Seder Olama timeline of Jewish history

Joseph יוסף הצדיק

son of Yaakov and Rachel, viceroy of Egypt

Yosef was born in Charan in 2199, Rachel's first son. His father favoured him openly — the striped coat made it visible — and he told his brothers dreams in which they bowed to him. In 2216 they threw him into a pit and sold him to Egypt.

There he goes all the way down: slave in Potiphar's house, steward, then prisoner on a false charge. In prison he interprets the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker, and two years later is summoned to Pharaoh. Seven cows, seven ears of grain — and Yosef not only explains but proposes a plan. At thirty he becomes the second man in Egypt.

When his brothers come for grain he recognises them; they do not recognise him. He tests them hard, until Yehuda offers himself in place of Binyamin — and then: «I am Yosef your brother», with the line that redeems everything: «It was not you who sent me here, but God.»

He lived 110 years, dying in 2309, and made his brothers swear to carry his bones out of Egypt.

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