Joseph's
imprisonment finally
ends when Pharaoh dreams of
seven fat cows that are swallowed up by
seven
lean cows, and of seven
fat ears of grain swallowed by seven lean ears.
Joseph interprets the
dreams
to mean that seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of
hunger, and advises Pharaoh to store grain during the plentiful years.
Pharaoh appoints Joseph governor of Egypt. Joseph marries
Asenat, daughter of Potiphar, and they have two sons,
Menasseh and
Ephraim.
Famine spreads throughout the region, and food can be obtained only in Egypt. Ten of
Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to purchase grain; the youngest,
Benjamin,
stays home, for Jacob fears for his safety. Joseph recognizes his
brothers, but they do not recognize him; he accuses them of being
spies, insists that they bring Benjamin to prove that they are who they say they are, and imprisons
Shimon as a hostage. Later, they discover that the
money they paid for their provisions has been mysteriously returned to them.
Jacob agrees to send Benjamin only after
Judah
assumes personal and eternal responsibility for him. This time Joseph
receives them kindly, releases Shimon, and invites them to an eventful
dinner at his home. But then he plants his
silver goblet,
purportedly imbued with magic powers, in Benjamin's sack. When the
brothers set out for home the next morning they are pursued, searched,
and arrested when the goblet is discovered. Joseph offers to set them
free and retain only Benjamin as his
slave.
