And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
Jacob recognized it and said, 'This is my son's robe! A wild animal has killed him. Joseph has definitely been torn apart.'
The writer is showing Jacob's heartbreaking moment when he believes his beloved son Joseph has been killed by a wild animal, not knowing his other sons had deceived him.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs when Joseph's jealous brothers sold him into slavery but told their father Jacob that Joseph was dead, showing him Joseph's bloodied coat as false evidence. Jacob had specially favored Joseph among his twelve sons, giving him the famous colorful coat, which intensified his brothers' jealousy. This deception would separate Jacob from his beloved son for many years.
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