Patriarchs•Patriarchal period
Joseph is sold by his brothers
Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery and deceive Jacob, beginning a chain of suffering and providential reversal in Egypt.
Josephfamilyprovidence
Historical context
Pastoral families depended on inheritance, birth order, and household authority, making Jacob’s favoritism and Joseph’s dreams socially explosive. Long-distance slave trading connected Canaan with Egypt and other centers of power.
Biblical significance
The betrayal threatens the covenant family, yet God works through the harm without approving it. Joseph’s story later becomes a testimony to providence, forgiveness, and the preservation of life during famine.