Abstract

The narrative of Genesis 37.39-50 abouth Joseph and his brothers has been the subject of many recent scholarly publications. The author reviews the va: rious opinions without expressing his own views regarding the particular theses and then concentrates on the question of the didactic nature of the story, quite independent of its literary genre. The point is whether it is indeed possible to read the story of Joseph as to some degree a reflection of Israelite didactic educational ideas and to what extent that could affect the interpretation of the text. Of the many views on the literary classification of the narrative the one which regards the story as a true historical account cast in the form of a novel or novelette seems to the author to be the most correct. The religious message of the narrative is enhanced, in the author's opinion, by certain special qualities: the function of the sound structure of the name „Joseph", the role of religious "motifs (Joseph's faithfulness to Yahweh, Yahweh's blessing on Joseph's undertakings, Joseph's a bili ty to see the intention of God in human dreams and to recognize the hand of God in the many mysterious events experienced by himself and his hrothers), and same psychological aspects. An analysis of these qualities enables the author to say that the story of Joseph additionally functions as a didactic „manual" which teaches about the necessity and the method of acquiring wisdom; its religious message is that man's highest value lies in leaving, God freedom to exercise His mysterious and sovereign control over our lives.