Inquiring of Joseph

by John Kaltner

The account of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 with its classic rags-to-riches plot explores themes that have intrigued people throughout history: murder, betrayal, sibling rivalry, greed, natural disaster and mistaken identity. This account shows that there is more than one way to tell the story--and both are worth reading. It puts the Biblical Joseph in conversation with Quranic self. The Islamic text is a clear parallel to the Biblical story of Joseph's life, but there are some important differences between them that result in two distinct versions of the tale. This interface allows for a new understanding of the familiar Biblical tradition as aspects that are often missed become prominent and puzzling, elemenst are seen in a new light.