Joseph – the Stone that the Builders Rejected

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The Bible is a Book of Tales (Narrative Theology)

Joseph (Gen 37-50) is not in the LINE to David, but he is very Davidic.

He is rejected by his brothers, but later comes to rule them.

As David’s story is remembered: “The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.” (Ps 118.22)

Of course, both men prefigure Jesus.

But there is another similarity between the three.  All three have a story where they are mistreated unjustly, 1) Joseph by Potiphar’s wife, 2) David by Saul and Nabal, and 3) Jesus by “his own people”

In all three cases, there is a “remember me, when you come into your Kingdom” line:

• “¹³In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. ¹⁴Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. (gen 40.13-14)
• “^…the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, …And when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, ³¹…And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”” (1 Sam 25.28-31)
• And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23.41-43)

The three of them are also shepherds:

• “Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers” (Gen 37.2)
• “⁷I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. ⁸Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.'” (1 Sam 25.7-8)
• “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10.11)

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David’s Feast in the Wilderness

Compare David’s feast to Moses’ now:

^8″Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.”… ¹⁴But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them….”Nabal, …was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. …and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. ³⁸And about ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.“

Nabal is Pharaoh who refuses a feast for the Son of God in the wildreness – the Lord hardened his heart.

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Joseph is a Judge of Israel like Jesus

Consider two passages in this cross connection:

“Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.” (Gen 37.2)

“And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.” (Mark 15.9-10)