And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
Joseph had two sons before the years of famine began. Their mother was Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, who was a priest in the city of On.
This verse tells us that Joseph started his family during the seven years of plenty, having two sons with his Egyptian wife before the difficult times of famine arrived.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually rose to a position of great power in Egypt as Pharaoh's second-in-command after interpreting his dreams about seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. This verse highlights the birth of Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to his Egyptian wife Asenath before the famine began, illustrating how God blessed him with family even in a foreign land. It reflects the cultural practices of ancient Egypt, where high officials often married into influential families to solidify their status.
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