Special Sub-Topic: Joseph of the Coloured Coat Click Here To Play: Joseph of the Coloured Coat

Joseph's Dad was called Jacob, but do you know what his Mum was called?

Rachel. Rachel was Jacob's favourite wife, and she only had two of his twelve sons - Joseph and Benjamin.

What did Jacob give to Joseph to show he was his favourite son?

a special coat. The Bible does not say that the coat was multi-coloured - just that it was decorated with full sleeves. It was probably very expensive.

What did Joseph's brothers do to him?

they sold him as a slave. First of all they put him in a deep hole, then when some strangers came along, they sold him.

Where did Joseph go?

Egypt. The brothers told Jacob that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal - they wanted to cover up what they had done.

Joseph worked for a very important man called Potiphar. He was very good at his job, but Potiphar had Joseph put in jail. Why?

Mrs Potiphar told lies about Joseph. Mrs Potiphar was not a very nice lady, and when Joseph did not do what she wanted she made up a story to tell her husband, and he had Joseph arrested and put in jail.

While he was in prison Joseph kept busy - but what did he do?

he helped the guards with their work. Joseph helped the jailors with their work because they could trust him.

A lot of people all over the country were having funny dreams. Which very important person had dreams as well?

the king. The steward told the king (Pharaoh) about Joseph and Pharaoh sent for him - he was not to go back to prison.

This important person had two dreams - what were they about?

cows and corn. In both of the dreams Pharaoh saw seven good ones eaten by seven bad ones. Joseph told him that this meant there would be seven good years in Egypt followed by seven bad ones, so Pharaoh should save all the food grown to have spare for the bad years.

Which brother did not go to Egypt the first time Joseph's brothers went there to buy food?

Benjamin. Benjamin was also Rachel's son, and Jacob did not want to lose him as he lost Joseph. It was only because the food was running out that he let him go the second time.

What did Joseph put into his brother's sack?

a cup. When the other brothers defended Benjamin, Joseph knew that they were nicer people, and he told them who he was. Because his homeland of Canaan was in such a bad way, he suggested the whole family (about 70 people) moved to Egypt.