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.

One day Jacob sends Joseph to look for his brothers. (There were no mobile phones in those dayslet alone Chinese tracking devices).

When they see him approaching, they decide to throw him into a pit of snakes and scorpions. Eventually, they release him 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 — victim of a wild animal. (DNA tests had also not yet been invented)

After Joseph rejects her advances, Potiphar’s lecherous wife ‘plays the victim’ and 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 be executed. 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!

Chanukah occurs on Wednesday evening coinciding with the Bank Holiday. This is the latest date in the civil calendar for Chanukah since 2005. In 2043 it is scheduled to occur a day later.

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