Free Till Shiloh Comes by Gilbert Morris

brothers.”
    â€œHow shall I do that, Father? They hate me.”
    â€œI must tell you the truth, my son. Your brothers hate you because you think you are better than they are.”
    â€œNo, Father, that’s not—”
    â€œDo not interrupt me. You know it is so.” Jacob’s eyes again bored into Joseph, and the young man could only drop his head. “It is largely my fault,” Jacob admitted, “for you are gifted above any of your brothers. You are better looking and more intelligent. You have far more imagination than any of them. These things are good, but you have let pride in them lift you up. The dreams you’ve had about their sheaves bowing down to yours!” Jacob’s voice grew bitter. “What a fool thing to tell them of this. Stupid! Unthinkable! I cannot see how you can hold your head up after speaking of such a thing.”
    Joseph kept his head lowered as Jacob droned on and on about incidents where Joseph had let his brothers know his feelings of superiority. Finally Jacob said, “Do you not see, my son, how wrong you have been?”
    â€œYes, Father, I understand.”
    â€œI hope so,” Jacob said fervently. “You are clever with words. You have imagination. So when I send you to your brothers, I want you to humble yourself. Try to win back their confidence. I know this can’t be done in a day,” he said sadly, “but it can be done over a period of time. Take them gifts. Offer to help them with their work—and above all say nothing of your dreams. Do you understand me, Joseph?”
    â€œYes, Father.”
    â€œAnd will you try your best to keep your dreams to yourself and to keep your pride under cover? I know it’s there, but at least don’t let them see it.”
    Joseph, in all truth, was only listening to half of what his father was saying. Instead he was thinking of the delights of the journey, but he was a fine actor, and he played the part of a penitent to perfection. In short, he managed to convince his father that he’d had a change in heart, but even as he listened, all he saw was himself going forth on a delicious adventure.
    â€œYou will leave in the morning,” Jacob said. “You will take three beasts loaded with the finest food we have. It is time to be generous. They will be your gifts to your brothers. Make that plain. And partake of them little yourself.”
    â€œOh yes, Father, I understand.”
    â€œAnd above all do not wear your coat of many colors! Do not even take it with you. It is an affront to your brothers, and I erred greatly in giving it to you.”
    â€œIt shall be as you say, Father,” Joseph said, but his thoughts were not on the coat. It was on the adventure that lay ahead of him. He pretended to listen to Jacob’s careful instructions, then ran to tell Benjamin that he would be gone for some time.
    â€œTake me with you, Joseph,” Benjamin pleaded.
    â€œNo, Father would never let us both go. But when I come back, I will tell you everything that happened.”
    â€œBe sure you forget none of it. When will you come back?”
    â€œI will probably not stay with my brothers more than two or three days. Then I’ll return and tell you everything.”
    Benjamin looked up with awe in his eyes. This brother of his could do anything. “I wish I could go with you,” he said.
    Joseph laughed, his mind not on his little brother but on his journey. What a fine thing it would be to wear his coat as he traveled! He would not wear it in front of Jacob, of course, but it would be good to wear it on his journey. People would know that a prince was passing through their midst!

Chapter 6
    â€œI wish I could go with you, Joseph!”
    Joseph knelt and put his arms around Benjamin. “I wish you could too, my dear little brother. When I come back, you and I will make a shorter journey. I promise.”
    â€œReally! You mean