Joseph: An Important Person In The Hebrew Bible

The prevention and relief of suffering have long been a core medical concern. But while this is a laudable goal, some question whether medicine can, or should, aim for a world without pain, sadness, anxiety, despair, or uncertainty.

At the age of 17, Joseph was simply a young shepherd boy working alongside his brothers. As a teenager, Joseph did little to ingratiate himself to his older brothers. To find more favor with his father, Joseph would routinely report back about his older brothers' activities (tell on them) while tending to the flocks (Genesis 37:2). Joseph also told his family of a dream that he had – that one day he would rule over his family (Genesis 37: 5-11). His older brothers were already jealous of Joseph and so they already disliked and/or even hated him. Joseph then only further alienated them and provoked more of their dislike and hatred of him when he told his brothers about two of his dreams in Genesis 37:5-11. In the first dream, sheaves of wheat belonging to his brothers bowed to his sheaf. In the second, even the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowed to him. Not only did Joseph’s natural Father love Joseph more than his older brothers but also NOW HaShem had also chosen to love Joseph more than them – the very thought of that was simply too much for them to bear!