Joseph's Dreams

Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, where his father had travelled before him. Joseph was seventeen years old and helped with the flock alongside some of his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah. Joseph also brought their father a bad report about them.

Israel, who is Jacob, loved Joseph more than his other children because Joseph was the son of his old age. He made Joseph a special robe with many colours. The brothers saw their father's favouritism and hated Joseph so much that they could not speak peacefully to him.

Then Joseph had a dream and told it to his brothers. In the dream, they were binding sheaves in a field. Joseph's sheaf rose and stood upright, while his brothers' sheaves gathered around and bowed down to it.

His brothers took the dream to mean that Joseph would rule over them. Because of the dream and because of his words, they hated him even more.

Joseph had another dream and told it to his brothers. Then he told it to his father as well. This time the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him. His father rebuked him and asked whether the family would really bow before Joseph. His brothers envied him, but his father kept this matter in mind.