When Joseph was young, he was clearly his father’s favorite. As seen both in the bible and in Anderson’s analysis: “the act of favoritism becomes a legitimate source of intense anger.” A topic frequently addressed in the bible in a number of brotherly struggles (Cain & Abel and Jacob & Esau). Joseph’s father, Jacob, even gave his beloved son a colorful mantle to show him that he was the favorite. As a consequence, the envy, jealousy and hatred of his brothers led them to even consider taking his life. They had thrown him into a hole with no food and water. This event, as explained by Anderson, is considered a ‘death’ experience since he is humiliated and “entrapment in a pit is strongly associated with entering the underworld.”
When a group of Egyptians passed by, his brothers, instead of killing him, decided to sell him as a slave. In Egypt, he became widely popular for interpreting dreams and warned the pharaoh about his dream being a warning regarding 7 years of famine. This event granted him a position of importance, where in the future people all over Egypt and even his brothers came to him seeking for food. In an attempt to test his brothers, he planted a silver cup in Benjamin’s bag (Benjamin was considered the favorite son after his brothers told Jacob that he had died). Joseph’s ultima goal was to see whether his brothers remained the same or not. This time around, however, his brother Judah offered to give his own life for his brother’s.
