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Is Joseph older than Benjamin?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 21, 2026

Rosh (meaning elder), in reference to Joseph being older than Benjamin. Muppim (meaning double mouth), in reference to Joseph passing on what he had been taught by Jacob. Huppim (meaning marriage canopies), in reference to Joseph being married in Egypt, while Benjamin was not there.

Who is younger Benjamin or Joseph in the Bible?

Youngest son of jacob and a full brother of Joseph; his mother, Rachel, died at his birth (Gn 35.16–19, 24).

Was Joseph the oldest brother?

Birth and family

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.

How old was Joseph when he was sold into slavery?

Joseph was in prison for two years after he interpreted the dreams of the chief butler and baker (see Genesis 41:1). He was sold into slavery when he was about seventeen (see Genesis 37:2), and he was thirty years of age when he became vice-regent to the pharaoh (see Genesis 41:46).

What did Joseph do when he saw Benjamin?

And bring my father down here quickly." Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them.

45 related questions found

Which brother did Joseph keep?

He holds his brother Reuben hostage and orders the others to bring Jacob and Benjamin.

Why did Joseph cry in Benjamin?

Joseph cries so frequently not because he is emotional, but because the reunion with his family takes place over time. When first meeting his brothers and Benjamin in Egypt, he is still unwilling to reveal his identity and thus weeps secretly.

How old was Joseph when he was put in charge of Egypt?

Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt. During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully.

How old was Joseph when he became the governor of Egypt?

Joseph's advice to Pharaoh struck a responsive chord. The king was impressed by the man's mature wisdom, at once adopted his suggestions, and appointed him, then aged 30 (41:46), to be in charge of their practical application (41:37–40).

How old was Joseph when his brothers threw him in the pit?

Jacob's 11th son, Joseph, born finally by Rachael, would be his favorite. When Joseph was 17 years old Jacob gave him a special ornate robe of many colors. It was a long robe with long sleeves and it upset his working-class brothers because it put Joseph above them as his father's right-hand man.

How old was Mary when Jesus was born?

All About Mary

However, now we believe that Mary and Joseph were both in their teens when Jesus was born, around sixteen and eighteen respectively. This was the norm for Jewish newlyweds at that time.

Was Judah the oldest brother?

Biblical references

Judah is the fourth son of the patriarch Jacob and his first wife, Leah: his full brothers are Reuben, Simeon and Levi (all older), and Issachar and Zebulun (younger), Gad and Asher (younger) by Leah's handmaid, and one full sister Dinah. He has six half-brothers total.

Who is the 13th son of Jacob?

Jacob, through his two wives and his two concubines had 12 biological sons; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin and only one daughter, Dinah.

How old was Joseph in the Bible?

In another early text, The History of Joseph the Carpenter, which was composed in Egypt between the 6th and 7th centuries, Christ himself tells the story of his step-father, claiming Joseph was 90 years old when he married Mary and died at 111. The theory caught on.

Who is the Tribe of Benjamin today?

Benjamin, according to biblical tradition, one of the 12 tribes that constituted the people of Israel, and one of the two tribes (along with Judah) that later became the Jewish people.

How did Joseph become the second in command in the land of Egypt?

How did Joseph and Pharaoh respond to God's revelation of a coming crisis in Egypt's future? Pharaoh was looking for someone to be in charge of the land to prepare of the years of famine. The Pharaoh picked Joseph and made him be in charge of everything under him.

How old was David when he became king?

David was around 15 years old when Samuel anointed him king in the midst of his brothers. How much time passed after David was anointed and the killing of Goliath is not clear.

How many brothers did Joseph have?

Most of the brothers (Simeon, Levi, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher and Naphtali) blend together in Genesis. But there are three stand-outs worth a second look: Reuben, Judah, and Benjamin.

How long did Joseph live?

Joseph first appears in the Bible in the gospels of Matthew and Luke; in Matthew, Joseph's lineage is traced back to King David. According to the Bible, Joseph was born circa 100 B.C.E. and later wed the Virgin Mary, Jesus's mother. He died in Israel circa 1 A.D.

How old was Samuel when he was called by God?

Samuel worked under Eli in the service of the shrine at Shiloh. One night, Samuel heard a voice calling his name. According to the first-century Jewish historian Josephus, Samuel was 12 years old.

How many Joseph was in the Bible?

Dutripon's Latin Bible concordance (Paris 1838) identified 16 people named Joseph in the Bible, 9 of whom featured in the New Testament: Joseph I. Joseph (Genesis). Eleventh son of the patriarch Jacob from his wife Rachel, and the brother of Benjamin.

What is the meaning of Genesis 42?

Genesis 42:10–20 tells how Joseph tested his brothers, allowing them to show if they had changed, by accusing them of being spies and putting them into prison.

Did Joseph get revenge on his brothers?

However, he did not use the opportunity to take revenge on his brothers for all the suffering they had caused him; instead, he chose to forgive them, and invited them to live in the land of Egypt.