A presentation given at the Laindon (Old Paths) Christadelphian Ecclesia on the 26th April on the allegory (or type) of Joseph (in figure Christ) and Pharaoh (representing God)

1. “Which things
are An
allegory”
Joseph & Pharaoh

2. “Which things are an allegory”
•A familiar scriptural principle for us, as Bible students:
Joseph & Pharaoh 2
Galatians 4 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a
freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by
promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which
gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which
now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Greek allegoreo
“To speak… in a figure” (Thayer)
“To use a likeness” (Louw and Nida)
1 Corinthians 10 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were
under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that
spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased:
for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not
lust after evil things, as they also lusted. […] 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and
they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Greek tupos
“A shape… resemblance” (Strong)
“Foreshadowing” (Exegetical Dict.)
Greek tupikos
“A model or representative” (Ex. Dict.)
“By way of example (prefiguratively)” (Th.)

3. Exploring in bit more detail: Greek tupos
Joseph & Pharaoh 3
NT:5179 tu/po$ tupos (too'-pos); from NT:5180; a die (as struck), i.e. (by implication) a stamp or
scar; by analogy, a shape, i.e. a statue, (figuratively) style or resemblance; specifically, a
sampler ("type"), i.e. a model (for imitation) or instance (for warning):
KJV - en- ex-) ample, fashion, figure, form, manner, pattern, print.
A resemblance,
common shape
Won’t be a
perfect copy
Varies based on
material being
worked with
Pattern is formed
through striking

4. Why consider allegories and types?
•They provide additional depth to our understanding (as in Gal. 4)
•They can be written for our warning/admonition (as in 1 Cor. 10)
•They wonderfully illustrate scripture’s multi-layered design
•They broaden our appreciation of the antitype (Jesus Christ)
A confirmation of the love of God for His Only Begotten Son
Joseph & Pharaoh 4

5. Joseph – THE most detailed type?
•The life of Joseph is an incredible foreshadowing of our Lord:
Joseph & Pharaoh 5
The beloved
son
Envied and
rejected by
brethren
Cast into pit and left
for dead (sold for
pieces of silver)
In distant land
becomes second
most powerful ruler
Later reunited with
brethren, who
recognise their fault
“This is my beloved
Son” (Matthew 3 v 17)
“For envy they had
delivered him”
(Matthew 27 v 18)
“The sorrows of hell
compassed me about: the
snares of death prevented
me.” (Psalm 18 v 5)
“set on the right hand of
the throne of the Majesty
in the heavens”
(Hebrews 8 v 1)
“they shall look
upon me whom
they have pierced,
and they shall
mourn for him, as
one mourneth for
his only son”
(Zechariah 12 v 10)

6. Our more specific consideration, J & P…
For the purposes of our study, we’ll focus in on Genesis ch. 40
onwards (i.e. Joseph’s imprisonment with butler and baker)…
Joseph & Pharaoh 6
Joseph – the beloved but
rejected/persecuted son
= Our Lord Jesus Christ
Pharaoh – the supreme
world ruler in a distant land
= Our Heavenly Father, God

7. A brief synopsis of our planned study
Privation & Preparation [before approaching Pharaoh]Genesis 40
• False imprisonment // Two wrongdoers // Miraculous signs // Bread (baker) & Wine (bearer)
// Three days
Escape & Elevation [in front of Pharaoh]Genesis 41
• Two year delay // Out of the dungeon // A man with God’s spirit // Ruler over the house
// Second only in throne
Trial & Testing* [during regency with Pharaoh]Genesis 42-44
• Proving of Israel // A full end not made
Disclosure & Deliverance [during regency w/Pharaoh]Genesis 45-49
• A man sent by God // A great deliverance // Acceptance into the household
// All land possessed
Resurrection & Reward [following death]Genesis 50
• Faithful promises // The true inheritance
Joseph & Pharaoh 7
* Of Israel and his children

8. Genesis 40 – the means of elevation (#1)
•Covers the period immediately before Joseph’s exaltation
•In the allegory, therefore, we might expect parallels with the
period before Jesus’ ascension to Heaven…
Joseph & Pharaoh 8
The imprisonment of
an innocent man
• Joseph falsely accused
• Jesus accused by false
witnesses
• {Gen. 39 v 19; Matt. 26 v 60}
Punishment alongside
two actual wrongdoers
• Butler and baker both
offenders
• 2 malefactors crucified
• {Gen. 40 v 2; Luke 23 v 32}
One of the two
wrongdoers is saved
• Butler restored before
throne
• Promise to thief on cross
• {Gen. 40 v 21; Luke 23 v 43}
+ Miraculous signs of God’s favour {Gen. 40 v 8; Acts 2 v 22 / Matt. 27 v 54}

9. Genesis 40 – the means of elevation (#2)
•But why, in the allegory, a chief baker and a chief butler?
•An inescapable link with Jesus’ sacrifice… (Matt. 26 v 26-29)
•Both have an association with three days! (Gen. 40 v 12, 18)
Joseph & Pharaoh 9
Bread Wine
-&-

10. Gen. 41 – called before supreme ruler (#1)
•This sequence has brought us to the principle interaction
between Joseph & Pharaoh
•Overlapping layers of meaning e.g. “two full years” (Genesis
41 v 1), compare with Jesus’ 2,000 year earthly absence
Joseph & Pharaoh 10
Genesis 41 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him
hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and
came in unto Pharaoh.
“Hastily out of
the dungeon”
{Psa. 16 v 10}
“He shaved…
changed his
raiment”
{1 Cor. 15 v 52-53}
“Came in unto
Pharaoh”
{Eph. 4 v 8}
Cp. Role
of angels

11. Gen. 41 – called before supreme ruler (#2)
•Given our specific focus we won’t spend time on Pharaoh’s
dreams (although note Genesis 41 v 15, none but Joseph suitable)
•We are supremely interested, though, in the outcome:
Joseph & Pharaoh 11
Genesis 41 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And
Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And
Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise
as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only
in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the
land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed
him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second
chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of
Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or
foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to
wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
Wondered that was no man, so own arm
brought salvation (Isa. 59 v 16 cp. Rev. 5 v 3-5)
Spirit of LORD rest on him, wisdom
and understanding (Isa. 11 v 2-4)Son only subject to the
Father (1 Cor. 15 v 27)
Christ as a son over his
own house (Heb. 3 v 6)
Son of man, having come to Ancient of days,
given dominion, glory etc. (Dan. 7 v 1-14)
At the name of Jesus, every
knee shall bow (Phil. 2 v 10)
Saints, New Jerusalem, as a bride
arrayed for husband (Rev. 21 v 2)
“Treasury of the glorious rest” (BDB)
Righteousness
and immortality
(Rev. 19 v 8)

12. Genesis 42-44 – testing of his brethren
•In the period when Joseph with Pharaoh in his court (in the
allegory – heaven), trials and testing for Jacob and his sons
•This has been the lived experience of the Jews since Jesus’
ascension into heaven
•This has also been time when seed of God’s Word has been
distributed (cp. Pharaoh’s storehouses “all countries came”*)
•We have been the fortunate beneficiaries of this bounty
Joseph & Pharaoh 12
* Gen. 41 v 57

13. Genesis 45-49 – salvation of his brethren
•The ultimate outworking, however, is the recovery of Jacob’s
sons (note: prominence of Judah – Gen. 43 v 8, 44 v 16)
•According to allegory the position of Joseph was in Pharaoh’s
stead (as Jesus will be in God’s stead, on earth), hence:
•Pity is taken on Israel’s children, for the father’s sake, and
there is a restoration effected (Zech. 12 v 10, Rom. 11 v 25-26
– they had been blind to their brother’s identity!)
•A special place is made in Pharaoh’s land for God’s people
Joseph & Pharaoh 13
Genesis 44 18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray
thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou
art even as Pharaoh.

14. Genesis 50 – the promised land
•Ah, says the critic, didn’t you say that in this allegory, or type,
Pharaoh’s distant land was heaven itself?
•Yes, this is where the reward will come from but note that
both the bones of Jacob and Joseph were returned to the
Promised Land (Canaan), see Gen. 50 v 4-6, 25
Joseph & Pharaoh 14

15. Joseph & Pharaoh – a wonderful allegory
•We have been strongly reminded of the intricacy and marvel
of scriptural design
•Could a man possibly have produced such a writing, all of
which so forcefully speaks to us of God’s plan through His
Son?
•It is our earnest hope that God’s [Pharaoh’s] storehouses
will pour out an abundant blessing upon us…
Joseph & Pharaoh 15

16. Joseph & Pharaoh 16
“Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in
mine house, and prove me now
herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I
will not open you the windows of
heaven, and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to
receive it.”
(Malachi 3 v 10)