<P> Joseph (/ ˈdʒoʊzɪf, - sɪf /; Hebrew: יוֹסֵף ‬ meaning "Increase", Standard Yosef Tiberian Yôsēp̄; Arabic: يوسف ‎ Yūsuf or Yūsif; Ancient Greek: Ἰωσήφ Iōsēph) is an important figure in the Bible's Book of Genesis . Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, he rose to become vizier, the second most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh, where his presence and office caused Israel to leave Canaan and settle in Egypt . The composition of the story can be dated to the period between the 7th century BCE and the third quarter of the 5th century BCE, which is roughly the period to which scholars date the Book of Genesis . </P> <P> In Rabbinic tradition, Joseph is considered the ancestor of another Messiah called, "Mashiach ben Yosef", according to which he will wage war against the evil forces alongside Mashiach ben David and die in combat with the enemies of God and Israel . </P> <P> Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, lived in the land of Canaan with ten half - brothers, one full brother, and at least one half - sister . He was Rachel's firstborn and Jacob's eleventh son . Of all the sons, Joseph was preferred by his father, and this is represented by a "long coat of many colors". When Joseph was seventeen years old he had two dreams that made his brothers plot his demise . In the first dream, Joseph and his brothers gathered bundles of grain, of which those his brothers gathered, bowed to his own . In the second dream, the sun (father), the moon (mother), and eleven stars (brothers) bowed to Joseph himself . These dreams, implying his supremacy, angered his brothers . (Genesis 37: 1 - 11) </P> <P> Joseph's half - brothers were jealous of him; (Genesis 37: 18 - 20) wherefore, in Dothan, most of them plotted to kill him, with the exception of Reuben, who suggested to have Joseph thrown into an empty cistern, intending to rescue Joseph himself . Unaware of this secondary intention, the others obeyed his first . Upon imprisoning Joseph, the brothers saw a camel caravan carrying spices and perfumes to Egypt, and sold Joseph to these merchants . Thereafter the guilty brothers painted goat's blood on Joseph's coat and showed it to Jacob, who therefore believed Joseph dead . (Genesis 37: 12 - 35) </P>

Where is joseph story found in the bible