In Canaan, Joseph is the favorite among the 12 sons of the patriarch Jacob. Jealous of his favored position and his ability to interpret dreams, Joseph's older brothers are angered when he is entrusted by their father with selling a flock of sheep. The brothers beat him and sell him to an Egyptian slave trader, duping Jacob into believing that he has been killed. Bought by Potiphar, the pharaoh's superintendent of prisons, Joseph saves his master's life and gains his trust. However, Potiphar's young wife, Henet, repulsed in her advances toward Joseph, falsely accuses him of attacking her, and he is imprisoned. While in prison, he correctly foresees from the dreams of the pharaoh's disgraced chief baker and chief butler that the first will die and the second regain his position. Word of Joseph's power reaches the pharaoh, who summons the young man to interpret a dream that has puzzled his advisors. Joseph prophesies that Egypt will enjoy 7 prosperous years followed by 7 years of famine. Appointed to prepare for the famine, Joseph saves Egypt by storing grain. Meanwhile, Potiphar learns of Henet's treachery, kills her, and commits suicide over her body. Rekmira, a noble jealous of Joseph's success, encourages an attack from the King of Syria, but Joseph opens a great dam, and Egypt's enemies are swept away. Joseph, now a powerful official, takes Asenath for his bride. During the years of famine, Egypt is able to sell grain to its starving neighbors. Among those who arrive seeking grain are Joseph's older brothers, one of whom he takes hostage to summon his father and younger brother, Benjamin. Their arrival occasions a tender reunion as Joseph reveals his identity and forgives his older brothers.
