Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
Read Chapter 49
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
What is the reason why the father honored his son Joseph more abundantly than all his sons? Only because he saw in him the mysteries prefiguring Christ. On this account he blessed him who was awaited rather than him who was seen and said, “My son Joseph is to be increased.” Who is to be increased but Christ, whose grace is always increased, for his glory does not have an end to its advance? Of him also John says, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” because, through that perfect and saving name of his, grace was piled up and abounded in this world—“My son is to be increased.” And so, because his brothers saw that he was growing, they began to envy him; moreover, he whom Joseph prefigured also met with envy from those whom he loved more. In fact he said, “I have not come except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And they said, “We do not know where he is from.” He had care for them, and they denied him.
“My young son”—in truth he was young, for he was almost the last to be born. Indeed, Scripture also says, “Jacob loved him, because he was the son of his old age.” This has reference likewise to Christ. For the Son of God, rising like the dawn through his birth from the Virgin Mary, came late to a world that was growing old and on the point of perishing. As a son of old age, he took on a body according to the mystery, while before the ages he was always with his Father. For this reason the Father says to him, “Return to me,” calling forth from earth to heaven the one whom he had sent for our salvation. And so, raising up his onlybegotten Son, he made vain the counsel of those who spoke evil.
Just as Jacob depended on Joseph instead of Reuben the firstborn, so also instead of Adam, the firstborn and rebellious one, the world had one Son of old age, in the latter days of the world, so that the whole world might stand and lean on him as if on a pillar. “Rise up, O spring, O building supported” by brothers and sons. Through the power of our Lord the world is supported on the prophets and on the apostles. Joseph became a wall of plenty to his brothers in the time of famine, and our Lord became the wall of knowledge to the world in the time of error.
Run to and fro To behold his beauty; whilst his envious brethren turned their darts against him (Challoner)
Joseph continued increasing, in spite of the envy of his brethren, and the calumny of Putiphar's wife, who was too much enamoured of his beauty. (Haydock)
The prophet has blessed Joseph more than all his brothers, because he contemplated the mysteries which, having been prefigured in him, would be fulfilled in Christ. Therefore Jacob did not praise Joseph but the one who was symbolized by Joseph. In fact, he says to him, “My son is increased, Joseph,” because thanks to his kingly and perfect name the grace of Christ has increased and has become abundant in the world.
What is the significance of the fact that only Joseph among all the brothers is called son three times? In accordance with the limits of my point of view, I understand that the first time Joseph was born [to his father] as a son, because he was born of Rachel when his father did not hope any longer to obtain an offspring. But then Joseph was, in a sense, born to his father a second time as a son, because it was announced to Jacob that he was alive, when he was by now convinced of his death. And finally he becomes his son for the third time when, by instructing [Joseph] and educating him with doctrine and erudition and all the virtues through which he was able to see God, he had begotten him also in the spirit. On the other hand, it would not be correct for Jacob to call Joseph the youngest son, since he is older than Benjamin, unless we must understand that he is the youngest in the teaching of his father.
