Overview and course breakdown…
Please note - If you wish to attend Trinity College Dublin, sitting an exam or doing the prescribed assignments in this subject can give you a grade which can be used as one of your 6 subjects CAO points for a course in Trinity College Dublin
I am only providing notes for this subject and all contact with Trinity to sit the Biblical Studies assessment must be done through them.
Use the Revised Standard Version (RSV) translation of the Bible for all referencing… Biblegateway.com is a great place to find this translation of the Bible.
The biblical text used will be the Revised Standard Version:
Further information, past papers and suggested reading can be found on the department’s website at: http://www.tcd.ie/Religions_Theology/
The paper and what you have to study…
The paper comprises two sections.
Candidates should attempt both sections as outlined below
SECTION A. OLD TESTAMENT
Either
The history of Israel up to and including the Babylonian exile.
Particular attention should be given to the origins of Israel, the rise of the monarchy, the fall of Samaria and the impact of the exile… THIS IS NOT COVERED IN THESE NOTES.
or…
Old Testament literature:
(
a) Narrative: the Joseph story (Genesis 37-48)
(b) Poetry: the Book of Amos
(
c) Wisdom: the Book of Job
Either…
The history of early Christianity in the first century.
Particular attention should be given to the Jewish and Hellenistic environment, Jesus and his movement in Palestine and developments up to the destruction of the temple in 70 CE… THIS IS NOT COVERED IN THESE NOTES.
Or…
Early Christian literature:
(a) Narrative: Acts of the Apostles
(b) Gospels: Mark’s Gospel
(c) Letters: First Corinthians
OLD TESTAMENT
(a) Narrative: The Joseph story (Genesis 37-48, RSV translation of the Bible)
His story is told in the book of Genesis 37-50, in the Old Testament or first half of the Bible
Written down by scribes about 1000 years after the events supposedly took place, it is often thought that the story may have some historical tradition but with a healthy portion of dramatic licence.
Egyptologists, however, have uncovered some intriguing evidence.
The story begins in Canaan - modern day Palestine, Syria and Israel - around 1600 to 1700 BCE.
Joseph was 11th of 12 sons of a wealthy nomad Jacob and his second and favourite wife Rachel.
Joseph was very much loved by Jacob because he had been born to him in his old age.
Summary of the story of Joseph…
Joseph is a prominent figure in the Old Testament of the Bible and his life is a captivating tale of faith, endurance, and forgiveness. Born to Jacob and Rachel, he was their favourite son and his brothers were envious of him Joseph' s story is a testament to overcoming adversity and staying true to one ' s beliefs despite difficult circumstances
As a young man, Joseph was favoured by his father which only fuelled his brothers' jealousy They sold him into slavery, and he ended up in Egypt, serving as a slave in Potiphar' s house Despite the setbacks, Joseph remained steadfast in his faith and integrity. He excelled with his duties and, even in the face of temptation, he resisted the advances of Potiphar' s wife, remaining true to his moral convictions.
Joseph' s exceptional skills did not go unnoticed and he was eventually promoted to a position of authority in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. Through divine intervention he interpreted Pharaoh' s dreams, predicting seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine Joseph' s wise counsel led to the implementation of a plan to store surplus food during the years of plenty, ensuring Egypt' s survival during the ensuing famine.
In a remarkable turn of events, Joseph' s brothers travelled to Egypt seeking food during the famine. Initially unrecognisable to them, Joseph eventually revealed himself and forgave his
brothers for their betrayal He emphasised that what they intended for evil, God had intended for good, highlighting the importance of forgiveness and redemption.
Joseph' s life serves as a powerful reminder of the fulfilment of dreams, perseverance in the face of adversity, and the ultimate reward of faithfulness. His story teaches us the value of integrity, forgiveness, and trusting in God' s plan even in the most challenging times
Writers on the story of Joseph
Three of the best academic writers on Joseph from the Old Testament of the Bible include; … Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg, … Walter Brueggemann
Nahum Sarna
Their in-depth analyses and scholarly research shed light on the complexities of Joseph' s life, interpreting his story from different perspectives and providing valuable insights.
Significance of the Story of Joseph to the Jewish writers of the Old Testament
The story of Joseph holds significant importance for the Jewish writers of the Old Testament living in Babylon. Firstly, Joseph' s tale reflects the theme of exile and restoration a theme that deeply resonated with the Jewish people living as captives in Babylon
Joseph, having been sold into slavery by his brothers and later rising to a position of power in Egypt, represents the trajectory from captivity to liberation, symbolising hope and deliverance for the Jewish writers In Joseph' s story, they found hope that their own exile would eventually come to an end and they would regain their homeland.
Moreover, the story of Joseph illustrates the concepts of divine providence and divine justice. Joseph' s unwavering faith and righteousness in the face of adversity were rewarded as he was elevated to a position of prominence and was able to save his family from famine
This narrative reassured the Jewish writers during their own struggle, assuring them that God had a purpose for their suffering and that justice would prevail in due course
Additionally, the story of Joseph emphasises the value of forgiveness and reconciliation Despite being betrayed by his own brothers, Joseph chooses forgiveness over revenge and is ultimately reunited with his family
This theme of reconciliation would have resonated deeply with the Jewish writers, reminding them of the importance of unity and forgiveness among their own people
Overall, the story of Joseph served as an inspiring and encouraging account for the Jewish writers living in Babylon. It provided them with hope for their release from captivity,
A little bit of Biblical Studies
Paul McAndrew 6
reassured them of divine protection and justice, and emphasised the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation within their own community. As a result, the story of Joseph held great significance as they sought solace and guidance during their time of exile
Now an In-depth look at the story of Joseph…
Genesis 37… 3-4 (RSV) biblegateway.com
3 Now Israel (another name of Joseph’s father Jacob) loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him
Anthropologists today have found that this sibling rivalry is a common by-product of polygamous marriages.
Children were often born by different wives and each wife wanted the best for their child
The Bible tells us that Joseph and Benjamin are the sons of Jacob' s second wife while all the other sons are from different wives. Three to be exact.
Being given a special coat would have only fuelled the other brothers' jealousy.
The choice of colours in the coat held great prestige and, though this translation does not reference a coloured coat, it is widely believed that the coat was made of many different colours In the ancient world, colour was a precious commodity and vivid colours such as red and purple were held in high esteem as it was very costly to create the dyes
Joseph' s coloured coat of red and purple reinforced the message to his brothers that he was Jacob' s favourite.
Joseph' s brothers sold him as a slave…
Joseph' s brothers were also suspicious of the strange and vivid dreams he had and did not like the interpretations he told them
The dreams could have been interpreted as an ego trip to his brothers, who in these dreams bowed down and worshipped him
Genesis 37v 5-8 (RSV) biblegateway.com
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they only hated him the more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose and stood upright; and behold, your sheaves gathered round it, and bowed down to my sheaf. ” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to have dominion over us?” So they hated him yet more for his dreams and for his words.
In one of the dreams even his father Jacob and his mother Rachel were bowing down to him
Genesis 37 v 9-11 (RSV) biblegateway.com
9 Then he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream; and behold, the sun (his father), the moon (his mother), and eleven stars were bowing down to me. ” 10 But 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?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind
His brothers were furious that their younger brother was so preferred by their father and one day when Joseph was sent to get his brothers, who were looking after sheep in a field, they decided to attack him
Genesis 37v18-24 (RSV) biblegateway.com
18 They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild beast has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams. ”
21 But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life. ” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; cast him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him” that he might rescue him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; 24 and they took him and cast him into a pit. The pit was empty, there was no water in it.
His brothers further took their revenge by selling Joseph as a slave to passing merchants destined for Egypt for 30 pieces of silver
Genesis 37 v 26-28 (RSV) bibliegateway.com
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ish′maelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh. ” And his brothers heeded him.
28 Then Mid′ianite traders passed by; and they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ish′maelites for twenty shekels of silver; and they took Joseph to Egypt.
While Joseph was being taken to Egypt, his brothers faked his death by rubbing goat' s blood into the multi-coloured coat and giving this coat to their father Jacob, who was distracted bythe news and went into a long period of mourning as a result
Genesis 37 v 31-34 (RSV) biblegateway.com
31 Then they took Joseph’s robe, and killed a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood; 32 and they sent the long robe with sleeves and brought it to their father, and said, “This we have found; see now whether it is your son’s robe or not. ”
33 And he recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s robe; a wild beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces. ” 34 Then Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days
In Egypt, Joseph became a house servant to a rich, high-ranking Egyptian, Potiphar. Joseph was an excellent and reliable person and was promoted quickly by his boss.
Genesis 39 v1-4 (RSV) biblegateway.com
Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Pot′i-phar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ish′maelites who had brought him down there.
2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian, 3 and his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hands.
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had
In the household, he was noticed by Potiphar' s wife who tried to seduce him but he resisted her which suggests that he was an honourable person
Genesis 39 v 6-9 (RSV) biblegateway.com
Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and said, “Lie with me. ” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Lo, having me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand; 9 he is not greater in this house than I am; nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife; how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
She persists in trying to sleep with him. Finally after one such episode he again resists and is accused of trying to rape her and Potiphar threw him in prison.
Genesis 39 v 17-20 (RSV) biblegateway.com
17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to insult me; 18 but as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out of the house ”
19 When his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me, ” his anger was kindled 20And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
Joseph spent many years in prison where he again finds favour with the person in charge and is given responsibility of the other prisoners
Genesis 39v 22-23 (RSV) biblegateway.com
22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in the prison; and whatever was done there, he was the doer of it; 23 the keeper of the
prison paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.
Whilst there, Pharaoh (the title for the ruler of Egypt) threw his chief baker and cupbearer into the prison One night both men had disturbing dreams
The chief baker had three baskets of bread on his shoulders and birds came and ate all the food
The cup bearer was squeezing grapes into three cups destined for Pharaoh.
Joseph interprets the dreams and in three days his interpretation comes true Joseph said that in three days the chief baker would be killed and in three days the cup bearer would be restored to his position.
Joseph asks the cup bearer to tell his story to Pharaoh but the cupbearer forgets about Joseph for some time.
Genesis 40v 20 – 23 (RSV) biblegateway com
20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
21 He restored the chief butler to his butlership, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand; 22 but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them 23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Until the morning after Pharaoh has disturbing dreams in which 7 healthy cows or 7 pieces of wheat are eaten by 7 malnourished plagued/starving cows or 7 malnourished plagued/withered pieces of wheat
None of the wise men, magicians or the gods of Egypt could interpret the dreams of Pharaoh and he became frustrated with them.
Genesis 41 v 8 (RSV) biblegateway.com
8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men; and Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was none who could interpret itto Pharaoh.
The cup bearer finally remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh of him Pharaoh asks for Joseph to be presented before him and asks Joseph to interpret his troubling dreams.
Genesis 41v24 (RSV) biblegateway com
Pharaoh speaking… “And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me. ”
Here the Jewish God (Yahweh), called Hashem by Jews to show reverence to the name of God, shows His superiority to other gods. Pharaoh and the scripts of this story emphasise the greatness of Hashem over other gods in a time where belief in other gods is highly prevalent
