(fl. ?19th-16th cent BCE)
Israelite, 11th son of Jacob and first-born of Rachel. As his father's favourite son, he aroused the anger of his brothers, who sold him into slavery in Egypt. He was bought as a slave by Potiphar, a high official. Later he was imprisoned on a false charge made by Potiphar's wife. After interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, he achieved high office in Egypt. Eventually he was reconciled with his brothers and reunited with his father, after which his family settled in the Goshen region.
Dictionary of Jewish Biography. Dan Cohn-Sherbok.