the dream that he was encouraged to believe that he
would live to see the resurrection of the dead, for Rachel
was dead, and her return to earth was clearly indicated by
the dream. He went astray there, for not Joseph's own
mother was referred to, but his foster-mother Bilhah, who
had raised him.

Jacob wrote the dream in a book, recording all the circumstances,
the day, the hour, and the place, for the holy spirit
cautioned him, "Take heed, these things will surely come
to pass."[17] But when Joseph repeated his dream to his
brethren, in the presence of his father, Jacob rebuked him,
saying, "I and thy brethren, that has some sense, but I and
thy mother, that is inconceivable, for thy mother is dead."[18]
These words of Jacob called forth a reproof from God. He
said, "Thus thy descendants will in time to come seek to
hinder Jeremiah in delivering his prophecies."[19] Jacob may
be excused, he had spoken in this way only in order to avert
the envy and hate of his brethren from Joseph, but they
envied and hated him because they knew that the interpretation
put upon the dream by Jacob would be realized.[20]


JOSEPH CAST INTO THE PIT

Once the brethren of Joseph led their father's flocks to
the pastures of Shechem, and they intended to take their
ease and pleasure there.[21] They stayed away a long time, and
no tidings of them were heard. Jacob began to be anxious
about the fate of his sons. He feared that a war had broken