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CHAPTER XXXVII.

History of Joseph.

Q. What is the first remarkable event related in the life of Joseph ?

A. When he was seventeen years old, his Brethren sold him for a slave into Egypt.-v. 28. Q. Why did they sell him?

A. For envy; because his Father loved him more than all his children; and because he brought unto his father their evil report.-v. 2, 3.

Q. Have we any proof of this in the New Testament?

A. St. Stephen, relating the History of the Israelites, says, The Patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt.-Acts vii. 9.

Q. Was there any other cause of this hatred? A. He dreamed that they should bow down to him, and that he should have dominion over them. -v. 7, 8.

Q. Where was he first placed in Egypt?.

A. He was sold as a slave to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, and Captain of the Guard. -v. 36.

CHAPTER XXXVIII, may be omitted.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Q. How was Joseph treated by Potiphar? A. When Potiphar saw that the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper in his hand, he made him Overseer in his house, and left all that he had in Joseph's hand.-v. 4, 5.

Q. What circumstance interrupted Joseph's prosperity?

A Potiphar's wife accused him falsely to his Master, who put him into prison.-v. 17 to 20. Q. Was any peculiar mercy shewn him while in prison?

A. The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and made all that he did to prosper.v. 21, 23.

CHAPTER XL.

Q. With what extraordinary power did God manifest his favour to Joseph, while in prison? A. He gave him the power to interpret Dreams, which he shewed first in interpreting the Dreams of the Chief of Pharaoh's Butlers, and of the Chief of his Bakers.—v. 12.

CHAPTER XLI.

Q. To what circumstance was Joseph indebted for his release from Prison?

A. He interpreted the two dreams of Pharaoh, which signified that there should be seven years of great plenty in the land of Egypt, and afterward seven years of famine..—v. 1. 29, 30.

Q. What counsel did he give Pharaoh on this occasion?

A. He advised him to lay up a store of food in the seven years of plenty, against the seven years of famine.-v. 34, 36.

Q. How does Pharaoh treat Joseph after this interpretation of his Dreams?

A. He made him Ruler over all the land of Egypt. v. 43.

Q. Is this circumstance alluded to in the New Testament?

A. St. Stephen says, in the Acts, God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, King of Egypt; and he made him Governor over Egypt, and all his house.-Acts vii. 11. Q. How old was he at that period? A. Thirty years old. v. 46.

Q. Was Joseph married at this time?

A. Pharaoh gave him in marriage the Daughter of Potipherah, the Priest of On, by whom he had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.-v. 45, 51, 52. Q. Did the famine extend beyond the land of Egypt?

A. The famine was over all the face of the earth, and all Countries came into Egypt to Joseph, for to buy corn.—v. 56, 57.

CHAPTER XLII.

Q. What famous persons were oppressed bythis sore Famine?

A. Joseph's Father, and his Brethren.

Q. To whom did they flee for succour in their distress?

A. To Joseph.

Q. Who sent them?

A. Their Father, Israel, sent all, except Benjamin, fearing that mischief might befal him.-v. 4. Q. Have we any proofs of this in the New Testament?

A. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction; and our Fathers found no sustenance: but when Jacob

heard that there was Corn in Egypt, he sent out our Fathers first.-Acts vii. 11, 12.

Q. How did Joseph receive his Brethren?

A. At first he affected not to know them, and spake roughly to them, and made himself strange unto them, calling them spies.--v. 9.

Q. By what contrivance did Joseph bring his brother Benjamin to him?

A. When they said that they were Twelve Brethren, and that the youngest remained with their Father, and one (meaning Joseph himself) was dead, he insisted upon their bringing their youngest Brother, to prove their words.-v. 13, 16. Q. Did Joseph permit them all to go back to Canaan?

A. He kept Simeon back, as a pledge.―v. 24. Q. At this moment was there any thing remarkable in the conduct of his Brethren?

A. Their conscience struck them with the wickedness of their past actions; and they said, one to another, we are verily guilty concerning our Brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.-v. 21.

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Q. How was Joseph affected when he beheld their terror and grief?

A. He turned himself about from them, and wept.-v. 24.

Q. Did he shew them any favour when he sent them away?

A. He commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way.-v. 25.

Q. How did they interpret this mark of favour? A. Their guilty conscience caused their hearts to fail, and they were afraid.-v. 28.

Q. Did Israel consent to send Benjamin with them?

CHAPTER XLIII.

A. At first he refused; but when the famine was sore, he sent Benjamin, and money, and presents to Joseph.—v. 12.

Q. How did Joseph receive them this second time?

A. He ordered preparations to be made for them to dine with him; and asked them of their welfare, and of their Father's welfare.-v. 27.

Q. Was the dream of Joseph particularly fulfilled at this moment?

A. His Brethren said to him, Thy Servant, our Father, is in good health; and they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.-v. 28.

Q. When Joseph saw their submission, and beheld his Brother Benjamin, how was he affected? A. He hastened from them, to weep apart in his chamber.-v. 30.

Q. Did he shew any signs of his intimate knowledge of them?

Ă. He commanded that they should sit before him, the first-born according to his birth-right, and the youngest according to his youth; and caused Benjamin's mess to be five times so much as any of theirs. v. 33, 34.

CHAPTER XLIV.

Q. What means did Joseph take in order to detain his Brethren?

A. He caused his own silver cup to be put into Benjamin's sack, giving them as much food as they could carry, and their own money back to them. →v. 1, 2.

Q. How did they fall into this snare?

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