Genesis chapter 42 - 45 recount story of Joseph tricking his brothers who are in Egypt to buy grain, into going back and forth several times from Canaan to Egypt in an attempt exonerate themselves in the (feigned) accusation from Joseph of being a spy. Eventually Joesph reveals himself as their brother, and Jacob and his family move to Egypt as a result. Why did Joseph trick them in this way? I can think of only a few reasons: - He wanted to get all of his brothers and father back to Egypt before he revealed himself. - He distrusted his brothers, since they had tried to kill him, and sold him into slavery years prior to this event, he was trying to ascertain if his younger brother and father were in fact still alive. - He was punishing his brothers by making them suffer this way in an act of revenge. In any event the author of Genesis spends a lot of precipitous time and space recounting this deception, is there some cultural aspect to this that I am missing? Is there some context to the story that would reveal more about the characters involved or the nature of God or their relationship to him?

It is my understanding that after Joseph presented Jacob to Pharaoh, the king gave the Hebrews (Jacob and the rest of his party) some very fertile land (Goshen) in which to dwell by themselves. It seems that Egyptians held people who were shepherds in abomimation. QUESTION: Do we have a good idea of where exactly Goshen was located; or is the exact site pretty much conjecture?

Joseph's words resonate with my experience a lot, except that Joseph received information about hidden things from God via dreams, while other men discover hidden things through demonic means, such as sending spirits to people's homes (I have been a victim of this). So when Joseph said he could use divination to uncover hidden things, did he mean that he has always done this through prayer to God or did he encounter some supernatural things at the Pharaoh's palace? This is because this land was Egypt and later we saw how the Pharaoh had witches who could uncover hidden things using demonic means. *Genesis 44:15* >Don't you know that a man like me can find things out by divination? So did he mean he could do it by prayer or was he using what was rumored of those who worked in the presence of Pharaoh (divination) to threaten his brothers?

Some consider Jesus a new Joseph. See [this article](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/joseph-type-foreshadow-jesus/) as an example. According to the answer to [this question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/89116/is-the-practice-of-seeking-the-intercession-of-rachel-admonished-in-the-new-test) , Dr. Brant Pitre considers the Beloved Disciple a new Benjamin. This consideration explains the Beloved Disciple's moniker, for, if Jesus is a new Joseph, and Joseph especially loved Benjamin, then a new Benjamin would be especially loved by Jesus. It also explains the adoption of Mary by the Beloved Disciple which, in the original Greek, reads more like an adoption than an assignment of a caretaker. >The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. (Genesis 46:19) >After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. (John 19:27) [This article](https://orthochristian.com/135233.html) discusses the same claim, but it also credits Dr. Brant Pitre with the claim itself. Who else has spoken or written that the Beloved Disciple is a new Benjamin?

As noted in this answer , the Jews had two ceremonies pertaining to marriage: 1. betrothal, "equivalent to our valid but not consummated marriage" (Llamera, O.P. p. 22), ≠ our engagement or future promise to marry 2. nuptials, solemnization of the marriage. Sts. Joseph & Mary did not consummate their marriage, as she was a perpetual virgin (and so was St. Joseph ); but did they have a nuptials, ceremony solemnizing their marriage, or do nuptials imply consummation ? If they did celebrate a nuptials ceremony, how many months after their betrothal did it occur?

I'm going thru Numbers and maybe I missed something. Numbers 32:33-39 mentions Moses giving land to the Gadites, Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Later in Numbers 34:17-29 , it names one leader from each tribe to help assign land to the "remaining" tribes. The tribes of Reuben and Gad aren't in the list understandably because they got their share in Numbers 32 but Manasseh is in the list. (v 23) . Why is Manasseh listed twice to receive land? Did I miss something important in an earlier passage or did I misunderstand something that happened in the history of the Israelites exodus? Am I misunderstanding what "half-tribe" means?

**Jacob and his house of 70** Jacob in Egypt, Wikipedia According to Wikipedia, Jacob brought 70 people to an Egyptian pharaoh. > Israel and his entire house of 70, gathered up with all their livestock and began their journey to Egypt. > The time had come for Joseph's family to personally meet the Pharaoh of Egypt. - **Userkaf** Userkaf, Wikipedia Now, based upon this little information regards to the 70 people, I made some efforts myself to find out who this pharaoh might be, and I came across a pharaoh named Userkaf who it is claimed had a chieftain lead 70 women to him, most likely from Canaan. > Userkaf, trade & military activities, Wikipedia > > South of Egypt, Userkaf launched a military expedition into Nubia, while the Old Kingdom annals record that he received tribute from a region that is either the Eastern Desert or Canaan in the form of a workforce of one chieftain and 70 foreigners (likely women), as well as 303 "pacified rebels" destined to work on Userkaf's pyramid. So based upon this, is the reason I am asking. If the pharaoh was not Userkaf, Does anyone know which Egyptian pharaoh it was, or would have been?

Jacob had twelve sons, the firstborn of whom was Reuben. Yet, the birthright that should have passed on to Reuben did not due to Reuben's sin against his father (1 Chronicles 5:1-2). Naturally, one would assume that the next in line would be Simeon, the second-oldest. It did not pass to Simeon either. In fact, Jacob passes over all of his sons until he gets to Joseph. Now, he essentially passes on the birthright and blessing to Ephraim, the younger of Joseph's sons. I have a few questions regarding this. First, why does Jacob pass the birthright to Joseph's sons, and not Joseph himself? In fact, before doing so, why does Jacob essentially say that Joseph's sons are now considered to be his sons? What is the meaning of this? Second, what is the significance of choosing Ephraim, the younger, over Manasseh, the older? Finally, even though Ephraim has the birthright, the lineage of Jesus comes through Judah. Why then, does the birthright not pass to Judah? Why is there a disconnect between this birthright and the importance of Judah in Jesus' lineage?

I am considering the possibility that Luke 3 is in fact the genealogy of Joseph and not Mary. Here is why... 1. Luke mentions the circumcision and the naming of both Jesus and John on the 8th day in Luke 1:59 and Luke 2:21, which would have us think that there is a strong tradition when it comes to naming children and that it is going to be named after names already in the family. (Luke 1:59-61) "And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and **they called him** **Zacharias, after the name of his father.** {60} And his mother answered and said, Not so; but **he shall be called John. {61} And they said unto her,** **There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.**" 2. We know that some of the children of Joseph and Mary were these, (Matthew 13:55) "Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and **his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas**?" 3. Now let's look at the names in the genealogy in Luke 3. (Luke 3:23-31) "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being **(as was supposed) the son of Joseph**, which was the son of Heli, {24} Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of **Joseph**, {25} Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, {26} Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of **Joseph**, which was the son of **Juda**, {27} Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, {28} Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, {29} Which was the son of **Jose**, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, {30} Which was the son of **Simeon**, which was the son of **Juda**, which was the son of **Joseph**, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, {31} Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David," Now in this genealogy we have Joseph named multiple times and Jose, Simeon and Juda which are all names of Jesus's brothers. When we compare this to the Genealogy in Matt which shares no names with Jesus relatives, it is clear to me that Luke 3 is more likely the genealogy of Joseph. It also mentions in Luke 3 that Jesus was as supposed the son of Joseph, but then goes on to say Joseph was the son of Heli, which appears that the genealogy is about Joseph.

The Patriarch Joseph had two sons Manasseh, and Ephraim: >Genesis 46:20 KJV And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. Israel gave Joseph an extra share among his brothers in: >Genesis 48:22 KJV Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow. Both Manasseh and Ephraim were given equal shares of the promised land, when it was divided among the tribes. Manasseh also was given an area outside the promised land. >Joshua 14:4 KJV For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance. >Joshua 22:7 KJV Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them, In the Revelation chapter 7 Manasseh and Joseph are listed as tribes, but Ephraim is not. Rev 7:4 through 8 KJV >And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of ***Juda*** were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Reuben*** were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Gad*** were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Aser***were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Nepthalim*** were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Manasses ***were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Simeon*** were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Levi*** were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Issachar*** were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Zabulon*** were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Joseph*** were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of ***Benjamin*** were sealed twelve thousand. Is the Tribe of Joseph supposed to be Ephraim?

Luke 1:26-38 gives us the full text of conversation that took place between Blessed Virgin Mary and Angel Gabriel . The Angel does explain to Mary how she would conceive of the Holy Spirit, but does not assure her of the patronage of Joseph , her would-be husband. We also see in Mtt 1: 18-19 (NRSVCE) how Joseph was on the verge of abandoning Mary in private: >This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Now, during the Annunciation which preceded the Vision to Joseph, Mary would have naturally been worried about the prospects of her acceptance by Joseph who had not yet taken her home . One wonders if single-motherhood was socially acceptable in those days. Mary, therefore, would have expressed her fear to the Angel, of her chances of loosing the patronage of Joseph . But we find no such discussion in the Gospels. My question therefore is: According to Catholic Church, are there any apocryphal writings which narrate the discussion between Blessed Virgin Mary and the Angel, on how she would be accepted as wife by Joseph.

His ability to correctly interpret dreams which foretold the future (in Genesis 40-41) suggests the answer is "yes." But the fact that, unlike the patriarchs, God is never once recorded as having spoken to Joseph (in Gen 37-50) suggests the answer is "no." What is the normal view, and what is the correct view?

According to the Church Fathers or other Catholic theologians, how old was St. Joseph when he married the Blessed Virgin Mary?

When reading my Bible, I've noticed Joesph's name listed in both the Old and New Testaments; is it the same person or is there more than one Joseph in the Bible?

Can it be shown from Jewish law/tradition that the legal right to the royal lineage may be passed through adoption, as in the case of Joseph (descendant of David) and Jesus? It's my understanding that, if Mary is descended from David, it is irrelevant to Jesus because the royal lineage is not passed through the mother but through the father only. I'm having a hard time understanding the conflicting genealogies of the Messiah. Thank you in advance for your time, God bless

Most paintings seem to portray St. Joseph as an old man and his wife St. Mary as much younger. Abp. Fulton Sheen—arguing in "The World's Happiest Marriage " that "Joseph was probably a young man, strong, virile, athletic, handsome, chaste, and disciplined"—gives the example of Guido Reni, who "pictured Joseph as an old man with white hair": Which paintings portray a young St. Joseph (i.e., one nearer to St. Mary's age)?

At Luke 2:15-19 (NRSVCE) we see: >When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But **Mary** treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. My question is: Why was St. Joseph who was also privy to the happenings around Infant Jesus, left out of mention when Luke wrote about St.Mary pondering over the incidents ? What do the Catholic teachings say about that ?

At Luke 2:48 we read of St. Mary's complaint to Jesus for giving them a scare, by `getting lost'at the Temple: "His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” We see Jesus addressing Mary as `woman' on two occasions viz. At the wedding of Cana and on the Cross (Jn 2:4 and Jn 19:27). We do not see any occasion in the Gospels where Jesus directly addresses St. Joseph. He, however, addresses God the Father as Abba (Mk 14:36). Be that as it may, I am eager to know how Jesus addressed St. Joseph. Do the teachings of Catholic Church mention the possibility of Jesus having addressed St. Joseph as Abba?

In theology, there are many things identified in the Old Testament as foreshadowing things in the New. The life of Joseph, the son of Jacob, is one of these that is identified as such the life of Jesus. What is the identification based on and how exactly does the life of Joseph foreshadow the life of Jesus the Messiah?

After Joseph and his brothers were reunited, Joseph presents only five of his brothers to Pharaoh. >Genesis 47:1-2 > >New International Version (NIV) > >47:1: Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.” > >2: He chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh. Why only five? Why not all?