The Story of Joseph and Judah: A Teacher’s Narrative and Structural Commentary on Genesis 37–50

by Warren A. Gage; Steven P. Carpenter

Publisher:

St. Andrews House

, 2010

Overview

This teaching supplement is designed for preachers and teachers as they unfold the Joseph and Judah narrative to congregations and Bible study groups. This volume supplements and enhances the background to Genesis 37–50. It takes readers on a deeper journey into the closing narrative of Genesis, exploring more thoroughly how each episode of Joseph and Judah’s story is artistically composed and pieced together in a story flow. Besides containing material that will enrich the use of The Story of Joseph and Judah in Bible study settings, it is written in a way that will allow pastors and teachers to use it directly for teaching on this important narrative.

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Key Features

• Views the story of Joseph through a compelling and unique lens
• Examines the text with both scientific analysis and literary sensitivity
• Captures the drama and power of the exceptional story of Joseph
• Provides thorough talking points to guide group conversation

Contents

• Genesis 37
  • Structural Notes
  • The Crime Story
  • Postscript to the Crime Story
• Genesis 38
  • Structure of Genesis 38
• Genesis 39
  • Literary and Structural Notes on Genesis 38–39
  • Structure of Genesis 39
• Genesis 40
  • Structure of Genesis 40
• Genesis 41
  • Structure of Genesis 41
  • Joseph’s Prison Years in Egypt
  • Success of Joseph’s Plan
  • Diagram: Architecture of the Joseph Story
• Genesis 42
  • First Half of the Story: Structure of Genesis 37–42
  • Talionic Reversal
• Genesis 43
  • Structure of Genesis 43
• Genesis 44
  • Structure of Genesis 44
  • Judah’s Appeal
• Genesis 45
  • Structure of Genesis 45
• Genesis 46
• Genesis 47
  • Second Half of the Story: Structure of Genesis 44–50
• Genesis 48
• Genesis 49
• Genesis 50
• Chiastic Structure of the Story of Joseph and Judah

Top Highlights

“We learn later in the story that Joseph was crying out from the pit for his life to be spared, and his brothers were indifferent to his cries for mercy. Again, the picture of Cain and Abel comes to mind. After his death, Abel’s blood cried out from the ground, and here Joseph, at the prospect of his blood being shed, is crying out from the ground. His cries are ignored by his brothers, and while they are eating, they see a caravan approaching in the distance.” (Page 10)

“Here again the story takes on an ironic turn. Jacob earlier had deceived his father Isaac with a goat skin and Esau’s clothing (27:9, 16). Now he is deceived by his sons with a goat’s blood and his son’s coat. Jacob recognizes that it is Joseph’s tunic, and concludes that Joseph must have been devoured by a wild beast. Gal 6:7 is playing out in Jacob’s life, ‘whatever a man sows, that will he reap.’” (Page 11)

“Rather than being the dreamer (as his brothers referred to him), he is now the interpreter.” (Page 39)

“If we expand our backward look to Chapters 38–41, we can note that the stories of Judah and Joseph are reversed images of the truth later declared by Jesus, ‘He who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’ Judah’s twenty-year sojourn among the Canaanites is the story of a proud Judah being humbled, and Joseph’s twenty years among the Egyptians is the story of a humble Joseph being exalted. God awakens covenant faith in Judah by humbling him, and he rewards the covenant faith of Joseph by exalting him.” (Pages 47–48)

“As we read the story of Joseph and Judah closely and reflect on the details of how the text is crafted, we will discover that its artistry is designed to engage our imagination, suggest associations with other events and stories, make use of word play that engages us with its subtle wit and humor, and draw out ironies that show the hand of a sovereign God directing history in a way that manifests His wisdom and power, and His justice and mercy.” (Page 3)

Product Details

• Title: The Story of Joseph and Judah: A Teacher’s Narrative and Structural Commentary on Genesis 37–50
• Authors: Warren A. Gage and Steven P. Carpenter
• Publisher: St. Andrews House
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 112

About the Authors

Warren A. Gage is the president of the Alexandrian Forum, a ministry dedicated to bringing in-depth biblical and classical education back to our churches and communities. Warren holds a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, a JD from Southern Methodist University, and a MA and PhD from the University of Dallas. Prior to his work for the Alexandrian Forum, he served as a professor of Old Testament and classical studies at Knox Theological Seminary. He is known for his advocacy of biblical typology and a literary approach to biblical exposition which demonstrates that all of Scripture points toward Christ.

Steven P. Carpenter is a visiting lecturer of biblical theology at Knox Theological Seminary.