Children of the Old Testament | Page 2

greater than all his brothers. They also believed in dreams, and feared
that what the boy had dreamt might come true, so that they began to
hate him all the more.
In those days people thought that the stars had a great deal to do with
their lives; and certain men said that they could tell what would happen
to a new-born child when he grew up by looking at the stars which
were to be seen in the sky at the time of his birth.
Now Joseph looked often at the stars, and wondered who placed them
there, and what they had to do with him. And one night as he lay asleep
in his father's tent he had another dream, and this time it was about the
stars that could be seen through a slit in the tent, gleaming and
sparkling in the dark blue sky. He dreamt that the sun and the moon
and eleven of the largest of the twinkling stars came and bowed down
to him.
He told this dream also to his angry brothers, as well as to the old man

his father, who gently checked him for his vain thoughts. He had,
however, a soaring mind, and had more dreams still, of which we are
not told, so that his brothers gave him, partly in mockery, the name of
"Joseph the Dreamer."
Now at certain seasons grass was somewhat scarce in the Vale of
Hebron, so at one time Jacob sent his sons away with their sheep and
cattle to seek food in other valleys where the grass was longer green.
They went along the hills to the beautiful Vale of Shechem, fifty miles
away; and after some time had passed the old shepherd began to
wonder if they were all well, for he had not heard from them for some
days.
It was his usual custom when his sons were away from home to send a
messenger to them with cheese, butter, and wine, and other nice things
to eat; and this time he asked Joseph to go. Now, a camel ride of fifty
miles was not an easy undertaking, for there were robbers in these parts,
and the old man was much pleased when Joseph said he was not afraid
to set out on the journey.
Mounted on a strong camel, with side baskets filled with cakes of figs,
dried raisins, parched corn, and leather bottles of oil and wine, the
young lad rode away. He was dressed in his favourite coat of many
colours, protected by his long cloak, while a bright kerchief covered his
head, and a spear and club hung at his saddle. And as his father
watched him going along the yellow track and over the hill towards the
Bethlehem road, he sent up a prayer for his safe return.
When Joseph came in due time to the Vale of Shechem, he wandered
about asking the few people he met for his brothers; and at last he was
told by a certain man that he must ride to a place called Dothan, where
there were two wells, for his brothers were there feeding their flocks.
This he did, and in due time came to the spot where his brothers were
resting.
"Who is this coming over the hill from Shechem?" said the brothers to
each other, as they shaded their eyes with their hands to watch Joseph
coming down the track into the plain.

They expected more riders to follow him, but no more came, and they
wondered who the lonely traveller could be. After a time the newcomer
urged his camel into a trot across the plain, and they soon saw that it
was Joseph.
"Behold, this dreamer cometh!" cried one. Now they had their father's
favourite in their power.
"Let us slay him for his dreams, and throw him into some pit," said
another; "and we will say that some wild beast has eaten him up."
But Reuben, one of the ten, would not hear of hurting the lad, though
he agreed to their putting him into a pit; for he had made up his mind
that when the night came he would help the lad out again, and send him
home to his father.
Shouting to his brothers in his joy at finding them, Joseph urged on his
camel; but no answering shout came back again, and his heart sank
within him. His camel knelt on the ground, and leaping off its back, he
turned to his nearest brother for the kiss of welcome; but a strong arm
warded him off.
He turned to another in surprise, only to meet with the same cold
dislike. He told them what his father had sent, and took out the presents
from the camel-bags, giving them the old shepherd's