There are no replies or comments to Ben Abraham's thread ANI YOSEF! (I am Joseph) Messianic symbolism here? GEN 44:17-47:27, so I thought I would post this article that I wrote 20 years ago, which also comments on the Messianic symbolism of the story of Joseph:
With careful study of the scriptures we realize that even names are significant and often shed light on the deeper meanings of the prophetic scriptures. An example of this is the story of Joseph and Benjamin as told in Genesis 37 – 45. This is a marvellous story on its own, but it is also prophetic of Jesus and his Church, which we are helped to realise when we take note of the meanings of the names recorded.
Genesis 37:3 reads “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours”. The first thing to note is that Israel had twelve sons, born of two wives and two handmaidens of those wives. Rachel was his favourite wife and she bore the last two sons – Joseph and Benjamin. The first ten sons were all born within a short period of about six years, and Joseph was born later, but it was Benjamin who was born much later, when Joseph was seventeen or eighteen. It therefore seems strange that the narrator should say that Israel loved Joseph more because he was born to him in his old age, when Joseph was only a little younger than his brothers, and it was Benjamin who was born much later! It seems to be written this way to bring our attention to Joseph and Benjamin. We should therefore pay more attention to the passage to consider if there is a deeper meaning intended.
It begins to make more sense if we consider that Joseph was symbolic of Jesus, who was born of the nation of Israel in a time far into the future - in its old age. Joseph’s richly ornamented coat could also be considered fit for a prince (the ‘prince of peace’?) or a king (the ‘king of kings’?). If we look at the meaning of the Hebrew word that is translated “many colours” we discover that it could also signify a tunic that reaches to the palms of the hands and to the feet. Such a garment was used as a priest’s garment. In these days before the Levitical priesthood was established it was normally the firstborn son in every household who took on the role of priest, so the fact that Joseph was given this coat could mean that he was given the priest’s role instead (and as a type for Jesus it makes sense that he would have the priest’s role in the family). This may have been the real reason for his brothers’ jealousy of him, if he was given the rights of the firstborn son.
Now let’s examine some names. When Rachel bore Joseph she gave him a name that was not based on his own attributes or uniqueness, but a name in relation to one not yet born, as she anticipated another son - “And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son” (Gen 30:24). Joseph means, “Jehovah has added”, or “add thou Jehovah”. So this name gives Joseph an association with Benjamin, the son that God added to Rachel.
Benjamin’s birth and naming is also given particular emphasis in Gen 35:18 – “And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin”. Benoni means, “son of my sorrow” (appropriate as she was in pain and dying), whereas Benjamin means, “son of the right hand”. This is very interesting when considered in connection with the meaning of Rachel’s name, which means “ewe”, a female sheep. So this sheep died, or was sacrificed, in order to give birth to the “son of my sorrow”. This seems to point forward to the sacrifice of Jesus as the Lamb of God who had to die in order to bring forth the Christian Church. The right hand seems to primarily denote blessing, and Christians are indeed a blessed people, e.g. “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Rom 4:7), “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Rev 20:6).
Continuing in Genesis 37 we read how Joseph had two dreams, which they interpreted as meaning that his family would all come to bow down before him. Joseph’s brothers did eventually bow before him (42:6, 43:26,28), as did all of Egypt (41:43). This is symbolic of the Scriptures that say that everyone shall bow before Jesus, i.e. Jesus shall be ruler over everyone – “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:9,10).
Verse 28 says “they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt”. This typifies the 30 pieces of silver for which Christ was sold; 30 pieces being the price of a slave, or 20 pieces if the slave was under 20 years of age, as in Joseph's case (verse 2 says he was seventeen). The lifting of Joseph up out of the pit typifies Jesus’ resurrection from the grave, Egypt is here symbolic of heaven (where Jesus went after his resurrection), and the Pharaoh (which means “the sun-god”) is symbolic of God. Bear this in mind while reading Gen 41:38-46:
38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Compare this with Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”. And note also that just as Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh, so Jesus was 30 years old when he began his earthly ministry.
[To be continued.]
With careful study of the scriptures we realize that even names are significant and often shed light on the deeper meanings of the prophetic scriptures. An example of this is the story of Joseph and Benjamin as told in Genesis 37 – 45. This is a marvellous story on its own, but it is also prophetic of Jesus and his Church, which we are helped to realise when we take note of the meanings of the names recorded.
Genesis 37:3 reads “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours”. The first thing to note is that Israel had twelve sons, born of two wives and two handmaidens of those wives. Rachel was his favourite wife and she bore the last two sons – Joseph and Benjamin. The first ten sons were all born within a short period of about six years, and Joseph was born later, but it was Benjamin who was born much later, when Joseph was seventeen or eighteen. It therefore seems strange that the narrator should say that Israel loved Joseph more because he was born to him in his old age, when Joseph was only a little younger than his brothers, and it was Benjamin who was born much later! It seems to be written this way to bring our attention to Joseph and Benjamin. We should therefore pay more attention to the passage to consider if there is a deeper meaning intended.
It begins to make more sense if we consider that Joseph was symbolic of Jesus, who was born of the nation of Israel in a time far into the future - in its old age. Joseph’s richly ornamented coat could also be considered fit for a prince (the ‘prince of peace’?) or a king (the ‘king of kings’?). If we look at the meaning of the Hebrew word that is translated “many colours” we discover that it could also signify a tunic that reaches to the palms of the hands and to the feet. Such a garment was used as a priest’s garment. In these days before the Levitical priesthood was established it was normally the firstborn son in every household who took on the role of priest, so the fact that Joseph was given this coat could mean that he was given the priest’s role instead (and as a type for Jesus it makes sense that he would have the priest’s role in the family). This may have been the real reason for his brothers’ jealousy of him, if he was given the rights of the firstborn son.
Now let’s examine some names. When Rachel bore Joseph she gave him a name that was not based on his own attributes or uniqueness, but a name in relation to one not yet born, as she anticipated another son - “And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son” (Gen 30:24). Joseph means, “Jehovah has added”, or “add thou Jehovah”. So this name gives Joseph an association with Benjamin, the son that God added to Rachel.
Benjamin’s birth and naming is also given particular emphasis in Gen 35:18 – “And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin”. Benoni means, “son of my sorrow” (appropriate as she was in pain and dying), whereas Benjamin means, “son of the right hand”. This is very interesting when considered in connection with the meaning of Rachel’s name, which means “ewe”, a female sheep. So this sheep died, or was sacrificed, in order to give birth to the “son of my sorrow”. This seems to point forward to the sacrifice of Jesus as the Lamb of God who had to die in order to bring forth the Christian Church. The right hand seems to primarily denote blessing, and Christians are indeed a blessed people, e.g. “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Rom 4:7), “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years” (Rev 20:6).
Continuing in Genesis 37 we read how Joseph had two dreams, which they interpreted as meaning that his family would all come to bow down before him. Joseph’s brothers did eventually bow before him (42:6, 43:26,28), as did all of Egypt (41:43). This is symbolic of the Scriptures that say that everyone shall bow before Jesus, i.e. Jesus shall be ruler over everyone – “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:9,10).
Verse 28 says “they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt”. This typifies the 30 pieces of silver for which Christ was sold; 30 pieces being the price of a slave, or 20 pieces if the slave was under 20 years of age, as in Joseph's case (verse 2 says he was seventeen). The lifting of Joseph up out of the pit typifies Jesus’ resurrection from the grave, Egypt is here symbolic of heaven (where Jesus went after his resurrection), and the Pharaoh (which means “the sun-god”) is symbolic of God. Bear this in mind while reading Gen 41:38-46:
38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Compare this with Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”. And note also that just as Joseph was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh, so Jesus was 30 years old when he began his earthly ministry.
[To be continued.]
