"Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?" exclaimed his brothers in envious anger. Soon he had another dream, of similar import, which he also related: "Behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." This dream was interpreted as readily as the first. The father, who was present, spoke reprovingly--"What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?" Notwithstanding the apparent severity of his words, Jacob believed that the Lord was revealing the future to Joseph.

Vil du måske være vor konge eller herske over os? spurgte brødrene i misundelse og vrede. Kort efter fik han en ny drøm af lignende betydning, og denne fortalte han også: Se, sol og måne og elleve stjerner bøjede sig for mig! Denne drøm blev tydet lige så hurtigt som den første. Faderen, der var til stede, sagde bebrejdende: Hvad er det for en drøm, du der har haft! Skal virkelig jeg, din moder og dine brødre komme og bøje os til jorden for dig? Trods disse ords tilsyneladende strenghed troede Jakob, at Herren åbenbarede fremtiden for Josef.