Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in  the land of Canaan.

In this week's parashah we find the beginning of the story of Joseph.  Joseph's Hebrew name is Yosef and the number of parallels between Yosef and Messiah are so great that they warranted their own article to contain them all.  In this article we will focus on only a few specific points:

Joseph was most loved by his father (Genesis 37:3).   So, too, was Messiah most beloved of the Father (Mark 1:11).

Joseph's brothers were jealous of their father's special favor and put Joseph into the ground [the well] (Genesis 37:24).  So, too, Messiah's brothers put Him into the ground... for 3 days and 3 nights (Mark 15:46).

Joseph was given over to the Gentiles (Genesis 37:28).  So, too, Messiah has been given over to the Gentiles (Acts 11:1).

Joseph was taken into Egypt to avoid being killed (Genesis 37:28).  So, too, Messiah was taken to Egypt to avoid being killed (Matthew 2:13).

Joseph was dead before his father (Genesis 37:33).   So, too, was Messiah dead before his Father (Luke 23:46).

Here in parashah Vayeshev in Joseph is a true portrait of Messiah.