In the Dark Ages following the Flood, Jacob and his 12 sons was simply a small family, “all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten (70).” (Genesis 46:5-7, 26-27)
“Now Israel loved [merged, identified with] Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his [maturity, wisdom] old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved / felt one with him more than all his brethren [i.e. as the LORD God had when he made Jacob his heir over Esau] they hated / repudiated identity with him.” (Genesis 37)
Joseph’s famous special coat was undoubtedly the means by which Jacob / Israel publicly proclaimed his heir to the Melchizedekian priest-kingship.
This is also consistent with the fact that, in keeping with
- Shem’s sons Arphaxad and Asshur,
- Abraham’s sons Ishmael and most of those from Keturah,
- and Isaac’s son Esau,
Jacob’s older sons don’t act any better than the heathen nations around them.
Archaeologists…discovered the remains of a 6,000-year-old massacre that…was likely carried out by “furious ritualised warriors”.
The Neolithic group appeared to have died violent deaths, with multiple injuries to their legs, hands and skulls. The way in which the bodies were piled on top of each other suggested they had been killed together…
“They were very brutally executed and received violent blows, almost certainly from a stone axe,” said Philippe Lefranc, a specialist on the period for Inrap.
“two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi…took each man his sword, and came upon the city [of Shechem] boldly, and slew all the males…and spoiled the city [ruined it for habitation by breaking down the walls, filling up the wells to curse it], because they had defiled their sister. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house [furnishings].
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house…
This is precisely the conditions demanding a Melchizedek. Jacob leads the worship, praise and testimony service.
Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, [note, this is not just his immediate family] Put away the strange gods that are among you…And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
And they journeyed…So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.” (Genesis 34:25-35:3)
And it was into this exact dangerous and lawless condition that Jacob sent Joseph to check on his erratic 10 older brothers.
“And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them…
If you’ve ever been assigned leadership responsibility you understand that “it’s lonely at the top.” We already know that Jacob had picked Joseph to be his royal priest-king heir by the garment he had given him, confirmed by the dream God had given him. Jacob was acting on his appointment, providing leadership training, especially trust in Almighty God.
Jacob had no idea just how much leadership training Joseph would be getting when his brothers human trafficked him into Egypt.
And when they saw him afar off…they conspired against him…Come, and let us sell him…Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.” (Genesis 37:13-28)
The 13th Egyptian dynasty, beginning around 1786 BC, marked the beginning of a chaotic period in Egyptian history. This is consistent with population growth, the expansion of warring nations and even the hybrid giant nations contributing to famine. Just a dry spell would completely wreck the ecology.
As it turned out, Joseph was literally a God-send when he became Prime Minister around 1750 BC., “to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:20).
“And Joseph was thirty years old when he…went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt…in the seven plenteous years…and laid up the food in the cities…..And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses…
- And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands…And Joseph gathered up all the money…and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.
- And when money failed…Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle…
- When that…was ended, they came unto him…buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh;
- Then Joseph said unto the people…here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land…ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.
And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” (Genesis 41:46-46, 47:13-26)