Jacob loved Joseph more than he did the rest of his sons, which aroused jealousy among Joseph’s brothers. Therefore, Jacob was also subject to criticism by the Sages.

Who caused Joseph to become hated? It was the excessive love of his father, Jacob. “Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was a son of his old age [ben zekunim]” (Genesis 37:3). Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Nehemya explained this: Rabbi Yehuda said that Jacob loved Joseph because Joseph’s shining countenance was similar to that of Jacob. Rabbi Nehemya said that Jacob loved Joseph because he transmitted to Joseph all the halakhot that Shem and Ever transmitted to him. “He made him a fine tunic” (Genesis 37:3). One must not favor one child over the rest, as because of the fine tunic that our patriarch Jacob made for Joseph, the verse relates: “And they hated him…” (37:4). (Tanĥuma [Buber], Vayeshev; Bereshit Rabba 84)