Genesis 37:3

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors."

Some of the later versions read "coat of many colors" as "a long sleeved coat," but it is admitted by all that the text here is difficult and that no one really knows what is meant, except, that is, the only important thing, namely, that it was a distinctive, special garment designed to endow the wearer with special attention and favor. That part is clear enough. The implications of Joseph's receiving it were that he was his father's special favorite, and that, in all likelihood, the birthright, forfeited by Reuben's adultery with one of Jacob's wives, would eventually pass to Joseph, which of course, it did. That such distinguished honor be emphasized in so conspicuous a manner was extremely foolish never seems to have entered Jacob's mind. Such action on his part was certain to foster egotism, arrogance, conceit, and pride on Joseph's part, and bitter envy and hatred on the part of his brothers.

How strange it is that Jacob, who himself had been brought up in a household of foolish parental preferences between their sons, and who thus had accurate knowledge of the foolishness of such parental preferences, should have, himself, foolishly indulged in the same wickedness.

"The son of his old age ..." This cannot be used to prove that Benjamin was not yet born, for the literal meaning of the phrase is, "a son of his old age."[10]