“For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”
King James Version (KJV)
Daniel's comment on 2013-12-27 05:30:03:
In and around the ancient Mediteranian area no man could be a slave and then in due course become a king. This was an ethical NO-NO. When Joseph stated that he had been stolen and not only was he not a slave he had a aristocratic line running way back to Ever(Eretz ha Ivrim)He knew that he would rise to gteatness and therefor prepared his way by denying the fact that he was a slave and making known from where he came.
Daniel's comment on 2013-12-27 05:13:58:
In the hebrew text it states twice the fact the Joseph was stolen. Generally this points to a "closed subject". When G-d lays down a demand it may appear twice ( remember... and don't forget) so why was the theft mention twice?
The reason being that when the Midians Camel train had passed the pit, into which he had been thrown, having pulled Joseph out ,thought he was a slave, and they stole him.When that same camel train passed the brothers, who were sitting not far away,were stopped by the brothers and they demanded to know what the Midiams were doing with the "young man" they replide that they had fond this slave.The brothers on the other hand did not deny that fact and promptly sold him for a meager price. Now the fact that the brothers did not demand the return of their brother, gave weight to the Midians calling Joseph a slave. This was a lie and in keeping quiet and not righting a wrong was the second theft ( in hebrew this is steeling of knowledge/truth)
I have much more if you are interested