batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l20113-l20209
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l20113-l20209
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER XI. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. / CHAPTER XII. / IN THE
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 20113-20209
start: '20113'
end: '20209'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an)
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage opens Sura XII, stating that the Arabic revelation relates
the excellent history of Joseph. Joseph tells Jacob of a dream in which eleven
stars, the sun, and the moon bow to him. Jacob warns him not to tell his brothers,
predicts divine favor and instruction in interpretation, and the brothers plot
against Joseph because Jacob loves him and his brother more. One brother advises
throwing Joseph into a well rather than killing him. The brothers ask Jacob to
send Joseph with them into the field, while Jacob fears a wolf may devour him.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The chapter is entitled Joseph and is described as revealed at Mecca.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The revelation is described as being sent down in the Arabic tongue so that
its hearers might understand.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Joseph tells his father that he saw eleven stars, the sun, and the moon making
obeisance to him in a dream.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Jacob tells Joseph not to tell the vision to his brothers because they may
devise a plot against him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: Jacob says that Joseph's Lord will choose him, teach him the interpretation
of dark sayings, and complete favor upon him and Jacob's family.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: Joseph's brothers say that Joseph and his brother are dearer to their father
than they are, although they are more numerous.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The brothers propose killing Joseph or driving him to a distant or desert
place so their father's attention will turn to them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: One of the brothers advises not killing Joseph but throwing him to the bottom
of a well, where some travelers may take him up.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: The brothers ask Jacob to entrust Joseph to them and send him into the field
to divert himself and sport, promising to guard him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: Jacob says it grieves him for Joseph to be taken away and that he fears a
wolf may devour Joseph while the brothers are negligent.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Joseph
description: Jacob's child, dreamer, and the object of his brothers' envy and plot.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Jacob
description: Joseph's father, who hears the dream, warns Joseph not to reveal it,
and fears for Joseph's safety.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:10
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Joseph's brethren
description: Joseph's brothers, who envy Joseph and his brother and discuss killing,
banishing, or throwing Joseph into a well.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Joseph's brother
description: A brother of Joseph who, together with Joseph, is said by the other
brothers to be dearer to Jacob than they are.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: One brother who advises against killing Joseph
description: One of Joseph's brothers who says not to slay Joseph but to throw him
into the bottom of the well.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Some travellers
description: Unspecified travelers expected by the speaker to take Joseph up from
the well.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Wolf
description: The animal Jacob fears may devour Joseph while the brothers are negligent.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: dream recipient
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Joseph reports seeing celestial bodies bowing to him in a dream.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: father and interpreter of danger
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Jacob hears the dream, warns Joseph about his brothers, and fears danger
from a wolf.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:10
- id: role:3
label: envious brothers and plotters
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The brothers complain of Jacob's preference and propose harming or removing
Joseph.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: favored son
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The brothers say Joseph and his brother are dearer to Jacob than they are.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: co-favored brother
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The brothers identify Joseph's brother as also dearer to Jacob than they
are.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: mitigating adviser
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: One brother rejects killing Joseph and proposes the well instead.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: potential rescuers or finders
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The adviser says some travellers will take Joseph up from the well.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: feared devourer
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Jacob fears that a wolf may devour Joseph.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: dream vision
literal_form: Joseph's dream of eleven stars, the sun, and the moon bowing to him
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: eleven stars
literal_form: eleven stars seen in Joseph's dream
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: sun and moon
literal_form: the sun and the moon seen in Joseph's dream
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: well
literal_form: the bottom of the well into which Joseph is to be thrown
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: distant or desert place
literal_form: a distant or desert part of the earth proposed as a place to drive
Joseph away
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: wolf
literal_form: a wolf feared by Jacob as a possible devourer of Joseph
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Revelatory introduction to Joseph's history
summary: The chapter introduces the signs of the clear book and says the history
of Joseph is being related through revelation in Arabic.
figure_refs: []
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Joseph reports his dream to Jacob
summary: Joseph tells Jacob that he saw eleven stars, the sun, and the moon bowing
to him; Jacob warns him to conceal the vision from his brothers and speaks of
divine favor and instruction.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Brothers resent Jacob's preference
summary: Joseph's brothers say Joseph and his brother are more beloved by Jacob
and conclude that Jacob judges wrongly.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Plot to remove Joseph
summary: The brothers consider killing Joseph or sending him away, and one of them
proposes throwing him into a well so travelers may find him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Request to take Joseph into the field
summary: The brothers ask Jacob to let Joseph accompany them into the field, promise
to guard him, and Jacob expresses grief and fear that a wolf may devour him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: prophetic dream of future elevation
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Joseph's dream of celestial bodies bowing to him is followed by Jacob's statement
that the Lord will choose Joseph and teach him interpretation of dark sayings.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly interpret each celestial figure within
this excerpt.
- id: motif:2
label: concealed vision to avoid family plot
taxonomy_refs:
- forbidden_knowledge
basis: Jacob tells Joseph not to tell his vision to his brothers because they may
devise a plot against him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The knowledge is warned against being disclosed, but the passage does
not present it as forbidden by a formal commandment or taboo system.
- id: motif:3
label: sibling envy of the favored child
taxonomy_refs:
- sibling_pair
basis: The brothers resent that Joseph and his brother are dearer to Jacob and plan
to remove Joseph.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: 'The taxonomy reference is approximate: the passage involves a larger
group of brothers, not only a pair.'
- id: motif:4
label: abandonment in a well with expected discovery by travelers
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: One brother proposes throwing Joseph to the bottom of a well so that travelers
will take him up.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: Within this passage, the well episode is proposed but not yet narrated
as completed.
- id: motif:5
label: feared animal attack during guarded outing
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Jacob fears that a wolf may devour Joseph while his brothers are negligent,
and the brothers deny this would happen with so many of them present.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage records Jacob's fear rather than an actual attack.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: A translator's note compares the proposal to put Joseph in a pit and later
sell him with the account attributed to Moses in Genesis xxxvii.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Genesis xxxvii account of Joseph being placed in a pit and sold to Ishmaelites
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The comparison is supplied in Sale's note, not in the Qur'anic narrative
voice of the excerpt; the excerpt itself only reaches the proposal to throw Joseph
into the well.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: citation
locator: lines 20113-20209, chapter heading
quote_or_summary: Chapter XII is entitled Joseph and marked as revealed at Mecca.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 20113-20209, opening verses
quote_or_summary: The passage describes the signs of the clear book, sent down in
Arabic, and introduces the excellent history revealed in this Koran/chapter.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 20113-20209, Joseph's dream
quote_or_summary: "“I saw in my dream eleven stars, and the sun and the moon; I
saw them make obeisance unto me.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 20113-20209, Jacob's warning
quote_or_summary: Jacob tells Joseph not to tell the vision to his brothers, lest
they devise a plot against him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 20113-20209, Jacob's prediction
quote_or_summary: Jacob says the Lord will choose Joseph, teach him the interpretation
of dark sayings, and accomplish favor upon him and Jacob's family as upon Abraham
and Isaac.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 20113-20209, brothers' complaint
quote_or_summary: The brothers say Joseph and his brother are dearer to their father
than they are, though they are the greater number, and that their father judges
wrongly.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 20113-20209, brothers' plot
quote_or_summary: The brothers propose slaying Joseph or driving him into a distant
or desert place so their father's face will be cleared toward them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:8
type: quote
locator: lines 20113-20209, well proposal
quote_or_summary: "“Slay not Joseph, but throw him to the bottom of the well; and
some travellers will take him up.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 20113-20209, request to Jacob
quote_or_summary: The brothers ask Jacob to entrust Joseph to them and send him
into the field to divert himself and sport, promising to be his guardians.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 20113-20209, Jacob's fear
quote_or_summary: Jacob says it grieves him that they take Joseph away and fears
that a wolf may devour him while they are negligent; the brothers answer that
such a loss would show great weakness in them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:11
type: note
locator: lines 20113-20209, Sale's note r
quote_or_summary: Sale's note says some identify the brother as Judah or Reuben
and cites Genesis xxxvii.21-22 and xxxvii.26-27 regarding advice not to kill Joseph,
putting him in a pit, and selling him to the Ishmaelites.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary of translator note.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The narrative sequence and figures are explicit. Motif taxonomy assignments
are cautious because the supplied taxonomy is broad and not all observed patterns
have exact available references.
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: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used. Qur'anic narrative material and Sale's explanatory notes are distinguished where relevant.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l20113-l20209
passage_sha256=c396d2317848f34770e9e22de2c26f73315d94201571811225d4637d3a94ee59