In the biblical narrative, Joseph is a son of the Jacob who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, and rose to become vizier, the second most powerful man in Egypt next to the Pharaoh, where his presence and office caused Jacob's family to leave Canaan and settle in Egypt. Pharaoh gave him the name "Zaphnath-Paaneah" Genesis 41:45). The composition of the story can be dated to the period between the 7th century BCE and the third quarter of the 5th century BCE, which is roughly the period to which scholars date the Book of Genesis.[2]
In some rabbinic traditions, Joseph is considered the ancestor of a second Messiah called "Mashiach ben Yosef", who, according to it, will wage war against the evil forces alongside Mashiach ben David and die in combat with the enemies of God and Israel.[3]
