Week 41

• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 41:1-57
• Prophets (P): Daniel 2:1-3, 11-30, 46-49
• Apostolic (A): Acts 7:9-12; Acts 11:19-30
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 40:1-13

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Isaiah 8:18-20 (T)
• Amos 3:7 (T)
• Daniel 2:1-3, 11-30, 46-49 (T)
• Psalms 105:17-23 (T)
• Acts 7:9-10 (T)
• Genesis 37:5-8 (T)
• Psalms 2:1-12 (T)
• Psalms 105:1-22 (T)
• Luke 3:21-23 (T)
• Acts 7:9-12 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• 4Q9 Genesis^j 41:15-16 (T)
• Testament of Joseph 18:1-4 (T)
• Sirach 49:15 (T)
• 1 Maccabees 2:50-53 (T)
• Jubilees 34:11 (T)
• Jubilees 41:16-22 (T)
• Jubilees 37:1 (ADD)
• Genesis 41:1-57 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 2.5.4-7; 2.6.1 (T)

Note: (T) means the verse relates to that week’s Torah portion. (P) means the verse relates to that week’s Prophets portion. (A) means the verse relates to that week’s Apostolic portion. (ADD) means the verse relates to that week’s Additional portion.

Torah Portion (T)

41:1 At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river. 2 Behold, seven cattle came up out of the river. They were sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass. 3 Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river. 4 The ugly and thin cattle ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 He slept and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good. 6 Behold, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 In the morning, his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of the magicians of Egypt and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh. 9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I remember my sins today. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the chief of the cooks, with the chief baker. 11 We dreamed a dream in one night, he and I. Each man dreamed according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the chief of the cooks, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. He interpreted to each man according to his dream. 13 As he interpreted to us, so it was. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him.” 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “[Without me, Elohim will give no answer concerning the welfare of Pharaoh.]”^(DSS) 17 Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, “In my dream, behold, I stood on the brink of the river; 18 and behold, seven fat and sleek cattle came up out of the river. They fed in the marsh grass; 19 and behold, seven other cattle came up after them, helpless and very ugly and thin, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for ugliness. 20 The thin and ugly cattle ate up the first seven fat cattle; 21 and when they had eaten them up, it couldn't be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 [And I fell asleep]^(LXX) and I saw in my dream, and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, full and good; 23 and behold, seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. 24 [And the seven]^(LXX) thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” 25 Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one. What [the Elohim]^(MTT) does is told to Pharaoh. 26 The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. The dream is one. 27 The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted with the east wind; they will be seven years of famine. 28 That is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. [And the word which I have said to Pharaoh, [the Elohim]^(MTT) will do as much to show to Pharaoh.]^(LXX) 29 Behold, seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt are coming. 30 Seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason of that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous. 32 The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by [the Elohim],^(MTT) and [the Elohim]^(MTT) will shortly bring it to pass. 33 “Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and [they should]^(LXX) take up the fifth part [of all the produce]^(LXX) of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35 Let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and store grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 The food will be to supply the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt; so that the land will not perish through the famine.” 37 The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of Elohim?” 39 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because Elohim has made known to you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house and at your mouth all my people shall kiss. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.” 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on the hand of Joseph, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 He made him ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, “Bend the knee!” He set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh. Without you, no man shall lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh called the name of Joseph Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the face of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 In the seven plenteous years the land produced by handfuls. 48 He gathered up all the food of the seven years [when there was abundance]^(LXX) in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities. He stored food in each city from the fields around that city. 49 Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he stopped counting, for it was without number. 50 To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For”, he said, “Elohim has made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.” 52 The name of the second, he called Ephraim: “For Elohim has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” 53 The seven years of plenty, that were in the land of Egypt, came to an end. 54 The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” 56 The famine was over all the surface of the land. Joseph opened all the store houses [of grain],^(LXX) and sold to the Egyptians. The famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 All countries came into Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the land.

Prophets Portion (P)

2:1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Kasdim be called to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 The king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in the Syrian language, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered the Chaldeans, “The thing has gone from me. If you don’t make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut in pieces, and your houses will be made a dunghill. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They answered the second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 8 The king answered, “I know of a certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me. 9 But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the situation changes. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler has asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or Chaldean. 11 It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the elohim, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” 12 Because of this, the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were to be slain. They sought Daniel and his companions to be slain. 14 Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He answered Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree so urgent from the king?” Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 16 Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 that they would desire mercies of the Elohim of the heavens concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the Elohim of the heavens. 20 Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of Elohim forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his. 21 He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23 I thank you and praise you, O Elohim of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” 24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said this to him: “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon. Bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.” 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said this to him: “I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered before the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded can’t be shown to the king by wise men, enchanters, magicians, or soothsayers; 28 but there is an Elohim in the heavens who reveals secrets, and he has made known to king Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these: 29 “As for you, O king, your thoughts came on your bed, what should happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what will happen. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.

2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him. 47 The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your Elohim is the Elohim of Elohim, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.” 48 Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel was in the king’s gate.

Apostolic Portion (A)

Acts 7:9 “The patriarchs, moved with zeal against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. Elohim was with him, 10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time.

Acts 11:19 They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks, proclaiming the Lord Yeshua. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22 The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, 23 who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of Elohim, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord. 25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Messianic in Antioch. 27 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. 29 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; 30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Additional Portion (ADD)

Between 1947 and 1956 approximately 15 Jubilees scrolls were found in five caves at Qumran, all written in Hebrew. The large number of manuscripts (more than for any biblical books except for Psalms, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Exodus, and Genesis, in descending order) indicates that Jubilees was widely used at Qumran. A comparison of the Qumran texts with the Ethiopic version, performed by James VanderKam, found that the Ethiopic was in most respects an accurate and literalistic translation. Scholars have dated Jubilees to have been written sometime around 160-150 B.C.

40:1 And in those days Pharaoh dreamed two dreams in one night concerning a famine which was to be in all the land, and he awoke from his sleep and called all the interpreters of dreams that were in Egypt, and magicians, and told them his two dreams, and they were not able to declare (them). 2. And then the chief butler remembered Joseph and spake of him to the king, and he brought him forth from the prison, and he told his two dreams before him. 3. And he said before Pharaoh that his two dreams were one, and he said unto him: “Seven years will come (in which there will be) plenty over all the land of Egypt, and after that seven years of famine, such a famine as hath not been in all the land. 4. And now let Pharaoh appoint overseers in all the land of Egypt, and let them store up food in every city throughout the days of the years of plenty, and there will be food for the seven years of famine, and the land will not perish through the famine, for it will be very severe.” 5. And the Lord gave Joseph favour and mercy in the eyes of Pharaoh, and Pharaoh said unto his servants: “We will not find such a wise and discreet man as this man, for the spirit of the Lord is with him.” 6. And he appointed him the second in all his reign and gave him authority over all Egypt, and caused him to ride in the second chariot of Pharaoh. 7. And he clothed him with byssus garments, and he put a gold chain upon his neck, and (a herald) proclaimed before him “El El wa Abirer,” and he placed a ring on his hand and made him ruler over all his house, and magnified him, and said unto him: “Only on the throne will I be greater than thou.” 8. And Joseph ruled over all the land of Egypt, and all the princes of Pharaoh, and all his servants, and all who did the king’s business loved him, for he walked in uprightness, for he was without pride and arrogance, and he had no respect of persons, and did not accept gifts, but he judged in uprightness all the people of the land. 9. And the land of Egypt was at peace before Pharaoh because of Joseph, for the Lord was with him, and gave him favour and mercy for all his generations before all those who knew him and those who heard concerning him, and Pharaoh’s reign was well ordered, and there was no Satan and no evil person (therein). 10. And the king called Joseph’s name Sĕphânṭîphâns, and gave Joseph to wife the daughter of Potiphar, the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis, the chief cook. 11. And on the day that Joseph stood before Pharaoh he was thirty years old [when he stood before Pharaoh]. 12. And in that year Isaac died. And it came to pass as Joseph had said in the interpretation of his two dreams, according as he had said it, there were seven years of plenty over all the land of Egypt, and the land of Egypt produced abundantly, one measure (producing) eighteen hundred measures. 13. And Joseph gathered food into every city until they were full of grain until they could no longer count and measure it for its multitude.

Related Scriptures

8:18 Behold, I and the children whom YHWH has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from YHWH of Armies, who dwells in Mount Zion. 19 When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult with their Elohim? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the Torah and to the covenant! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

3:7 Surely the Lord YHWH will do nothing, unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.

105:17 He sent a man before them. Joseph was sold for a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons, 19 until the time that his word happened, and the word of YHWH proved him true. 20 The king sent and freed him, even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all of his possessions, 22 to discipline his princes at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom. 23 Israel also came into Egypt. Jacob lived in the land of Ham.

Genesis 37:5-8 (T)

37:5 Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers asked him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Will you indeed have dominion over us?” They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words.

2:1 Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the land take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against YHWH, and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath: 6 “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.” 7 I will tell of the decree: YHWH said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father. 8 Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the land for your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron. You will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the land. 11 Serve YHWH with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.

105:1 Give thanks to YHWH! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples. 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works. 3 Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek YHWH rejoice. 4 Seek YHWH and his strength. Seek his face forever more. 5 Remember his marvelous works that he has done: his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, 6 you seed of Abraham, his servant, you sons of Jacob, his chosen ones. 7 He is YHWH, our Elohim. His judgments are in all the land. 8 He has remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, 9 the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac, 10 and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute; to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance,” 12 when they were but a few men in number, yes, very few, and foreigners in it. 13 They went about from nation to nation, from one reign to another people. 14 He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes, 15 “Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!” 16 He called for a famine on the land. He destroyed the food supplies. 17 He sent a man before them. Joseph was sold for a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons, 19 until the time that his word happened, and the word of YHWH proved him true. 20 The king sent and freed him, even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all of his possessions, 22 to discipline his princes at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom.

Additional Readings​

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It isn’t in me. Without me* Elohim will not give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”

“The scroll labeled 4QGen^j contains the precursor to [Genesis 41:16] found in both the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch texts. Because of the potentially arrogant interpretation of this particular version—it could be read as “Apart from me [Joseph], Elohim will give no answer concerning the welfare of Pharaoh”—it is possible that a scribe in antiquity removed the second negative to protect the character of Joseph. 4QGen^j (with the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch) may, in fact, represent the original version.” – The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible, The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the First Time into English by Martin G. Abegg, Jr., Peter Flint, Eugene Ulrich

*The face of the word “not” in the second half of the sentence requires a rewording in the first half of the sentence in order to make sense. – Craig Davis, Dead Sea Scrolls Bible Translations

The Testament of Joseph, like the other Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, is considered to be a Jewish work that was added to by Christians in the Christian era. It is unclear when it comes from, however, fragments of the Testaments of Joseph and Levi have been found among the Dead Sea Scrolls in Aramaic, dating to between 135 and 37 B.C., proving that the Testament of Joseph dates back to at least this time and that the original language was almost certainly Aramaic. It survives in a Christianized Armenian translation, which was added to the Oskan Armenian Orthodox Bible in 1666.

18:1 If ye also, therefore, walk in the commandments of the Lord, my children, He will exalt you there, and will bless you with good things for ever and ever. 2 And if any one seeketh to do evil unto you, do well unto him, and pray for him, and ye will be redeemed of the Lord from all evil. 3 For, behold, ye see that out of my humility and long-suffering I took unto wife the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis. And a hundred talents of gold were given me with her, and the Lord made them to serve me. 4 And He gave me also beauty as a flower beyond the beautiful ones of Israel; and He preserved me unto old age in strength and in beauty, because I was like in all things to Jacob.

Sirach, or Wisdom of Sirach, and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus (abbreviated Ecclus.) or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 B.C., written by the Jewish scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira. The Sirach was almost completely uncovered in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls, at Masada, and the Cairo Geniza. The multiplicity of manuscript fragments uncovered in the Cairo Genizah evidence its authoritative status among Egyptian Jewry until the Middle Ages. Quotes from Sirach can be found in Rabbinic literature in multiple places  including the Talmud in Bava Kamma 92b:13 and Hagigah 13a:2. Additionally, the Gospels and other Apostolic Scriptures quote from the Book of Sirach including the Song of Miriam in Luke 1:52 (cf. Sirach 10:14); the description of the seed in Mark 4:5, 16–17 (cf. Sirach 40:15); the statement by Yeshua in Matthew 7:16,20 (cf. Sirach 27:6); and Ya’aqov (James) 1:19 (cf. Sirach 5:11).

49:15 Neither was there a man born like to Joseph, A governor of his kindred, a stay of the people: Yes, his bones were visited.

1 Maccabees is a book written in Hebrew by a Jewish author after the restoration of an independent Jewish reign by the Hasmonean dynasty, about the latter part of the 2nd century B.C. The original Hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is the Greek translation contained in the Septuagint. The book is held as canonical scripture by the Catholic, Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches (except for the Orthodox Tewahedo)

2:50 And now, my children, be you zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. 51 And call to remembrance the deeds of our fathers which they did in their generations; and receive great glory and an everlasting name. 52 Was not Abraham found faithful in trial, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness? 53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became lord of Egypt.

Between 1947 and 1956 approximately 15 Jubilees scrolls were found in five caves at Qumran, all written in Hebrew. The large number of manuscripts (more than for any biblical books except for Psalms, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Exodus, and Genesis, in descending order) indicates that Jubilees was widely used at Qumran. A comparison of the Qumran texts with the Ethiopic version, performed by James VanderKam, found that the Ethiopic was in most respects an accurate and literalistic translation. Scholars have dated Jubilees to have been written sometime around 160-150 B.C.

41:16 And when she had completed three months, it was manifest that she was with child, and they told Judah, saying: “Behold Tamar, thy daughter-in-law, is with child by whoredom.” 17. And Judah went to the house of her father, and said unto her father and her brothers: “Bring her forth, and let them burn her, for she hath wrought uncleanness in Israel.” 18. And it came to pass when they brought her forth to burn her that she sent to her father-in-law the ring and the necklace, and the staff, saying: “Discern whose are these, for by him am I with child.” 19. And Judah acknowledged, and said: “Tamar is more righteous than I am. And therefore let them burn her not.” 20. And for that reason she was not given to Shelah, and he did not again approach her. 21. And after that she bare two sons, Perez and Zerah, in the seventh year of this second week [2170 A.M.]. 22. And thereupon the seven years of fruitfulness were accomplished, of which Joseph spake to Pharaoh.

34:11. And they dealt treacherously with him, and formed a plot against him to slay him, but changing their minds, they sold him to Ishmaelite merchants, and they brought him down into Egypt, and they sold him to Potiphar, the eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief of the cooks, priest of the city of Elew.

37:1 And on the day that Isaac the father of Jacob and Esau died [2162 A.M.], the sons of Esau heard that Isaac had given the portion of the elder to his younger son Jacob and they were very angry.

Genesis 41:1-57 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

Composed in Talmudic Israel (c.150 – c.250 A.D.). Targum Pseudo-Jonathan is a western targum (translation) of the Torah (Pentateuch) from the land of Israel (as opposed to the eastern Babylonian Targum Onkelos). Its correct title was originally Targum Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Targum), which is how it was known in medieval times. But because of a printer’s mistake it was later labeled Targum Jonathan, in reference to Jonathan ben Uzziel. Some editions of the Pentateuch continue to call it Targum Jonathan to this day. Most scholars refer to the text as Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. This targum is more than a mere translation. It includes much Aggadic material collected from various sources as late as the Midrash Rabbah as well as earlier material from the Talmud. It is effectively a combination of a commentary and a translation. In the portions where it is pure translation, it often agrees with the Targum Onkelos. The date of its composition is disputed. It cannot have been completed before the Arabic conquest as it refers to Mohammad’s wife Fatimah, but might have been initially composed in the 4th Century A.D. However, some scholars date it in the 14th Century.

Chapter 41 It was at the end of two years, that the remembrance of Joseph came before the Word of the Lord. And Pharaoh dreamed, and, behold, he stood by the river, and, behold, from the river came up seven oxen good-looking and fat-fleshed; and they grazed in the midst of the sedges. [JERUSALEM. Grazing in the midst of the sedges] And, behold, seven other oxen came up from the river, evil-looking and lean in their flesh, and stood by the side of tile oxen on the bank of the river. And the evil-looking and lean-fleshed oxen devoured the seven good-looking and fat. And Pharaoh awoke from his sleep.

And he slept, and saw a second dream; and, behold, seven ears arose on one stalk, full and good; and, behold, seven ears, thin and blighted with the east wind, sprang up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven fat and full. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. And in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called all the magicians of Mizraim and all the wise men; and Pharaoh told them the dreams; but no man was able to interpret it; for it was occasioned by the Lord, because the time had come that Joseph should come forth from the house of the bound.

And the chief of the cupbearers spake before Pharaoh, saying, My faults do I remember this day. It was occasioned from the Lord that Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me in ward in the house of the chief executioner, me and the chief baker. And we dreamed a dream in one night I and he; each man his (own) dream, and the interpretation of his companion’s dream we dreamed. And there was with us a Hebrew youth, a servant of the chief executioner; and we recounted to him, and he explained the dream to us, to each man be explained the interpretation of his dream. And even as he interpreted to us so it was; me he restored in his sentence to the order of my service, and him he hanged.

And Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and hastened him from the prison; and he dressed his hair, and changed his garments, and went unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it; and I have heard of thee, saying, that if thou hear a dream thou canst explain it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, (It is) without me; it is not man who interprets dreams: but from before the Lord will be an answer of peace unto Pharaoh.

And Pharaoh spake with Joseph, saying, I saw in my dream, and, behold, I stood on the bank of the river. And, behold, from the river came up seven oxen, fat-fleshed and good-looking, and they grazed in the midst of the sedges. And behold seven other oxen came up after them, wasted, and very evil-looking, and lean in their flesh. I have not seen the like of them in all the land of Mizraim for badness. And the wasted and evil oxen devoured the first seven fat oxen. And they entered into their stomach, but it could not be known that they had entered into their stomach, for their appearance was evil as before; and I awoke.

And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears arose on one stalk, full and good; and, behold, seven ears withered, thin, blighted with the east wind, sprang up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And I told the magicians, but there is no one who can teach me.

And Joseph said to Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one. That which the Lord is about to do He showeth to Pharaoh. The seven good oxen announce seven years; and the seven good ears announce also those seven years: the dream is one. And the seven wasted and evil oxen which arose after them announce seven other years; and the seven ears thin and blighted with the east wind likewise make known that there will be seven years of famine. This is the word that I speak to Pharaoh: what the Lord is about to do He showeth Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty in all the land of Mizraim. And after them will arise seven years of famine, which will make all the plenty that was in the land of Mizraim to be forgotten; and the famine will consume the inhabitants of the land; neither will the plenty which had been in the land be known, for the famine that will be afterward, because it will be exceeding strong. And forasmuch as the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice, therefore is the thing confirmed before the Lord, and the Lord hasteneth to do it.

But now let Pharaoh look out a man prudent and wise, and appoint him over the land of Mizraim. Let Pharaoh make superintendents over the land, and let them take out one part in five of all the produce of the land of Mizraim in the seven years of plenty. [JERUSALEM. Let Pharaoh make and appoint him a superintendent over the land; and let him set apart one in five throughout the land of Mizraim in the seven years of plenty.] And let them collect all the produce of those good years that are coming, and gather together the produce under the hand of Pharaoh’s superintendents, and set the produce in the cities to be kept; and there will be provision laid up (as) in a cavern in the earth, that therefrom they may take in the years of famine which come upon the land of Mizraim, that the people of the land perish not through the famine.

And the word was good before Pharaoh, and before all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, Can we find a man like this, in whom is the spirit of prophecy from the Lord? And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Since the Lord Hath made known all this to thee, there is no one so prudent and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be superintendent over my house, and by the decree of thy mouth will all my people be armed only in the throne of the reign will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, See, I have appointed thee prince over the land of Mizraim.

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and set it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in vestments of fine linen, and set a collar of gold upon his neck, and made him ride in the second chariot of Pharaoh; and they chanted before him, This is the Father of the king; Great in wisdom, few in years. And he appointed him prince over all the land of Mizraim. [Jerusalem And they chanted before him, and said, Live the Father of the king, Great in wisdom and few in years.] And Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh the king, and thou art viceregent, and without thy word a man will not lift up his hand to gird on arms, or his foot to mount a horse in all the land of Mizraim. And Pharaoh called the name of Joseph, The man who revealeth mysteries. And he gave him Asenath, whom Dinah had borne to Shekem, and the wife of Potiphera prince (Rabba) of Tanis had brought up, to be his wife. And Joseph went forth ruler over the land of Mizraim. And Joseph was a son of thirty years when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Mizraim. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh, and passed, a prince and a ruler, through all,the land of Mizraim.

And the land (so) brought forth, that every blade made two handsfull in the seven years of plenty, until all the granaries were full. And they gathered all the produce of the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Mizraim, and he laid up the produce in the cities; the produce of the fields which were round about a city he laid up therein.

And to Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine arose, which Asenath who had been brought up in the house of Potiphera prince of Tanis bare to him. And Joseph called the name of his first born Menasheh; because, the Lord hath made me forget all my weariness and all the house of my father. And the name of the second he called Ephraim; for he said, The Lord hath made me mighty in the land of my affliction, as he will make the house of my father mighty here in their afflictions.

And the seven years of plenty were completed which were to come in the land of Mizraim; and the seven years of famine began to be, as Joseph had said. And there was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Mizraim there was bread. And all the land of Mizraim had dearth; because the seed wheat bare no fruit, and the people cried before Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said to all the Mizraee, Go to Joseph, and what he will tell you do. And the famine was upon all the face of the land; and Joseph opened all the treasures and sold to the Mizraee. And the famine waxed mighty in the land of Mizraim; and all the inhabitants of the land came into Mizraim to buy provision of Joseph; for the famine was mighty in all the land.

2.5.4. But Elohim freed Joseph from his confinement, after he had endured his bonds two years, and had received no assistance from the cupbearer, who did not remember what he had said to him formerly; and Elohim contrived this method of deliverance for him. Pharaoh the king had seen in his sleep the same evening two visions; and after them had the interpretations of them both given him. He had forgotten the latter, but retained the dreams themselves. Being therefore troubled at what he had seen, for it seemed to him to be all of a melancholy nature, the next day he called together the wisest men among the Egyptians, desiring to learn from them the interpretation of his dreams. But when they hesitated about them, the king was so much the more disturbed. And now it was that the memory of Joseph, and his skill in dreams, came into the mind of the king’s cupbearer, when he saw the confusion that Pharaoh was in; so he came and mentioned Joseph to him, as also the vision he had seen in prison, and how the event proved as he had said; as also that the chief baker was crucified on the very same day; and that this also happened to him according to the interpretation of Joseph. That Joseph himself was laid in bonds by Potiphar, who was his head cook, as a slave; but, he said, he was one of the noblest of the stock of the Hebrews; and said further, his father lived in great splendor. “If, therefore, thou wilt send for him, and not despise him on the score of his misfortunes, thou wilt learn what thy dreams signify.” So the king commanded that they should bring Joseph into his face; and those who received the command came and brought him with them, having taken care of his habit, that it might be decent, as the king had enjoined them to do.

2.5.5. But the king took him by the hand; and, “O young man,” says he, “for my servant bears witness that thou art at present the best and most skillful person I can consult with; vouchsafe me the same favors which thou bestowedst on this servant of mine, and tell me what events they are which the visions of my dreams foreshow; and I desire thee to suppress nothing out of fear, nor to flatter me with lying words, or with what may please me, although the truth should be of a melancholy nature. For it seemed to me that, as I walked by the river, I saw kine fat and very large, seven in number, going from the river to the marshes; and other kine of the same number like them, met them out of the marshes, exceeding lean and ill-favored, which ate up the fat and the large kine, and yet were no better than before, and not less miserably pinched with famine. After I had seen this vision, I awaked out of my sleep; and being in disorder, and considering with myself what this appearance should be, I fell asleep again, and saw another dream, much more wonderful than the foregoing, which still did more affright and disturb me:—I saw seven ears of corn growing out of one root, having their heads borne down by the weight of the grains, and bending down with the fruit, which was now ripe and fit for reaping; and near these I saw seven other ears of corn, meager and weak, for want of rain, which fell to eating and consuming those that were fit for reaping, and put me into great astonishment.”

2.5.6. To which Joseph replied:—”This dream,” said he, “O king, although seen under two forms, signifies one and the same event of things; for when thou sawest the fat kine, which is an animal made for the plough and for labor, devoured by the worser kine, and the ears of corn eaten up by the smaller ears, they foretell a famine, and want of the fruits of the land for the same number of years, and equal with those when Egypt was in a happy state; and this so far, that the plenty of these years will be spent in the same number of years of scarcity, and that scarcity of necessary provisions will be very difficult to be corrected; as a sign whereof, the ill-favored kine, when they had devoured the better sort, could not be satisfied. But still Elohim foreshows what is to come upon men, not to grieve them, but that, when they know it beforehand, they may by prudence make the actual experience of what is foretold the more tolerable. If thou, therefore, carefully dispose of the plentiful crops which will come in the former years, thou wilt procure that the future calamity will not be felt by the Egyptians.”

2.5.7. Hereupon the king wondered at the discretion and wisdom of Joseph; and asked him by what means he might so dispense the foregoing plentiful crops in the happy years, as to make the miserable crops more tolerable. Joseph then added this his advice: To spare the good crops, and not permit the Egyptians to spend them luxuriously, but to reserve what they would have spent in luxury beyond their necessity against the time of want. He also exhorted him to take the corn of the husbandmen, and give them only so much as will be sufficient for their food. Accordingly Pharaoh being surprised at Joseph, not only for his interpretation of the dream, but for the counsel he had given him, entrusted him with dispensing the corn; with power to do what he thought would be for the benefit of the people of Egypt, and for the benefit of the king, as believing that he who first discovered this method of acting, would prove the best overseer of it. But Joseph having this power given him by the king, with leave to make use of his seal, and to wear purple, drove in his chariot through all the land of Egypt, and took the corn of the husbandmen, allotting as much to every one as would be sufficient for seed, and for food, but without discovering to any one the reason why he did so.

2.6.1 Joseph was now grown up to thirty years of age, and enjoyed great honors from the king, who called him Psothom Phanech, out of regard to his prodigious degree of wisdom; for that name denotes the revealer of secrets. He also married a wife of very high quality; for he married the daughter of Petephres, 4 one of the priests of Heliopolis; she was a virgin, and her name was Asenath. By her he had children before the scarcity came on; Manasseh, the elder, which signifies forgetful, because his present happiness made him forget his former misfortunes; and Ephraim, the younger, which signifies restored, because he was restored to the freedom of his forefathers. Now after Egypt had happily passed over seven years, according to Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams, the famine came upon them in the eighth year; and because this misfortune fell upon them when they had no sense of it beforehand, they were all sorely afflicted by it, and came running to the king’s gates; and he called upon Joseph, who sold the corn to them, being become confessedly a savior to the whole multitude of the Egyptians. Nor did he open this market of corn for the people of that country only, but strangers had liberty to buy also; Joseph being willing that all men, who are naturally akin to one another, should have assistance from those that lived in happiness.