Joseph's Dreams

Jacob found particular satisfaction in the companionship of Joseph, whose amiability and ideals made him so different from his brothers. Since Jacob had been 91 years old at the birth of Joseph, and Benjamin was not born till a number of years later, he considered Joseph "the son of his old age." Jacob's preferential treatment of Joseph reached a climax in the special coat, or tunic, he made for him.

Jacob's fondness for Joseph was natural, perhaps, since he saw in him not only the child of his beloved Rachel but also an excellence of character which stood in marked contrast to the notorious lives of some of his other sons. When Joseph had a dream and shared it, they hated him, not only because of the dream, but also for his boldness in telling them about it (v. 8). If Joseph's first dream had pointed only to supremacy over his brothers, the second extended it to the entire family. That Joseph should have related this dream to his brothers, after seeing how they had reacted to the first one, reveals a decided immaturity of judgment.

This dream could only intensify their envy and hatred. Joseph, however, seems to have felt a certain satisfaction in telling his dreams and watching his brothers' envy and anger. Jacob, who was present upon this occasion, administered him a sharp rebuke, partly, perhaps, in surprise, and partly to disavow any collusion on his own part. Though Jacob disapproved of the narration of the dream, he could not avoid being impressed by the way in which it reflected his own thoughts. Some have questioned the divine origin of the second dream, inasmuch as it seems to have met but partial fulfillment.

Neither Rachel nor Leah lived to see the rulership of Joseph's in Egypt (chs. 35:19 49:31). It is sufficient to note that even Jacob did not take every detail of the dream thus literally, since Joseph's mother was already dead at the time (v. 10). Jacob apparently understood the dream as representative of Joseph's supremacy in a general sense.