Cutting from an Antiphonary, with the Initial V ("Videntes"): Joseph and his Brothers

Genesis 37 tells the story of Joseph, whose father Jacob favored him over all his other sons. As an expression of his favor, Jacob gave his son a special robe, draped over Joseph’s shoulder in the upper left of this illumination. After receiving this robe, Joseph dreamt that he would rise higher than his brothers. This historiated initial “V,” which begin the lyrics, “Videntes Ioseph a longe” (Seeing Joseph in the distance), was sung at Matins on the third Sunday in Lent. These words announce the moment when Joseph’s brothers, overcome with jealousy over the gifted robe and its implications, spotted Joseph in the distant fields of Dothan. Here, they devised a plan to murder their brother, which was only thwarted when the eldest, Reuben, suggested they throw Joseph into a pit instead.