Daniel David
New Member
Perhaps you have heard a preacher then proceed to talk about how unjust Jacob was and what a bad example he was and ______.
Well, was Jacob wrong?
Well, was Jacob wrong?
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Was Jacob wrong in giving the coat of many colors to Joseph?
- Thread starter Daniel David
- Start date
Based on the mores of our society,I would say that it was an extreme show of favouritism; which may, or may not, have had any significance in the Hebrew culture.
The worst I would accuse Jacob of, (not knowing that society), would be bad judgement.
The worst I would accuse Jacob of, (not knowing that society), would be bad judgement.
Joseph_Botwinick
<img src=/532.jpg>Banned
I don't think the Bible indicates that he was wrong. In fact, it seems to me to portray Jacob and Joseph in a positive light and the only ones who are really painted in a negative light are the jealous brothers. Even in the end, Joseph is elevated as the hero and his brothers are brought low.
Joseph Botwinick
Joseph Botwinick
USN2Pulpit
New Member
Most accounts I have heard of portray Joseph poorly in this instance - in that he wasn't very charitable in the way he communicated this favor with his brothers. In other words, he could have done better in his dealings with his brothers.
Caveat: "Coat of many colors" is a suspect translation. Made a neat musical.
Actually means "long-sleeved" robe, worn by the foreman or boss. Like my dad's generation finally growing from wearing knee pants to long pants - showed you were grown up.
Evidently, God revealed to Jake that his son Joe would be "the boss" and he was passing that on to the rest of the boys. Jospeph didn't gain love and respect, but the brothers all knew the score.
Maybe why they dumped him down the pit first chance they got!
Actually means "long-sleeved" robe, worn by the foreman or boss. Like my dad's generation finally growing from wearing knee pants to long pants - showed you were grown up.
Evidently, God revealed to Jake that his son Joe would be "the boss" and he was passing that on to the rest of the boys. Jospeph didn't gain love and respect, but the brothers all knew the score.
Maybe why they dumped him down the pit first chance they got!
WallyGator
New Member
Who are we to second-guess Jacob? God's plan was nevertheless fulfilled. Who impressed Jacob to do this would be a fuller question. Why?
Marcia
Active Member
It seems like we too often transfer modern day assumptions and psychological trappings to a different time and culture where these contemporary views do not apply. There is no indication Jacob was wrong in giving this coat to Joseph or that Joseph was wrong in telling his dreams to his brothers. The brothers were wrong in their reaction to what Joseph said, and that is clear from the Bible. As God often did in the OT, the younger is given honor over the older and the older don't like it.
pastorjeff
New Member
I can't say he was wrong, but it is another example of him possibly being dense. Jacob didn't see the strife between his wives earlier and now here are his sons going at it over jelousy. Maybe Jacob was alittle disconnected from his family.
williemakeit
New Member
Yes, Jacob was wrong in showing favortism toward Joseph, thereby provoking his other children to wrath. However, God in his infinite wisdom knew how to take a weakness in the human nature, and use it for his glorious purpose later. Brings Romans 8:28 to mind. The action taken by Jacob went a long way in preventing some or all of the sons of Israel (including families) from starving to death. It would have been a different account if only 3 or 4 tribes entered in to take possession of the promised land. Sadder yet would have been if all of Israel had died in the famine, and there would not have been a line from Judah. Praise God for his wisdom.
Jacob never hid his favoritism for Rachel over Leah and that favoritism transferred to the two children they shared. The sibling rivalry and jealously within that family is not surprising, nor even that it eventually went to such extremes. It does seem that Joseph had a "rub it in your face" attitude with the dreams.
One point that is interesting to ponder is what kind of person would Joseph have ultimately become if he had not been tested so severely. I am persuaded the humility lessons he learned as a slave, before being elevated to the right hand of Pharoah, were as much part of God's plan and the key to Israel's survival as was his accension to power.
One point that is interesting to ponder is what kind of person would Joseph have ultimately become if he had not been tested so severely. I am persuaded the humility lessons he learned as a slave, before being elevated to the right hand of Pharoah, were as much part of God's plan and the key to Israel's survival as was his accension to power.
joyfulkeeperathome
New Member
The first person to do wrong in the family situation was defenitely Laban!!!
When Joseph is talking to his brothers in the end, he says "You mean it for evil, but God meant it for good." It doesn't seem that he addressed his father and told him that he did wrong in giving the coat. I believe that of course he would favor Joseph and Benjamin b/c their mother is the one that he wanted to marry in the first place!!!
When Joseph is talking to his brothers in the end, he says "You mean it for evil, but God meant it for good." It doesn't seem that he addressed his father and told him that he did wrong in giving the coat. I believe that of course he would favor Joseph and Benjamin b/c their mother is the one that he wanted to marry in the first place!!!
In Jakes' mind, Joseph was his FIRST BORN son (the one with special blessing and privilege). Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah - first by Leah - did not count in his view. It was Rachel. First love and all that . . .
And even on his deathbed, Jake blessed Ephraim and Manasseh and gave Joseph the double blessing. Giving his two grandsons an equal place with his other sons.
It was GOD'S plan.
And even on his deathbed, Jake blessed Ephraim and Manasseh and gave Joseph the double blessing. Giving his two grandsons an equal place with his other sons.
It was GOD'S plan.
Daniel David
New Member
Did not Jacob have the right to give it to whoever he wanted?
Marcia
Active Member
A thought has just struck me on this: Jacob was not wrong in giving the coat to Jacob, but the results of that -- jealousy, throwing Joseph in the pit, etc. -- were indirectly the result of Joseph having more than one wife. Having more than one wife was not in God's will -- and strife always resulted in the Biblical examples of this.
Marcia
Active Member
Please disregard my previous post -- I obviously scrambled the names up badly! 
Not sure where my brains are.
Here it is again in the corrected version:
Jacob was not wrong in giving the coat to Joseph, but the results of that -- jealousy, throwing Joseph in the pit, etc. -- were indirectly the result of Jacob having more than one wife. Having more than one wife was not in God's will -- and strife always resulted in the Biblical examples of this.
Not sure where my brains are. Here it is again in the corrected version:
Jacob was not wrong in giving the coat to Joseph, but the results of that -- jealousy, throwing Joseph in the pit, etc. -- were indirectly the result of Jacob having more than one wife. Having more than one wife was not in God's will -- and strife always resulted in the Biblical examples of this.
joyfulkeeperathome
New Member
I agree - it started with the sin of Laban....
joyfulkeeperathome sez:
Here we have the ultimate beginning of ALL our problems; satan's pride, and God's creation that shared that pride & acted on it!
It was because of Jacob's deceipt/lying that he wound up at Laban's--It was because of Rebecca's partiality to Jacob that he deceived---####---it was because of pride that satan tempted Eve& Adam to rebel against God.
Here we have the ultimate beginning of ALL our problems; satan's pride, and God's creation that shared that pride & acted on it!