Joseph and his brothers

Cultural  

1. The sons of Jacob. According to the Book of Genesis, Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. To show his love for Joseph, Jacob gave him a coat of many colors, a splendid garment that aroused the jealousy of Joseph's brothers, who began to plot against him. The brothers sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt (see also Egypt) and pretended that he had been killed by a wild beast. Years later, the Egyptian pharaoh called on Joseph to interpret his troubling dreams. The pharaoh rewarded Joseph's skill in interpreting his dreams by making him second in command over the kingdom. Later, when the land of the Hebrews was beset by famine, Jacob was forced to send Joseph's brothers into Egypt to buy grain. The official with whom they had to deal turned out to be Joseph himself. When he discovered that his brothers were truly sorry for their treachery, he forgave them.

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Example Sentences

In other interviews you’ve talked about a drawing you made when you were in third grade, of Joseph and his brothers, from the Bible.

From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2022

To capture the attention of her young charges one Sunday morning, Mandy Meisenheimer sang, danced and drew some life lessons from the Old Testament story of Joseph and his brothers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2015

This less idealised version of brothers reappears elsewhere in the Bible – most notably in the stories of the Prodigal Son, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers.

From The Guardian • Aug. 18, 2012

Why, my lamb, it was just two nights ago that grandma came over and told you the Bible story about Joseph and his brothers.

From Virginia by Glasgow, Ellen Anderson Gholson

The Seven Years of Famine.—Once more Joseph and his brothers stand face to face.

From Training the Teacher by Schauffler, A. F.