1Giacobbe abitò nel paese dove suo padre aveva soggiornato, nel paese di Canaan.2Questa è la discendenza di Giacobbe. Giuseppe, all’età di diciassette anni, pascolava il gregge con i suoi fratelli. Egli era giovane e stava con i figli di Bila e con i figli di Zilpa, mogli di suo padre. Giuseppe riferì al loro padre la cattiva fama che circolava sul loro conto.3Israele amava Giuseppe più di tutti gli altri suoi figli, perché era il figlio della sua vecchiaia; e gli fece una veste lunga con le maniche.4I suoi fratelli vedevano che il loro padre lo amava più di tutti gli altri fratelli; perciò lo odiavano e non potevano parlargli amichevolmente.
I sogni di Giuseppe
5Giuseppe fece un sogno e lo raccontò ai suoi fratelli; allora questi lo odiarono più che mai.6Egli disse loro: «Ascoltate, vi prego, il sogno che ho fatto.7Noi stavamo legando dei covoni in mezzo ai campi, ed ecco che il mio covone si alzò e restò diritto; i vostri covoni si radunarono intorno al mio covone e gli s’inchinarono davanti».8Allora i suoi fratelli gli dissero: «Regnerai forse tu su di noi o ci dominerai?» E lo odiarono ancor di più a causa dei suoi sogni e delle sue parole.9Egli fece ancora un altro sogno e lo raccontò ai suoi fratelli, dicendo: «Ho fatto un altro sogno! Il sole, la luna e undici stelle s’inchinavano davanti a me».10Egli lo raccontò a suo padre e ai suoi fratelli; suo padre lo sgridò e gli disse: «Che significa questo sogno che hai fatto? Dovremo dunque io, tua madre e i tuoi fratelli venire a inchinarci fino a terra davanti a te?»11I suoi fratelli erano invidiosi di lui, ma suo padre serbava dentro di sé queste parole.
Giuseppe gettato in una cisterna
12Or i fratelli di Giuseppe erano andati a pascolare il gregge del padre a Sichem.13Israele disse a Giuseppe: «I tuoi fratelli sono al pascolo a Sichem. Vieni, ti manderò da loro». Egli rispose: «Eccomi».14Israele gli disse: «Va’ a vedere se i tuoi fratelli stanno bene e se tutto procede bene con il gregge; poi torna a dirmelo». Così lo mandò dalla valle di Ebron, e Giuseppe arrivò a Sichem.15Mentre andava errando per i campi un uomo lo trovò; e quest’uomo lo interrogò, dicendo: «Che cerchi?»16Egli rispose: «Cerco i miei fratelli; ti prego, dimmi dove sono a pascolare il gregge».17Quell’uomo gli disse: «Sono partiti di qui, perché li ho uditi che dicevano: “Andiamocene a Dotan”». Giuseppe andò quindi in cerca dei suoi fratelli e li trovò a Dotan.18Essi lo videro da lontano e, prima che egli fosse vicino a loro, complottarono per ucciderlo.19Dissero l’uno all’altro: «Ecco, il sognatore arriva!20Forza, uccidiamolo e gettiamolo in una di queste cisterne; diremo poi che una bestia feroce l’ha divorato e vedremo che ne sarà dei suoi sogni».21Ruben udì e lo liberò dalle loro mani dicendo: «Non togliamogli la vita».22Poi Ruben aggiunse: «Non spargete sangue; gettatelo in quella cisterna che è nel deserto, ma non lo colpisca la vostra mano». Diceva così per liberarlo dalle loro mani e restituirlo a suo padre.23Quando Giuseppe fu giunto presso i suoi fratelli, lo spogliarono della sua veste, della veste lunga con le maniche che aveva addosso,24lo presero e lo gettarono nella cisterna. La cisterna era vuota, non c’era acqua.
Giuseppe venduto a degli Ismaeliti
25Poi si sedettero per mangiare e, alzando gli occhi, videro una carovana d’Ismaeliti che veniva da Galaad, con i suoi cammelli carichi di aromi, di balsamo e di mirra, che scendeva in Egitto.26Giuda disse ai suoi fratelli: «Che ci guadagneremo a uccidere nostro fratello e a nascondere il suo sangue?27Su, vendiamolo agli Ismaeliti e non lo colpisca la nostra mano, perché è nostro fratello, nostra carne». I suoi fratelli gli diedero ascolto.28Come quei mercanti madianiti passavano, essi tirarono su Giuseppe, lo fecero salire dalla cisterna, e lo vendettero per venti sicli d’argento a quegli Ismaeliti. Questi condussero Giuseppe in Egitto.29Ruben tornò alla cisterna; ed ecco, Giuseppe non era più nella cisterna. Allora egli si stracciò le vesti,30tornò dai suoi fratelli e disse: «Il ragazzo non c’è più, e io, dove andrò?»31Essi presero la veste di Giuseppe, scannarono un becco e intinsero la veste nel sangue.32Poi mandarono uno a portare al padre loro la veste lunga con le maniche e gli fecero dire: «Abbiamo trovato questa veste; vedi tu se è quella di tuo figlio o no».33Egli la riconobbe e disse: «È la veste di mio figlio. Una bestia feroce l’ha divorato; certamente Giuseppe è stato sbranato».34Allora Giacobbe si stracciò le vesti, si vestì di sacco e fece cordoglio di suo figlio per molti giorni.35Tutti i suoi figli e tutte le sue figlie vennero a consolarlo; ma egli rifiutò di essere consolato, e disse: «Io scenderò con cordoglio da mio figlio, nel soggiorno dei morti». E suo padre lo pianse.36Intanto quei Madianiti vendettero Giuseppe in Egitto a Potifar, ufficiale del faraone, capitano delle guardie.
1Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. (Gen 36,7)2These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. (1Sam 2,23)3Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.[1] (Gen 37,23; Gen 37,32; Gen 44,20)4But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.5Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.6He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed:7Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” (Gen 42,6; Gen 42,9; Gen 43,26; Gen 44,14)8His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.9Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”10But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” (Gen 35,18; Gen 37,7; Gen 37,9)11And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. (Lu 2,19; Lu 2,51; At 7,9)
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
12Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. (Gen 33,18)13And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.”14So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. (Gen 13,18; Gen 35,27)15And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?”16“I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.”17And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. (2Re 6,13)18They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. (Sal 37,12; Sal 37,32)19They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.20Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits.[2] Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” (Gen 37,26)21But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” (Gen 42,22)22And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. (Gen 37,29)23So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. (Gen 37,3)24And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. (Ger 38,6; Lam 3,53)25Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. (Gen 37,28; Gen 37,36; Gen 39,1; Gen 43,11; Giob 6,19; Is 21,13; Ger 8,22; Ger 46,11)26Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? (Gen 37,20)27Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. (1Sam 18,17)28Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels[3] of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. (Gen 37,36; Gen 45,4; Giudic 8,22; Giudic 8,24; Sal 105,17; At 7,9)29When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes (Gen 44,13; Nu 14,6; 2Sam 1,11; 2Sam 3,31; Giob 1,20)30and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” (Gen 42,13; Gen 42,32; Gen 42,36; Gen 44,31; Ger 31,15; Lam 5,7)31Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. (Gen 37,23)32And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.”33And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” (Gen 37,20; Gen 44,28)34Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.35All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. (Gen 42,38; Gen 44,29; Gen 44,31; 2Sam 12,17)36Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard. (Gen 37,25; Gen 37,28; Gen 39,1; Gen 40,3; Gen 41,10; Gen 41,12)
Genesi 37
King James Version
1And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.2These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father' wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.3Now 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.4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.6And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:7For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.8And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.9And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.10And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?11And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.12And his brethren went to feed their father' flock in Shechem.13And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I .14And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.15And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?16And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks .17And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.18And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.19And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.21And Reuben heard it , and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.22And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.23And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;24And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.25And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.26And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?27Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.28Then 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.29And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.30And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?31And they took Joseph' coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;32And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son' coat or no.33And he knew it, and said, It is my son' coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.34And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.35And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.36And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh', and captain of the guard.
1Jakob wurde im Land Kanaan sesshaft, in dem auch schon sein Vater Isaak als Fremder gelebt hatte.2Und so geht seine Geschichte weiter: Jakobs Sohn Josef war inzwischen 17 Jahre alt. Seine Aufgabe war es, die Schaf- und Ziegenherden seines Vaters zu hüten, zusammen mit seinen Halbbrüdern, den Söhnen von Bilha und Silpa. Zu Hause verriet er seinem Vater, was die Brüder Schlechtes taten.3Jakob liebte Josef mehr als die anderen Söhne, weil er ihn noch im hohen Alter bekommen hatte. Darum ließ er für ihn ein besonders vornehmes und prächtiges[1] Gewand anfertigen.4Natürlich merkten Josefs Brüder, dass ihr Vater ihn bevorzugte. Sie hassten ihn deshalb und konnten kein freundliches Wort mehr mit ihm reden.5Eines Nachts hatte Josef einen Traum. Als er seinen Brüdern am nächsten Morgen davon erzählte, wurden sie noch wütender auf ihn.6»Hört mal, was ich geträumt habe!«, rief Josef.7»Also, wir waren auf dem Feld und banden das Getreide in Garben zusammen. Da richtete meine sich plötzlich auf und blieb aufrecht stehen. Eure dagegen bildeten einen Kreis darum und verbeugten sich tief vor meiner Garbe.«8»Was, du willst also König werden und dich als Herrscher über uns aufspielen?«, schrien seine Brüder. Sie hassten ihn nun noch mehr, weil er das geträumt und so selbstherrlich davon berichtet hatte.9Bald darauf hatte Josef wieder einen Traum, und auch diesen erzählte er seinen Brüdern. »Hört mal zu! Ich sah, wie die Sonne, der Mond und elf Sterne sich tief vor mir verbeugten«, beschrieb er.10Diesmal erzählte er den Traum auch seinem Vater. »Was soll das?«, schimpfte der. »Bildest du dir etwa ein, dass wir alle – dein Vater, deine Mutter und deine Brüder – uns dir unterwerfen?«11Josefs Brüder waren eifersüchtig auf ihn, aber seinem Vater ging der Traum nicht mehr aus dem Kopf.
Josef soll verschwinden
12Eines Tages trieben Josefs Brüder die Viehherden ihres Vaters nach Sichem, um sie dort weiden zu lassen.13-14Da sagte Jakob zu Josef: »Geh zu deinen Brüdern nach Sichem und erkundige dich, wie es ihnen und dem Vieh geht! Dann komm wieder und berichte mir!« »Gut«, sagte Josef. Er verließ das Tal von Hebron und machte sich auf den Weg nach Sichem.15Dort irrte er auf den Weideplätzen umher, bis er einen Mann traf. »Wen suchst du?«, fragte der.16»Meine Brüder mit ihren Herden. Hast du sie vielleicht gesehen?«, entgegnete Josef.17»Ja, sie sind von hier weitergezogen«, antwortete der Mann, »ich habe gehört, wie sie sagten, sie wollten nach Dotan ziehen.« Josef ging nach Dotan und fand sie dort.18Seine Brüder erkannten ihn schon von weitem. Noch bevor er sie erreichte, beschlossen sie, ihn umzubringen.19»Da kommt ja der Träumer!«, spotteten sie untereinander.20»Los, wir erschlagen ihn und werfen ihn in einen der tiefen Brunnen hier in der Gegend! Unserem Vater erzählen wir, ein wildes Tier hätte ihn gefressen. Dann werden wir ja sehen, was aus seinen Träumen wird!«21Nur Ruben wollte ihn retten. »Wir dürfen ihn nicht töten!«, rief er.22»Vergießt kein Blut! Werft ihn doch lebend in diesen Brunnen hier in der Steppe!« Ruben wollte ihn später heimlich wieder herausziehen und zu seinem Vater zurückbringen.23Kaum hatte Josef sie erreicht, da entrissen sie ihm sein vornehmes Gewand24und warfen ihn in den leeren Brunnenschacht.25Dann setzten sie sich, um zu essen. Auf einmal bemerkten sie eine Karawane mit ismaelitischen Händlern. Ihre Kamele waren beladen mit wertvollen Gewürzen und Harzsorten[2]. Sie kamen von Gilead und waren unterwegs nach Ägypten.26Da sagte Juda: »Was haben wir davon, wenn wir unseren Bruder töten und den Mord an ihm verheimlichen? Nichts!27Los, wir verkaufen ihn an die Ismaeliter! Dann brauchen wir ihm nichts anzutun, schließlich ist er immer noch unser Bruder!« Die anderen stimmten zu,28und so holten sie Josef aus dem Brunnen und verkauften ihn für 20 Silberstücke an die ismaelitischen Händler[3], die ihn mit nach Ägypten nahmen.29Ruben aber war nicht dabei gewesen. Als er nun zum Brunnen zurückkam und bemerkte, dass Josef verschwunden war, erschrak er und zerriss entsetzt seine Kleider.30»Der Junge ist weg!«, schrie er auf. »Wie kann ich jetzt noch meinem Vater in die Augen schauen?«31Sie schlachteten einen Ziegenbock, wälzten Josefs Gewand in dem Blut32und gingen damit zu ihrem Vater. »Das haben wir unterwegs gefunden«, sagten sie, »kannst du es erkennen? Ist es Josefs Gewand oder nicht?«33Jakob erkannte es sofort. »Das Gewand meines Sohnes!«, rief er. »Ein wildes Tier hat ihn gefressen! Josef ist tot!«34Er zerriss seine Kleider, wickelte als Zeichen der Trauer ein grobes Tuch um seine Hüften und weinte viele Tage um Josef.35Alle seine Söhne und Töchter kamen, um ihn zu trösten, aber keinem gelang es. »Bis zu meinem Tod werde ich um ihn trauern!«, weinte er.36Die Händler verkauften Josef in Ägypten an Potifar, einen Hofbeamten des Pharaos. Er war der Oberbefehlshaber der königlichen Leibwache.