That's the story of Jacob and his son Joseph, as retold in the Book of Jubilees, a text considered canonical by some, like the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, but not included in the standard Hebrew Bible.
So, where were we? Joseph's brothers, simmering with jealousy, had a change of heart. They almost killed him. But instead... they sold him. Sold him to Ishmaelite merchants. This, according to the Book of Jubilees, happened because they changed their minds. A chillingly casual detail.
These merchants then hauled Joseph down to Egypt, that ancient land of wonders and, in this case, sorrow. There, he was sold again, this time to Potiphar. Now, Potiphar's title is interesting: "the eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief of the cooks, priest of the city of ’Êlêw." Quite the resume. It paints a picture of a powerful figure, deeply embedded in Egyptian society and religious life. The Book of Jubilees is very specific in its details.
Then comes the really heartbreaking part. Joseph's brothers, those architects of deception, they weren't done yet. They slaughtered a young goat – a kid, as the text says. And they dipped Joseph's coat in its blood. Can you imagine? The image is visceral, brutal.
They then sent this bloodied coat to their father, Jacob, on the tenth day of the seventh month. This date might seem insignificant, but remember, in Jewish tradition, dates often carry symbolic weight.
The Book of Jubilees emphasizes the timing: Jacob received the coat in the evening. All that night, he mourned. The text says he became "feverish with mourning." – the physical manifestation of grief. He was convinced, utterly and completely, that Joseph had been devoured by a wild animal. "An evil beast hath devoured Joseph," he laments.
The tragedy here isn't just the loss of a son; it's the deliberate cruelty of the brothers, the calculated deception that ripped Jacob's world apart. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? How well do we really know those closest to us? And what lengths might someone go to out of envy and resentment?
The story of Joseph, as told in the Book of Jubilees, serves as a stark reminder of the devastating power of betrayal and the enduring strength – and vulnerability – of familial love. It's a human story, resonating across millennia.