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the three ascents of Joseph

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1. he's dropped into the pit, and lifted out of the pit

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2. he's dropped into Egypt to serve as a slave, but then he is hired as a servant of Potiphar

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after the incident with Potifar's wife he makes Joseph descend one more time

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3. dropped into prison but ascends once again to the court of Pharaoh

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Genesis 41:14: Then Pharaoh sent adn called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon, and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before the Pharaoh.

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in the court of Pharaoh, Joseph will interpret the Pharaoh's dreams

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leads to his promotion of being second in command to all those in Egypt

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Genesis 41:39-44

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Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

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Joseph will be able to exploit his good position in Egypt for the advantage of his family

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when famine hits, he provided for his family

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parallel to Jesus

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in both cases it appears as though the tragic death of the person in question had brought to a close the life of one favored by God

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but in both cases, the brush with death is not only overturned, but leads to life for many

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Joseph: food for thousands in famine

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Jesus: the offer of eternal life to any who turn to him in faith and obedience

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figural and typological interpretation

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one story that provides a type or a figure for another story that is to come

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e.g. Joseph being dropped into pit foreshadows Jesus being laid out for his burial

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the artist wants us to reflect on the commonality of these two stories

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both examples cast light on the other

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Christian artists regularly compared Joseph's dropping into the pit with Jesus' death on the cross

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moving out of the pit describes a moment of resurrection

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perhaps a fourth ascent outside the book of Genesis

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book of Exodus and Israelites take special care to secure Joseph's body to the promised land

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Exodus 13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for Joseph had solemnly sworn the people of Israel, saying, "God will visit you; then you must carry my bones with you from here."

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when Israel leaves Egypt, Joseph's bones follow with them to the land of Israel

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Psalm 30:1-3

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"O LORD, thou has brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit."

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just as Joseph having arrived in the Pharaoh's court has returned to life from the pit and through providing grain has offered life to thousands