This, however, caused jealousy among his brothers.

The situation was not helped when Joseph had a couple of dreams.

In the first, he and his brothers were in a field binding sheaves. All the other sheaves bowed down to his. In the second, the sun, moon and 11 stars bowed down to him.

The clear implication was that these dreams foretold that Joseph’s family would, at some future time, prostrate themselves before him - which of course they eventually did!

One day Jacob sends Joseph to look for his brothers.

When they see him approaching, they throw him into a pit full of snakes and scorpions. Eventually, they release him - miraculously unharmed - and sell him to a group of travellers. He is eventually bought by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer.

However, the brothers contrive to fake Joseph’s death. They slaughter a goat and dip Joseph’s ‘special coat’ into its blood. They pass this off as Joseph’s blood to their father who presumes him dead - the victim of a wild animal.

After Joseph rejects her advances, Potiphar’s lecherous wife makes a false accusation against him. He is thrown into prison, where he meets Pharaoh’s butler and baker, who had been jailed for misdemeanours in their service of Pharaoh.

Both officers have a dream. Joseph interprets their dreams. He correctly predicts that the butler would soon buttle once more while the baker would bake-off (with his head).

He entreats the butler to show his gratitude by putting in a good word on Joseph’s behalf.

The treacherous butler does no such thing! Joseph had to wait a further 2 years to be released.

Rashi points out that this was retribution for asking the butler to help him. A man of his stature should have trusted purely in God.

Chanukah commences on Sunday evening.

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