Joseph In The Odyssey

Joseph as told in Reading the Old Testament, is called the Joseph cycle because Joseph is indisputably the main character in the story apart from chapter thirty eight (RTOT 104). Also told in Chronicle Of The Old Testament Kings, the underlying purpose of the narrative that runs from Genesis thirty-seven to fifty is to link the patriarchs to the story of Moses by explaining how and why Jacob and his sons left Canaan and settled in Egypt (29). Joseph whom was born with a special gift, the ability to interpret dreams, is the oldest son of Rachel and the most favored child of his father Jacob, who is also known as Israel. Joseph who had eleven other brothers was favored because he was the son of the wife Jacob had chosen and really cared for the

Joseph was sold to Potiphar, a captain of the guard and a trusted friend of the Egyptian King (KJV 16). Joseph worked hard and was soon promoted to manager of all Potiphar’s household and affairs. Not only was Joseph a faithful servant, but he was also smart and handsome so much so that Potiphar’s wicked wife made sexual advances to him (RTOT 16). One day Joseph refused her sexual advances and left the house leaving his garment behind. Potiphar’s wife decided to get even with Joseph so out of spite she accused him of rape. Potiphar got so angry of hearing the news that he threw Joseph in jail. While in jail Joseph did not feel sorry for himself and according to Reading the Old Testament he distinguished himself by his administrative abilities and trustworthiness. Soon the jail keeper came to trust him as Potiphar once did and he was put in charge of all the other prisoners. One day two new prisoners were brought into Joseph’s care which both came from the palace of the king and they was put in jail because they had made the king angry. After the butler and the baker had been in the ward for some time Joseph had awakened one morning to find them both looking sad about something. Each explained that they had a dream that had left them puzzled so Joseph told them to tell him their dreams. So the butler begins to tell Joseph his dreams by stating “I dreamed I made wine from a vine that three branches, and I gave the wine to Pharaoh, the king, in his cup.” Joseph says “in three days you will be pardoned and place back in Pharaoh’s service. When you are set free, please remember me, for I have done nothing that they should put me in this prison.” The butler was very happy and promised that he would. (KJV 17) The baker told Joseph his dream but was not greeted with the same response as the butler. In the bakers dream he dreamed that he