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Joseph (; Hebrew: יוֹסֵף, romanized: Yōsēp̄, lit. 'He shall add') was a dream interpreter and considered an important Hebrew figure in the Bible's Book of Genesis.
Joseph was the first of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel, making him Jacob's twelfth named child and eleventh son. He is the founder of the Tribe of Joseph among the Israelites. His story functions as an explanation for Israel's residence in Egypt. He is the favourite son of the patriarch Jacob, and his envious brothers sell him into slavery in Biblical Egypt, where he eventually ends up incarcerated. After correctly interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh, he rises to second-in-command in Egypt and saves Egypt during a famine. Jacob's family travels to Egypt to escape the famine, and it is through him that they are given leave to settle in the Land of Goshen (the eastern part of the Nile Delta).
Scholars hold different opinions about the historical background of the Joseph story, as well as the date and development of its composition. Some scholars suggest that the biblical story of Joseph (Gen 37-50) was a multigenerational work with both early and late components. Others hold that the original Joseph story was a Persian period diaspora novella told from the perspective of Judeans living in Egypt.
In Jewish tradition, he is the ancestor of a second Messiah called "Mashiach ben Yosef", who will wage war against the forces of evil alongside Mashiach ben David and die in combat with the enemies of God and Israel. Christian tradition often interprets him as a typological precursor to Jesus, emphasizing his virtue and suffering. In Islam, Joseph (Yusuf) is regarded as a prophet, and the Quran recounts his story with some variations, such as the healing of Jacob’s eyes. The Bahá’í faith also references Joseph metaphorically in relation to recognizing manifestations of God. Beyond religious texts, Joseph’s story has inspired extensive literature, music, theater, and film adaptations, as well as numerous international films and television series retelling the story.
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