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NASB | Genesis 37:9 ¶ Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, "Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 37:9 ¶ But Joseph dreamed still another dream, and told it to his brothers [as well]. He said, "See here, I have again dreamed a dream, and lo, [this time I saw] eleven stars and the sun and the moon bowed down [in respect] to me!" |
Bible Question:
I was thinking about Genesis 37:9-10. Joseph has a dream that "the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down" to him. His father, Jacob asks, "Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" Well, what is the answer? I think the answer is NO, because his mother, Rachel, dies in childbirth in the land of Canaan while giving birth to Benjamin. Thus she never makes the trip to Egypt with the rest of the family, and never does bow down (as the rest of them do) to Joseph while he the Prime Minister of the Land. So, was the prophecy to Joseph in error, or was Jacob's qualifying question in error, or what? |
Bible Answer: Hi, This is an excellent question and one I have wondered about. Jacob did not immediately discern that Joseph’s dream was from God. When Jacob offered a snap interpretation of Joseph’s dream, concerning “the sun and moon”, he did so without God’s help. If it had been God’s interpretation, then Jacob would not have chastised Joseph for the dream. Joseph’s mother, Rachel, died a short time before this. Jacob may have been referring to Joseph’s step-mother and Rachel’s sister, Leah. However, Leah died before Jacob reunited with Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 49:31). Also, Jacob pondered over what his son had dreamed, which indicates he did not understand the significance of the dream. Jacob AND Rachel (or Leah) could not fulfill this prophesy, since Rachel and Leah both died in Canaan. Jacob’s interpretation was in error. The question is who are the entities represented as “the sun and moon,” which would bow down to Joseph? We should look to see if the Bible will interpret itself! Is there a similar prophesy? Who bowed down to Joseph, other than his brothers, that fulfill the prophesy? The blessing given to Jacob by Isaac is similar to those of both Joseph’s dreams and Jacob’s blessing given to Joseph. Gen 27: 28 May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. (See Gen. 49:25, Deu. 33:13-15) 29 May nations serve you (No nation served Jacob, but Egypt and Canaan served Joseph) and peoples bow down to you. (See Gen. 41: 40-43) Be lord over your brothers, (This applied to Joseph, not Jacob) and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. (Jacob had only one brother, as did Joseph. However, in Hebrew “mother” can mean any female ancestor. The mother here would be Rebekah, who was the grandmother of Joseph’s brothers.) May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." In Deu. 4:19 the Israelites’ were warned: “And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. Egypt was a land of Pagan Sun-Worship and Canaan a land of Pagan Moon-Worship! How could Jacob have ever imagined that they would someday bow down to his son Joseph. (See Gen 47:13-15) The sun and moon are Egypt and Canaan! Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Gen 37:9 | Author | ||
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ixoye777 | ||
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Searcher56 | ||
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Jim Estes | ||
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Searcher56 | ||
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Jim Estes |