Expert: Logan - 9/16/2004

Question
I am writing a story of Joseph and his coat and if possible need the answers to the following questions?

How old were the older brothers and Benjamin when Joseph was sold (I know Joseph was 17).

How long did it take to get to Egypt?

How old was Joseph when the bumper crops started?

I haven't found the answers myself in the Bible but haven't any idea where to actually look.  Please help if you can.

Cheers from Jess

Answer
 Hello.  Thank you for the question.  I am sorry for the long delay.  Normally I answer questions the same day they are asked, or a day or two later.  I have received a lot of questions lately, though.

  Genesis 37:2  These [are] the generations of Jacob. Joseph, [being] seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad [was] with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.  

 It starts out with Joseph being 17, but this does not mean he was sold at that same time.  He could have been older.  I do not know the age of his brothers.  It does not seem to be given.

 He found them in Dothan.
  Genesis 37:17  And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.  

  Genesis 37:28  Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty [pieces] of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.  

 The Bible does not say how long it took to get to Egypt.  They were merchantmen, he travelled with, so it may have been slow travel, stopping to do business at different times.

 It appears that Joseph was 30 when he met Pharaoh, unless the following verse is speaking of another time.

  Genesis 41:46 ¶ And Joseph [was] thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.  

 The 7 years of great plenty happened soon after Pharaoh's dream.

  Genesis 41:32  And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; [it is] because the thing [is] established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.  

 So Joseph may have been 30 when the 7 good years hit, or it may have been later, but it was soon, according to God.

 Some things are given in The Bible, and some are not.  We should not worry about the information not given in The Bible.  God has seen fit to leave out certain information.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to know, as long as we do not make that our priority.  I am not at all saying that you are.  I am just like you.  I like to dig in The Bible for answers, some that most people may overlook.  It is fun.  And then once I find out the certain things are not given in The Bible, then I don't really think about them anymore.  It is no big deal to me.  God has given me what he wants me to have.  You know?

  Deuteronomy 29:29  The secret [things belong] unto the LORD our God: but those [things which are] revealed [belong] unto us and to our children for ever, that [we] may do all the words of this law.  

 Thank you for a great question, and feel free to ask anything again.  

 God's Gospel:

 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23   

 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23   

 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8   

 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16   

 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10