0310709628_01BeginnersBible_pi_65.

qxp

9/4/12

2:10 PM

Page ii

ZONDERKIDZ

The Beginners Bible

Copyright 2005 Zondervan
Illustrations 2005 Zondervan
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, 5300 Patterson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The beginners Bible: timeless childrens storiesRev. ed.p. cm.
Copyright, Mission City PressT.p. verso.
Included index.
ISBN 0-310-70962-8 (hardcover)
1. Bible stories, English I. Mission City Press.
BS551.3.D48 2005
220.9'505dc22

2004026266

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered
as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of
this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission
of the publisher.
All rights reserved. All Beginners Bible copyrights and trademarks (including art, text, characters, etc.) are owned by Zondervan of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Zonderkidz is a trademark of Zondervan

Editor: Catherine DeVries

Editorial assistance: Kristen Tuinstra
Theological review: Michael J. Klassen, M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary
Art direction: Laura Maitner-Mason
Interior design: Susan Ambs
Composition: Sherri L. Hoffman
Printed in the United States
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 /DCI/ 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 71

Josephs Colorful Robe

Genesis 37

Joseph was one of Jacobs twelve sons.

Jacob loved him more than
all of his other sons.
71

02BeginnersBible_p66-145.qxp

1/11/06

9:14 AM

Page 72

Jacob made Joseph a colorful robe.

His brothers were jealous.
They wanted nice robes, too.
And they wanted to be loved
as much as Joseph was loved.
72

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 73

Joseph had a dream. He told his family,

We were bundling grain from the field.
Your bundles of grain bowed
down to mine.
73

02BeginnersBible_p66-145.qxd 12/9/04 16:30 Page 74

Then Joseph had another dream.

He said, This time, the sun and moon and
eleven stars were bowing down to me.
His father asked, Does this mean our
family will bow down to you someday?
74

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 75

The brothers were even more angry.

They threw Joseph into a dry well.
75

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 76

Along came some traders.

The brothers sold Joseph
to them as a slave.
76

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 77

They lied to their father and said

Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
But God was with Joseph.
77

02BeginnersBible_p66-145.qxd 12/9/04 16:32 Page 78

Pharaohs Dreams
Genesis 3941

The traders took Joseph to Egypt.

He was thrown into jail.
But he did nothing wrong.
Joseph trusted God to help him.
He made friends with some
of the prisoners.
78

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 79

One of them had been

a wine taster for Pharaoh.
Pharaoh was the leader of Egypt.
The wine taster said, Last night,
I had a dream. I was picking grapes and
squeezing them into Pharaohs cup.
Then I put the cup in his hand.
What does this mean, Joseph?
79

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 80

Joseph answered, You will be Pharaohs

wine taster again. Once you are free,
please dont forget about me.
Help me get out of jail, too.
80

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 81

A few days later, the wine tasters

dream came true.
He got out of jail and became
Pharaohs wine taster once again.
But he forgot about Joseph.
81

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 82

Later, Pharaoh had two strange dreams.

In one dream, he saw seven heavy cows
and seven skinny cows. The skinny cows
ate up all the heavy cows.
82

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:37 PM Page 83

In another dream, Pharaoh saw

seven healthy plants.
Then he saw seven dried-up plants.
The dried-up plants
ate all the healthy plants.
Pharaoh was confused.
83

02BeginnersBible_p66-145.qxd 12/9/04 16:34 Page 84

Pharaohs wise men were confused, too.

Then the wine taster remembered Joseph.
He told Pharaoh that Joseph could
explain his dreams.
With Gods help, Joseph told Pharaoh
what his dream meant.
84

02BeginnersBible_p66-145.qxd 12/9/04 16:34 Page 85

For the next seven years, plenty of food

will grow. For seven years after that,
not enough food will grow because there
will be no rain. Pharaoh said,
Joseph, you are a very wise man.
I will make you a ruler over Egypt.
85

02BeginnersBible_p66-145.qxd 12/9/04 16:36 Page 86

Joseph Saves His Family

Genesis 4246

For the first seven years, Joseph

was in charge of gathering extra
food for the people of Egypt.
That way, when hardly any crops grew,
there would still be plenty to eat.
86

02BeginnersBible_p66-145.qxd 12/9/04 16:37 Page 87

The seven bad years began, and people

in other countries had no food at all.
Even Josephs family did not have enough
to eat. So Josephs father sent his sons
to Egypt to buy some food.
87

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:38 PM Page 88

When the brothers arrived in Egypt, they

went to Joseph and bowed down to him.
They did not know he was their brother.
But Joseph knew.
Joseph sold them some food.
Then the brothers left to go home.
88

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:38 PM Page 89

Sometime later, they returned to buy

more food. Just as Joseph had dreamed,
they bowed down to himagain.
Finally, Joseph told them,
I am your brother!
His brothers were afraid!
89

02BeginnersBible_p66-145.qxd 12/9/04 16:39 Page 90

But Joseph told them not to be afraid.

God meant it for good.
He had a special plan for me, he said.
They all hugged.
90

p66-145.qxd 11/15/04 4:38 PM Page 91

Josephs brothers rushed home.

They told their father what had happened.
Jacob was so happy to hear
that Joseph was alive.
The whole family moved to Egypt.
91