Jacob's son, Joseph, emerged from a family rife with discord, marked by the intense rivalry between his father Jacob's wives, Leah and Rachel. Jacob favored Rachel, which fueled conflict, and the bitterness between the two women was so profound that they offered their maids, Bilhah and Zilpah, to Jacob in hopes of gaining his affection through bearing children. Into this tumultuous environment, Joseph was born, deeply loved and favored by his father, Jacob, who gifted him a distinctive coat of many colors, setting him apart from his siblings. This favoritism, along with Joseph's dreams of dominance, incited hatred in his brothers, who plotted to kill him. Sent by Jacob to check on his brothers, Joseph was instead thrown into a pit by them. Rather than murder him, they seized an opportunity for profit, selling him into slavery at the suggestion of Judah, who saw a chance to gain money. Stripped of his tunic, Joseph was taken away, mirroring a profound descent before his eventual rise. Joseph's trials continued as he was sold into bondage, yet his integrity and resilience shone through. He served others, including the chief butler and baker, attending to their needs during his imprisonment. Ultimately, his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams elevated him to a position second only to Pharaoh, making him a powerful figure in Egypt. In this role, Joseph provided physical salvation from famine, not only for his own family but also for the Egyptians and surrounding peoples. When his brothers, who failed to recognize him, came seeking aid during the famine, Joseph harbored no grudge despite their past actions. He forgave them, embodying a spirit of reconciliation. He secured for them the fertile land of Goshen in the Nile delta, where they prospered and grew in number. Through all his adversities—being sold into slavery, imprisoned, and nearly killed—Joseph remained unoffended, perceiving the hand of God at work in his life, guiding him to save thousands from starvation.

Joseph, the eleventh of Jacob's twelve sons, was the first son of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel, and was highly favored by his father. This favoritism caused jealousy and anger among his brothers, who captured him, put him in a pit, and sold him to slave traders. These traders took him to Egypt, where he became the slave of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh's guard. Through a series of events involving dreams, Joseph gained the attention of Pharaoh by correctly interpreting a dream of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. As a result, Joseph rose to the position of vizier or prime minister in Egypt, achieving great prominence. During the famine, citizens from nearby countries, including the descendants of Abraham and Isaac, came to Egypt to buy grain. Jacob's ten sons journeyed to Egypt for this purpose and encountered Joseph, though they did not recognize him as their brother. Joseph, now a stern Egyptian ruler overseeing grain distribution, accused them of being spies. Despite their explanations of being shepherds from Canaan in need of food, he demanded they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to Egypt as proof of their story, and he imprisoned Simeon as a hostage until their return. Upon their return with Benjamin, Joseph treated them well, restored Simeon to them, and took them into his own house to feed them. Benjamin received five times the food of the others, along with three hundred pieces of silver and five new sets of clothing. Joseph yearned to see his younger brother and prepared a means of physical safety for him, reflecting a deep longing for reunion and care for his family.

Joseph, son of Jacob, emerges as a figure of exceptional character, marked by integrity and spiritual purity, within the vast history of Israelite narratives. His life, detailed extensively in the scriptures, showcases a man of sterling disposition, handsome appearance, and keen intelligence, whose wisdom and logical counsel stand out in every situation. Despite being born into a family rife with competition, jealousy, and bickering among Jacob's wives and concubines, Joseph's character remains untainted, a testament to divine influence in his development. Born as Rachel's first son and the eleventh child overall to Jacob, considering the offspring of the concubines Bilhah and Zilpah, Joseph entered a tumultuous household. His early environment was shaped by the negative events and familial discord that preceded his birth, yet he rose above these challenges. His descent from a line of strong biblical personalities, including Noah, Shem, Eber, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with significant women like Rebekah and Rachel, provided a rich heritage. Joseph likely had contact with his grandfather Isaac for about a decade, given that Isaac lived to 180 and was 150 when Joseph was born in Syria, before Jacob's return to Canaan. At the age of 17, Joseph was sold into slavery, a pivotal moment that set the stage for his later trials and triumphs in Egypt. His story includes being Jacob's favorite, which incited hatred from his brothers, leading to his enslavement. In Egypt, he resisted the advances of Potiphar's wife, resulting in imprisonment. There, he interpreted dreams for the baker, the butler, and Pharaoh, which ultimately led to his release and elevation to a position second only to Pharaoh, where he administered a crucial agricultural plan. Used by God to fulfill a major step in the divine plan, Joseph ensured the realization of a prophecy made to Abraham, serving as a physical illustration of a significant spiritual truth. His life events reveal his faith, wisdom, and love, often in contrast to others involved in the same circumstances, offering profound insights into human nature and relationships. Despite minimal criticism—mainly regarding a perceived attitude toward his brothers in youth and a lack of role in passing on spiritual truths—Joseph exemplifies the qualities of a truly godly life and its outcomes, standing as a human personality of the highest order.