Jacob

Family: Israelites · Role: father of Joseph · First appears: The Favorite Son

Jacob’s family included Rebekah, Leah and Rachel; he had seen Rachel first and served fourteen years for her, and Rachel bore Joseph. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son: he resembled his father, received from him the teachings Jacob had learned from Shem and Eber, and was given a coat of many colors. Jacob recorded Joseph’s dream, but when his sons brought back the bloodied coat, he believed Joseph had been killed and mourned deeply. Later, a test with stones and other objects convinced him Joseph was alive.

When famine came, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt for food. He first refused to let Benjamin go after learning that Simon had been imprisoned, but, when the family’s supplies ran out, he accepted Judah’s pledge and entrusted him with a letter for Egypt’s ruler. After his sons brought news that Joseph lived and ruled Egypt, Jacob resolved to see him. God told Jacob not to fear the journey and commanded him to remain in Egypt; there, Joseph embraced him and presented him to Pharaoh. Jacob and his family settled in Goshen, where Joseph provided for them.

Before his death, Jacob asked Joseph to bury him in Palestine, and Joseph swore to carry out his wish. Jacob adopted Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, placed Ephraim before Manasseh, and gave both blessings. He summoned his sons and blessed them, declaring the birthright for Joseph, kingship for Judah and priesthood for Levi, and spoke of each tribe’s future. Jacob died when the Shekinah took his soul, and Joseph buried him in the Cave of Machpelah as requested.