One of the troublesome ideas I hear a lot but can’t trace back to the Bible is that Jacob is showing favoritism to Joseph by giving a “richly ornamented robe” and not duplicating the gift for the brothers. This would be a bit foolish because the coat was a sign of authority. It was a royal garment. The reason for the coat and the brothers’ irritation is that Jacob has decided that Joseph is the only one of the brothers qualified to be in charge.
Jacob is a very weak character. That the promise goes through him is a sign of God’s irrational love. Jacob has been bullied into several foolish acts by his brother, his mother, his uncle, and his wife, Rachel. The coat is an admission that Joseph is more qualified than he is to run the family.
The dream that God sends to Joseph is a sign of this new hierarchy. Joseph has the approval of God to guide this dysfunctional family and ensure its survival and prosperity.
The embroidered coat is a sign that his father thought his conduct superior to his brother. It was a sign of approval. Later, Egyptian reactions to this enslaved boy substantiate God’s and Jacob’s judgment. One of the first articles of clothing that is important to the story in Egypt is that Joseph once again has a coat, a robe from Potiphar.
The subject of robes in the Bible is an interesting one and needs another section.
His brothers’ behavior also seems to reinforce the wisdom of the coat. We should be more willing accept another’s blessing and look to our own failings.
Another is that Joseph is an arrogant little brat because he reported that dream that God sent him to his brothers. Nowhere else in the Bible, as far as I know, does God punish one of His for reporting a dream He sent.
My Bible Study Notebook 
Joseph’s Coat
One of the troublesome ideas I hear a lot but can’t trace back to the Bible is that Jacob is showing favoritism to Joseph by giving a “richly ornamented robe” and not duplicating the gift for the brothers. This would be a bit foolish because the coat was a sign of authority. It was a royal garment. The reason for the coat and the brothers’ irritation is that Jacob has decided that Joseph is the only one of the brothers qualified to be in charge.
Jacob is a very weak character. That the promise goes through him is a sign of God’s irrational love. Jacob has been bullied into several foolish acts by his brother, his mother, his uncle, and his wife, Rachel. The coat is an admission that Joseph is more qualified than he is to run the family.
The dream that God sends to Joseph is a sign of this new hierarchy. Joseph has the approval of God to guide this dysfunctional family and ensure its survival and prosperity.
The embroidered coat is a sign that his father thought his conduct superior to his brother. It was a sign of approval. Later, Egyptian reactions to this enslaved boy substantiate God’s and Jacob’s judgment. One of the first articles of clothing that is important to the story in Egypt is that Joseph once again has a coat, a robe from Potiphar.
The subject of robes in the Bible is an interesting one and needs another section.
His brothers’ behavior also seems to reinforce the wisdom of the coat. We should be more willing accept another’s blessing and look to our own failings.
Another is that Joseph is an arrogant little brat because he reported that dream that God sent him to his brothers. Nowhere else in the Bible, as far as I know, does God punish one of His for reporting a dream He sent.
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