When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him; and they took him, and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it. They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His brothers listened to him. Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt. Reuben returned to the pit; and saw that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he tore his clothes. He returned to his brothers, and said, “The child is no more; and I, where will I go?” They took Joseph’s coat, and killed a male goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. They took the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, “We have found this. Examine it, now, whether it is your son’s coat or not.” He recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s coat. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.” Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning.” His father wept for him.
Introductory Discussion Questions
How is it that many criminals allow their envy and hatred to outweigh their pity? Do we all have to be careful about hatred, or is it only a problem for really bad people?
What are some things that cause grief? If it is not too difficult, could you share your own personal experience with grief?
How would you try to comfort someone who is experiencing grief?
When someone tells a lie, does it usually end with just one lie? What usually happens?
In your culture, what are some traditions people follow in order to show their grief?
Introductory Lie Discussion
Why does it always seem like one lie leads to another? Can you think of any stories that demonstrate how one lie often leads to another?
Synonym Matching
wept ripped
mourning look at
sackcloth tradesmen
profit cried
merchants not believe
examine grieving
torn rags
conceal hide
doubt gain
Picture Matching
colorful coat
pit
water
bread
caravan
camel
spices
silver
goat
blood
Introductory Discussion Questions
How is it that many criminals allow their envy and hatred to outweigh their pity? Do we all have to be careful about hatred, or is it only a problem for really bad people?
What are some things that cause grief? If it is not too difficult, could you share your own personal experience with grief?
How would you try to comfort someone who is experiencing grief?
When someone tells a lie, does it usually end with just one lie? What usually happens?
In your culture, what are some traditions people follow in order to show their grief?
Introductory Lie Discussion
Why does it always seem like one lie leads to another? Can you think of any stories that demonstrate how one lie often leads to another?
Synonym Matching
wept ripped
mourning look at
sackcloth tradesmen
profit cried
merchants not believe
examine grieving
torn rags
conceal hide
doubt gain
Picture Matching
colorful coat
pit
water
bread
caravan
camel
spices
silver
goat
blood
Listening Blank Fill
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped ______________ of his coat, the coat of many colors ___________ was on him; and they took him, and _____________ him into the pit. The pit was empty. _____________ was no water in it. They sat down to _______ bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, _________ saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from ____________, with their camels bearing spices and balm and ____________, going to carry it down to Egypt. Judah ___________ to his brothers, “What profit is it if we __________ our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and __________ sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our ____________ be on him; for he is our brother, our _____________.” His brothers listened to him. Midianites who were ________________ passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph ___________ of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites ________ twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank
Reuben returned to the pit; and saw that Joseph wasn’t ________ the pit; and he tore his clothes. He returned __________ his brothers, and said, “The child is no ___________; and I, where will I go?” They took Joseph’s ___________, and killed a male goat, and dipped the coat _______ the blood. They took the coat of many _____________, and they brought it to their father, and ___________, “We have found this. Examine it, now, whether ________ is your son’s coat or not.” He recognized it, __________ said, “It is my son’s coat. An evil ______________ has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn _______ pieces.” Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth _______ his waist, and mourned for his son many ___________. All his sons and all his daughters rose _________ to comfort him, but he refused to be _______________. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning.” His father _________ for him.
coat
colors
in
more
in
to
wept
up
comforted
and
animal
it
up
on
in
Verb Bank Fill in the Blank
Reuben returned to the pit; and ___________ that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he ____________ his clothes. He returned to his brothers, and __________, “The child is no more; and I, where will I ___________?” They took Joseph’s coat, and killed a male goat, and ______________ the coat in the blood. They took the coat of many colors, and they _______________ it to their father, and said, “We have found this. ________________ it, now, whether it is your son’s coat or not.” He _____________________ it, and said, “It is my son’s coat. An evil animal has ________________ him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.” Jacob tore his clothes, and ___________ sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters ______________ up to comfort him, but he ___________________ to be comforted. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning.” His father _______________ for him.
Examine
saw
said
dipped
devoured
rose
wept
tore
go
brought
recognized
put
refused
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
Why do you think the brothers stripped the coat off their brother?
What motivated Judah to want to sell Joseph?
If you know the story of Jesus, can you make any comparisons or contrasts between the lives of Joseph and Jesus?
We are not told what Joseph was feeling or saying during this time. Can you guess his thoughts and words?
Why wasn't Reuben there during the selling of Joseph? What does his not being there reveal about the time-frame?
B
What did the coat of many colors symbolize or represent?
Why do you think Reuben decided to go along with his brothers in trying to cover up the crime?
Was Reuben responsible for Joseph in some way?
Why do you think his sons could not comfort Jacob?
Why do you think the brothers decided to use the blood of a goat to cover up their crime?
Writing and Acting
In groups, write an imaginary dialogue between Joseph, his brothers, and the Midianite tradesmen. Be prepared to act out the dialogue with the rest of your class.
Chinese Version
23 约 瑟 到 了 他 哥 哥 们 那 里 ， 他 们 就 剥 了 他 的 外 衣 ， 就 是 他 穿 的 那 件 彩 衣 ，
24 把 他 丢 在 坑 里 ； 那 坑 是 空 的 ， 里 头 没 有 水 。
25 他 们 坐 下 吃 饭 ， 举 目 观 看 ， 见 有 一 夥 米 甸 的 以 实 玛 利 人 从 基 列 来 ， 用 骆 驼 驮 着 香 料 、 乳 香 、 没 药 ， 要 带 下 埃 及 去 。
26 犹 大 对 众 弟 兄 说 ： 我 们 杀 我 们 的 兄 弟 ， 藏 了 他 的 血 有 甚 麽 益 处 呢 ？
27 我 们 不 如 将 他 卖 给 以 实 玛 利 人 ， 不 可 下 手 害 他 ； 因 为 他 是 我 们 的 兄 弟 ， 我 们 的 骨 肉 。 众 弟 兄 就 听 从 了 他 。
28 有 些 米 甸 的 商 人 从 那 里 经 过 ， 哥 哥 们 就 把 约 瑟 从 坑 里 拉 上 来 ， 讲 定 二 十 舍 客 勒 银 子 ， 把 约 瑟 卖 给 以 实 玛 利 人 。 他 们 就 把 约 瑟 带 到 埃 及 去 了 。
29 流 便 回 到 坑 边 ， 见 约 瑟 不 在 坑 里 ， 就 撕 裂 衣 服 ，
30 回 到 兄 弟 们 那 里 ， 说 ： 童 子 没 有 了 。 我 往 那 里 去 才 好 呢 ？
31 他 们 宰 了 一 只 公 山 羊 ， 把 约 瑟 的 那 件 彩 衣 染 了 血 ，
32 打 发 人 送 到 他 们 的 父 亲 那 里 ， 说 ： 我 们 捡 了 这 个 ； 请 认 一 认 是 你 儿 子 的 外 衣 不 是 ？
33 他 认 得 ， 就 说 ： 这 是 我 儿 子 的 外 衣 。 有 恶 兽 把 他 吃 了 ， 约 瑟 被 撕 碎 了 ！ 撕 碎 了 ！
34 雅 各 便 撕 裂 衣 服 ， 腰 间 围 上 麻 布 ， 为 他 儿 子 悲 哀 了 多 日 。
35 他 的 儿 女 都 起 来 安 慰 他 ， 他 却 不 肯 受 安 慰 ， 说 ： 我 必 悲 哀 着 下 阴 间 ， 到 我 儿 子 那 里 。 约 瑟 的 父 亲 就 为 他 哀 哭 。
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: wept-->cried, mourning-->grieving, sackcloth-->rags, profit-->gain, merchants-->tradesmen, examine-->look at, torn-->ripped, conceal-->hide, doubt-->not believe.
Picture Matching: 1-->bread, 2-->goat, 3-->spices, 4-->camel, 5-->caravan, 6-->silver, 7-->blood, 8-->water, 9-->colorful coat, 10-->pit.
Listening Blank Fill: Joseph, that, threw, There, eat, and, Gilead, myrrh, said, kill, let's, hand, merchants, out, for.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: in, to, more, coat, in, colors, said, it, and, animal, in, on, up, comforted, wept
Verb Bank Fill in the Blank: saw, tore, said, go, dipped, brought, Examine, recognized, devoured, put, rose, refused, wept.
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped ______________ of his coat, the coat of many colors ___________ was on him; and they took him, and _____________ him into the pit. The pit was empty. _____________ was no water in it. They sat down to _______ bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, _________ saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from ____________, with their camels bearing spices and balm and ____________, going to carry it down to Egypt. Judah ___________ to his brothers, “What profit is it if we __________ our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and __________ sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our ____________ be on him; for he is our brother, our _____________.” His brothers listened to him. Midianites who were ________________ passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph ___________ of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites ________ twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank
Reuben returned to the pit; and saw that Joseph wasn’t ________ the pit; and he tore his clothes. He returned __________ his brothers, and said, “The child is no ___________; and I, where will I go?” They took Joseph’s ___________, and killed a male goat, and dipped the coat _______ the blood. They took the coat of many _____________, and they brought it to their father, and ___________, “We have found this. Examine it, now, whether ________ is your son’s coat or not.” He recognized it, __________ said, “It is my son’s coat. An evil ______________ has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn _______ pieces.” Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth _______ his waist, and mourned for his son many ___________. All his sons and all his daughters rose _________ to comfort him, but he refused to be _______________. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning.” His father _________ for him.
coat
colors
in
more
in
to
wept
up
comforted
and
animal
it
up
on
in
Verb Bank Fill in the Blank
Reuben returned to the pit; and ___________ that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he ____________ his clothes. He returned to his brothers, and __________, “The child is no more; and I, where will I ___________?” They took Joseph’s coat, and killed a male goat, and ______________ the coat in the blood. They took the coat of many colors, and they _______________ it to their father, and said, “We have found this. ________________ it, now, whether it is your son’s coat or not.” He _____________________ it, and said, “It is my son’s coat. An evil animal has ________________ him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.” Jacob tore his clothes, and ___________ sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters ______________ up to comfort him, but he ___________________ to be comforted. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning.” His father _______________ for him.
Examine
saw
said
dipped
devoured
rose
wept
tore
go
brought
recognized
put
refused
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
Why do you think the brothers stripped the coat off their brother?
What motivated Judah to want to sell Joseph?
If you know the story of Jesus, can you make any comparisons or contrasts between the lives of Joseph and Jesus?
We are not told what Joseph was feeling or saying during this time. Can you guess his thoughts and words?
Why wasn't Reuben there during the selling of Joseph? What does his not being there reveal about the time-frame?
B
What did the coat of many colors symbolize or represent?
Why do you think Reuben decided to go along with his brothers in trying to cover up the crime?
Was Reuben responsible for Joseph in some way?
Why do you think his sons could not comfort Jacob?
Why do you think the brothers decided to use the blood of a goat to cover up their crime?
Writing and Acting
In groups, write an imaginary dialogue between Joseph, his brothers, and the Midianite tradesmen. Be prepared to act out the dialogue with the rest of your class.
Chinese Version
23 约 瑟 到 了 他 哥 哥 们 那 里 ， 他 们 就 剥 了 他 的 外 衣 ， 就 是 他 穿 的 那 件 彩 衣 ，
24 把 他 丢 在 坑 里 ； 那 坑 是 空 的 ， 里 头 没 有 水 。
25 他 们 坐 下 吃 饭 ， 举 目 观 看 ， 见 有 一 夥 米 甸 的 以 实 玛 利 人 从 基 列 来 ， 用 骆 驼 驮 着 香 料 、 乳 香 、 没 药 ， 要 带 下 埃 及 去 。
26 犹 大 对 众 弟 兄 说 ： 我 们 杀 我 们 的 兄 弟 ， 藏 了 他 的 血 有 甚 麽 益 处 呢 ？
27 我 们 不 如 将 他 卖 给 以 实 玛 利 人 ， 不 可 下 手 害 他 ； 因 为 他 是 我 们 的 兄 弟 ， 我 们 的 骨 肉 。 众 弟 兄 就 听 从 了 他 。
28 有 些 米 甸 的 商 人 从 那 里 经 过 ， 哥 哥 们 就 把 约 瑟 从 坑 里 拉 上 来 ， 讲 定 二 十 舍 客 勒 银 子 ， 把 约 瑟 卖 给 以 实 玛 利 人 。 他 们 就 把 约 瑟 带 到 埃 及 去 了 。
29 流 便 回 到 坑 边 ， 见 约 瑟 不 在 坑 里 ， 就 撕 裂 衣 服 ，
30 回 到 兄 弟 们 那 里 ， 说 ： 童 子 没 有 了 。 我 往 那 里 去 才 好 呢 ？
31 他 们 宰 了 一 只 公 山 羊 ， 把 约 瑟 的 那 件 彩 衣 染 了 血 ，
32 打 发 人 送 到 他 们 的 父 亲 那 里 ， 说 ： 我 们 捡 了 这 个 ； 请 认 一 认 是 你 儿 子 的 外 衣 不 是 ？
33 他 认 得 ， 就 说 ： 这 是 我 儿 子 的 外 衣 。 有 恶 兽 把 他 吃 了 ， 约 瑟 被 撕 碎 了 ！ 撕 碎 了 ！
34 雅 各 便 撕 裂 衣 服 ， 腰 间 围 上 麻 布 ， 为 他 儿 子 悲 哀 了 多 日 。
35 他 的 儿 女 都 起 来 安 慰 他 ， 他 却 不 肯 受 安 慰 ， 说 ： 我 必 悲 哀 着 下 阴 间 ， 到 我 儿 子 那 里 。 约 瑟 的 父 亲 就 为 他 哀 哭 。
Exercise Answers
Synonym Matching: wept-->cried, mourning-->grieving, sackcloth-->rags, profit-->gain, merchants-->tradesmen, examine-->look at, torn-->ripped, conceal-->hide, doubt-->not believe.
Picture Matching: 1-->bread, 2-->goat, 3-->spices, 4-->camel, 5-->caravan, 6-->silver, 7-->blood, 8-->water, 9-->colorful coat, 10-->pit.
Listening Blank Fill: Joseph, that, threw, There, eat, and, Gilead, myrrh, said, kill, let's, hand, merchants, out, for.
Word Bank Fill in the Blank: in, to, more, coat, in, colors, said, it, and, animal, in, on, up, comforted, wept
Verb Bank Fill in the Blank: saw, tore, said, go, dipped, brought, Examine, recognized, devoured, put, rose, refused, wept.
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