve (12) tribes of Israel from certain starvation in the famine. 29. How did Reuben react to the absence of Joseph? Reuben was full of grief and shock, then panic and despair set in. 30. Whatever happened to Joseph s coat of many colors? How honest was Reuben? The brothers dipped Joseph s coat in animal blood, then showed it to Jacob to identify. Reuben did not tell the truth. He remained silent making him a guilty co-conspirator.

6 What did Jacob believe? Did Jacob s believing make it so? From the evidence presented to him, Jacob believed Joseph had been killed by a wild beast. But, his believing did not make it so. 32. How did these ten brothers refer to Joseph? What New Testament passage uses a similar expression? They referred to him as your son. In the parable of the prodigal son, the eldest son referred to his brother as your son. 33. Give examples of how people in this story reaped what they sowed? Did the Ishmaelite/Midianite slave traders reap what they sowed? Do all people or just some people reap what they sow? Jacob, the deceiver, was deceived by his sons. Joseph s brothers had to bow to him and plead for food. The descendants of Jacob lived under the whip of slavery in Egypt. Nothing further is recorded regarding the Ishmaelite/Midianite slave traders. In the end, God will meet out justice to all. 34. All ten (10) of Jacob s sons but only one (1) of his daughters were named. How many of Jesus sisters are named in the Bible? What does this say about the place of women in that society? None of the sisters of Jesus are named. Women were not considered equal to men and were regarded as subordinates. In some mid-eastern cultures it is still customary for women to walk behind men, not beside or in front. A thought: Does this attitude have its origin in Genesis when God created man first and then woman? 35. Speak to the hypocrisy of Joseph s ten (10) brothers. All of them continued to hide the truth from Jacob. Instead they expressed their false condolences and sympathy. 36. Whether in prosperity or adversity, Joseph s faith and dedication to God never wavered! We need to look at the big picture, not focus on the temporary problem.