their forty years’ wanderings, and at length buried it in Shechem, in the
parcel of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor (Joshua
24:32; comp. Genesis 33:19). With the death of Joseph the patriarchal age
of the history of Israel came to a close.
The Pharaoh of Joseph’s elevation was probably Apepi, or Apopis, the
last of the Hyksos kings. Some, however, think that Joseph came to Egypt
in the reign of Thothmes III. (see PHARAOH), long after the expulsion of
the Hyksos.
The name Joseph denotes the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh in
Deuteronomy 33:13-17; the kingdom of Israel in Ezekiel 37:16, 19, Amos
5:6; and the whole covenant people of Israel in Psalm 81:4.
(2.) One of the sons of Asaph, head of the first division of sacred
musicians (1 Chronicles 25:2, 9).
(3.) The son of Judah, and father of Semei (Luke 3:26). Other two of the
same name in the ancestry of Christ are also mentioned (3:24, 30).
(4.) The foster-father of our Lord (Matthew 1:16; Luke 3:23). He lived at
Nazareth in Galilee (Luke 2:4). He is called a “just man.” He was by trade
a carpenter (Matthew 13:55). He is last mentioned in connection with the
journey to Jerusalem, when Jesus was twelve years old. It is probable that
he died before Jesus entered on his public ministry. This is concluded from
the fact that Mary only was present at the marriage feast in Cana of
Galilee. His name does not appear in connection with the scenes of the
crucifixion along with that of Mary (q.v.), John 19:25.
(5.) A native of Arimathea, probably the Ramah of the Old Testament (1
Samuel 1:19), a man of wealth, and a member of the Sanhedrim (Matthew
27:57; Luke 23:50), an “honourable counsellor, who waited for the
kingdom of God.” As soon as he heard the tidings of Christ’s death, he
“went in boldly” (lit. “having summoned courage, he went”) “unto Pilate,
and craved the body of Jesus.” Pilate having ascertained from the centurion
that the death had really taken place, granted Joseph’s request, who
immediately, having purchased fine linen (Mark 15:46), proceeded to
Golgotha to take the body down from the cross. There, assisted by
Nicodemus, he took down the body and wrapped it in the fine linen,
sprinkling it with the myrrh and aloes which Nicodemus had brought (John
19:39), and then conveyed the body to the new tomb hewn by Joseph
himself out of a rock in his garden hard by. There they laid it, in the