batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l13568-l13695
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l13568-l13695
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
passage_locator:
label: PUBLIC SERVICES, / AND EMINENT LITERARY ATTAINMENTS, / THE TRANSLATOR. /
PREFACE; lines 13568-13695
start: '13568'
end: '13695'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an), Rodwell translation
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'A portion of the Joseph narrative: Jacob reluctantly sends Benjamin with
his sons under an oath, counsels them to enter by different gates, and trusts
God''s decree. Joseph privately reveals himself to Benjamin, arranges for his
cup to be found in Benjamin''s pack, and detains him. The brothers report the
loss to Jacob, who grieves for Joseph yet urges hope in God''s mercy. Returning
to Joseph in distress, they learn his identity, confess wrongdoing, and receive
forgiveness. Joseph sends his shirt to restore Jacob''s sight, and the family
later enters Egypt securely.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Jacob refuses to send Benjamin unless the brothers swear before God that they
will bring him back unless prevented by surrounding hindrances.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:2
text: Jacob instructs his sons not to enter by one gate but by different gates,
while saying that God's decree cannot be averted and judgment belongs to God alone.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The sons enter as Jacob instructed, and the passage states this did not avert
anything decreed by God.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Joseph receives his brother privately and tells him that he is his brother
and not to grieve over what the others did.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Joseph places his drinking cup in his brother's camel-pack, after which a
crier accuses the travellers of theft.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The brothers state that the person in whose camel-pack the cup is found should
be given up as recompense.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Joseph searches the sacks and draws the cup from his brother's sack; the passage
calls this a stratagem suggested to Joseph.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The eldest brother recalls the pledge given to their father and their former
failure regarding Joseph, and refuses to leave the land without permission or
divine decision.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Jacob grieves for Joseph, his eyes become white with grief, and he says he
pleads his grief and sorrow to God.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Jacob tells his sons to seek tidings of Joseph and his brother and not to
despair of God's mercy.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, identifies Benjamin as his brother,
and attributes their preservation to God's grace.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The brothers acknowledge that God has chosen Joseph above them and that they
have sinned; Joseph declares no blame on them that day and invokes God's forgiveness.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: Joseph sends his shirt to be thrown on his father's face so that Jacob will
recover his sight.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: Jacob perceives the smell of Joseph before the bearer of good tidings arrives
with the shirt.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:15
text: When the shirt is cast on Jacob's face, his eyesight returns.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:16
text: The family enters Egypt, and Joseph tells them to enter securely if God wills.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Jacob
description: Father of Joseph and Benjamin; gives instructions, receives a pledge,
grieves for Joseph, and later regains sight.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Joseph
description: Prince-like figure in Egypt who receives his brothers, arranges the
cup stratagem, reveals his identity, forgives his brothers, and sends his shirt
to Jacob.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Benjamin / Joseph's brother
description: Joseph's brother who is taken aside by Joseph and later detained after
the cup is found in his camel-pack.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Joseph's brothers / Jacob's sons
description: Group who pledge to return Benjamin, travel to Egypt, are accused after
the cup is found, report events to Jacob, later confess wrongdoing, and ask for
pardon.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: The eldest brother
description: One of Jacob's sons who reminds the others of their pledge and remains
behind until permission or divine decision.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: God
description: Named as guardian, witness, source of decree and judgment, giver of
knowledge and mercy, and forgiver.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Crier
description: Person who cries after the travellers that they are thieves.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Bearer of good tidings
description: Person who brings Joseph's shirt and casts it on Jacob's face.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: father receiving pledge
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Jacob requires an oath before God before sending Benjamin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: hidden brother and revealer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Joseph privately tells Benjamin he is his brother and later reveals himself
to the others.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- id: role:3
label: planner of stratagem
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Joseph places the cup in Benjamin's pack and draws it out after a search;
the passage calls this a stratagem.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: grieving parent
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Jacob grieves for Joseph, his eyes turn white with grief, and he bears silent
sorrow.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: forgiving wronged brother
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Joseph responds to confession by saying no blame is upon them and invoking
divine forgiveness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: healed blind or dim-sighted father
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Jacob's eyesight returns when the shirt is cast on his face.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: detained younger brother
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The cup is found in Benjamin's pack, and Joseph refuses to take anyone except
the one with whom the property was found.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: pledged guardians
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The brothers pledge before God to bring Benjamin back unless prevented.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:9
label: confessing offenders
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The brothers say God has chosen Joseph above them and that they have been
sinners.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:10
label: pledge-reminding brother
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The eldest brother recalls the oath and refuses to leave without permission
or divine decision.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:11
label: divine guardian and judge
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The passage calls God the best guardian, witness of the pledge, holder of
judgment, source of decree, and merciful forgiver.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: role:12
label: public accuser
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The crier announces that the travellers are thieves.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:13
label: messenger of restoration
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The bearer of good tidings brings and casts the shirt on Jacob's face, after
which his sight returns.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: returned money
literal_form: Money found returned among the opened goods
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: pledge before God
literal_form: Oath sworn before God to return Benjamin
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: different gates
literal_form: Multiple gates by which Jacob instructs his sons to enter
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: drinking cup
literal_form: The prince's drinking cup placed in Benjamin's camel-pack and then
found
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: camel-pack or sack
literal_form: Benjamin's camel-pack or sack from which the cup is drawn
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: white eyes from grief
literal_form: Jacob's eyes becoming white with grief
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: Joseph's shirt
literal_form: Shirt sent by Joseph and cast on Jacob's face to restore sight
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:8
label: smell of Joseph
literal_form: Jacob's perception of Joseph's smell before the messenger arrives
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:9
label: Egypt as secure refuge
literal_form: Egypt entered by the family under Joseph's assurance of security if
God wills
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Jacob's guarded consent
summary: Jacob agrees to send Benjamin only after the brothers swear before God,
then counsels them to enter by different gates while trusting God's judgment.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Joseph's private recognition of Benjamin
summary: Joseph takes his brother aside and tells him that he is his brother, instructing
him not to grieve over the brothers' past actions.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: The cup in the camel-pack
summary: Joseph places his cup in Benjamin's pack, the travellers are accused, the
agreed penalty is detention, and the cup is found in Benjamin's sack.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Brothers' counsel after Benjamin is detained
summary: The brothers despair of Benjamin's release; the eldest recalls the pledge
and remains behind, while the others are told to report the matter to Jacob.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Jacob's grief and renewed search
summary: Jacob rejects the brothers' explanation, grieves for Joseph, declares his
appeal to God, and sends his sons to seek Joseph and Benjamin without despairing
of God's mercy.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Joseph's revelation and forgiveness
summary: The brothers return in distress, Joseph discloses his identity, the brothers
confess sin, and Joseph forgives them.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:7
label: The shirt restores Jacob's sight
summary: Joseph sends his shirt for Jacob; Jacob perceives Joseph's smell, and when
the bearer casts the shirt on his face, his sight returns.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:1
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:8
label: Pardon and entrance into Egypt
summary: The brothers ask Jacob to seek pardon for them, Jacob says he will ask
his Lord, and the family enters Egypt securely under Joseph's welcome.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Oath-bound guardianship of a vulnerable kin member
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: Jacob sends Benjamin only after the brothers pledge before God to bring him
back, and the pledge later governs the eldest brother's actions.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents a family oath before God rather than a formal covenant
treaty; taxonomy assignment is approximate.
- id: motif:2
label: Hidden identity revealed to kin
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Joseph first privately reveals himself to Benjamin and later reveals himself
to the brothers who wronged him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches this recognition pattern.
- id: motif:3
label: Stratagem involving a planted object and legal detention
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Joseph places his cup in Benjamin's pack, arranges its discovery, and the
passage identifies the action as a stratagem connected with wisdom and divine
permission.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The 'wisdom' taxonomy is supported by the passage language, but the motif
is a narrative ruse rather than wisdom instruction alone.
- id: motif:4
label: Divine decree over human precautions
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Jacob advises separate gates but states that nothing can help against God's
decree and that judgment belongs to God alone; the passage confirms the precaution
did not avert God's decree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage emphasizes divine decree and judgment, not a courtroom judgment
scene.
- id: motif:5
label: Grief-induced loss of sight followed by restoration through a token
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Jacob's eyes become white with grief; Joseph sends his shirt to be cast on
Jacob's face, and Jacob's sight returns.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No available symbol taxonomy includes shirt, eyes, scent, or healing token.
- id: motif:6
label: Merciful forgiveness after confession of wrongdoing
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The brothers confess that they have sinned, and Joseph says no blame is upon
them that day and invokes God's forgiveness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly captures forgiveness or reconciliation.
- id: motif:7
label: Family reunion in a secure foreign land
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: Joseph instructs his brothers to bring all the family; later the family comes
to Joseph and enters Egypt securely.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy 'return' only partially fits because the movement is toward
Egypt and reunion rather than return to an original home.
- id: motif:8
label: Knowledge granted by God beyond ordinary perception
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Jacob is described as having knowledge taught by God, says he knows from
God what others do not, and perceives the smell of Joseph before the messenger
arrives.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not define the mechanism of this knowledge beyond attributing
it to God.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 13568-13575
quote_or_summary: Jacob says God is the best guardian; the brothers find their money
returned and propose to take care of their brother while obtaining more corn.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 13576-13584
quote_or_summary: Jacob requires an oath before God to bring Benjamin back, calls
God witness, advises the sons to enter by different gates, and says judgment belongs
to God alone.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 13585-13590
quote_or_summary: The sons enter as instructed, though this does not avert God's
decree; Jacob is said to have knowledge taught by God; Joseph takes his brother
aside and identifies himself.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 13591-13612
quote_or_summary: Joseph places his drinking cup in his brother's pack; a crier
accuses the travellers; the brothers state the penalty; Joseph finds the cup in
his brother's sack; the passage calls it a stratagem and mentions grades of wisdom.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 13613-13627
quote_or_summary: The brothers mention a prior theft by Joseph's brother; Joseph
keeps silent. They offer a substitute for Benjamin. The eldest recalls the pledge
and past failure regarding Joseph, stays behind, and sends the others to report
to Jacob.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 13628-13639
quote_or_summary: Jacob rejects the brothers' explanation, grieves for Joseph until
his eyes become white, says he pleads his grief to God, and orders his sons to
seek Joseph and his brother without despairing of God's mercy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 13640-13651
quote_or_summary: The brothers return to Joseph in distress; Joseph asks if they
know what they did to Joseph and his brother, reveals himself, credits God with
grace, and forgives them after they confess sin.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 13652-13661
quote_or_summary: Joseph sends his shirt to be thrown on Jacob's face so that sight
will return; Jacob perceives Joseph's smell before the messenger arrives; the
shirt is cast on his face and his eyesight returns.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 13662-13695
quote_or_summary: The brothers ask Jacob to seek pardon for their crimes; Jacob
says he will ask his Lord; when they come to Joseph, he receives his parents and
tells the family to enter Egypt securely if God wills.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied Rodwell passage. Motif taxonomy
references are used only where the passage language strongly supports them; several
narrative motifs have no exact supplied taxonomy match. No comparison claims are
made because the passage itself does not explicitly support cross-textual comparison.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-29'
notes: |-
The passage corresponds to a segment of the Qur'anic Joseph narrative in English translation; source metadata states public-domain status and allowed full-text use.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg__l13568-l13695
passage_sha256=901b6810ca477ce0fcefc22e74036074cb6fa40cd868898e79f50fa889b59596