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years. I am waiting until you are old enough to take care of it.” Coming back to Joseph, he opened the box and pulled out a garment. It was an outer robe designed to be worn over one’s normal dress for special occasions. Jacob held the garment high, and Joseph caught his breath at the interwoven gold threads and colorful embroidery glittering in the lamplight. Reds, blues, olive green, and rose colors formed the background on which were depicted trees, animals, and angels.
    â€œHow beautiful!” Joseph cried, and he reached out and took the garment, clutching it to himself. “Is it really for me?”
    â€œYes, and you will have it soon, but you must be very careful with it.”
    â€œBe careful not to spoil it or get it dirty?”
    â€œNo, be careful not to boast of it before your brothers. You must wear it only for very special occasions, my son.”
    â€œBut it’s so beautiful! Look—here is an embroidery of the face of a woman. Is that my blessed mother?”
    â€œYes. That is the image of my beloved Rachel.”
    The two went on admiring the coat, and Jacob allowed the boy to try it on. Joseph strutted back and forth, his eyes flashing, thrilled with the garment, as he was with anything new.
    â€œFather, let me have it now.”
    â€œNo, not yet.” Deep down in his heart, Jacob knew he was making a mistake. “Such a gift should really go to the firstborn, but I am not yet sure who will receive the blessing. Your brother Reuben fell away, and I had to take the rights of the firstborn away from him. Then Simeon and Levi became bloody men—I do not know yet.”
    â€œOh, but it must be mine! Surely they would not appreciate it. Especially not with this image of my blessed mother. Surely you intended it for me from the very beginning.”
    Jacob leaned back and watched his beloved lamb move back and forth with the beautiful coat as it caught the reflection of the lamps and thought of his beloved Rachel. It must be his, he thought. It must be Joseph’s!

Chapter 4
    Of the six red-eyed sons of Leah, Judah and Reuben were the closest. There was more in their features of Jacob than the other brothers, who strongly favored their mother. Although Reuben was the firstborn and Judah was the fourth, they often drew together to talk over the problems of the tribe and especially of their own part of the six.
    They met late one afternoon out in the fields while they watched over the flocks. Reuben was aware that Judah had said almost nothing for several days. He had been especially moody, so Reuben asked him, “What’s wrong with you, Judah?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œI don’t believe you. I can see that something is wrong. What is it?”
    Judah looked up with misery in his eyes. “I married the wrong woman, Reuben.”
    â€œWhy would you say that? You have three fine sons.”
    It was true that Abra had given Judah three sons, and when he had married, Judah had fancied himself in love with her. He had been surprised indeed when Jacob had given his permission for him to marry a Canaanite woman. But now he worried about his boys. For some reason they displeased him, though he was at a loss to explain why he felt that way. For the first time he expressed his fears to Reuben. “I’m worried about my boys.”
    â€œWhy? What’s wrong with them? They’re healthy enough.”
    â€œI shouldn’t have married a Canaanite woman, Reuben. They’re a bad breed. They worship Baal and Molech and all sorts of terrible idols.” Looking distressed, he moaned, “I wish I had never married at all. It’s Father’s fault. He should have forbidden me to marry a Canaanite.”
    Reuben stared at his brother, unable to form an answer. He was powerful in body but not known for his deep thoughts. He had a dumb loyalty to his own wife and children, but the guilt of his behavior with Bilhah was such a continual