[Here comes a new "toledot unit" that forms the twelfth and last literary unit in Genesis.]
This is the continuation of Jacob's story (his genealogy/family tree – Hebr. ).
[Now follows a new paragraph, see ; ; ; ; , ; , ; , ; . This is the twelfth and final section of Gen. The theme is Joseph, who is also a prototype of Jesus. This section also follows a chiastic pattern:
A The brothers' hatred of Joseph ()
B Joseph is believed to be dead, Jacob mourns ()
C Interlude: Judah and Tamar ()
D Unexpected reversal of roles – Perez and Zerah ()
E Joseph's wisdom ()
F The brothers go to Egypt ()
X Israel's family tree ()
F´ The move to Egypt ()
E´ Joseph's wisdom ()
D´ Unexpected reversal of roles – Ephraim and Manasseh ()
C´ Interlude: Jacob prophesies over his sons ()
B´ Jacob's death, Joseph buries him ()
A´ Joseph reassures his brothers ()]
Joseph, his son, who was now 17 years old—still a young man—herded the small livestock together with his [older] brothers, the sons of Bilhah [Dan and Naphtali, see ] and the sons of Zilpah [Gad and Asher, see ], his father's wives. Joseph brought back bad reports about them to his father.
[Joseph was Jacob's eleventh son, Rachel's firstborn, see . Jacob was 108 years old. The expression "a young man" can be interpreted as meaning that he was a helper, or it can emphasize that he was young and had responsibility for the flock. It is hinted that there are complicated family relationships, and the mention of Bilhah (Rachel's maid) and Zilpah (Leah's maid) also recalls the rivalry between Leah and Rachel, see , . Some have seen Joseph as a tattletale, but based on how his character is described elsewhere, it seems more likely that he was attentive to detail and faithful in small matters, so that he would eventually be entrusted with much, see . describes how he is ready and willing to be sent out on his father's behalf.]
