Semites in Egypt1
Unlike Egypt, which relied on the steady flow of the Nile, Canaan depended on rainfall. Severe famine and starvation accompanied extended droughts. For this reason, Abraham, Isaac (almost), and Jacob found themselves traveling to Egypt. They were not alone. The largely Semitic city of Avaris (founded c. 2000 BCE) grew to be huge (one hundred acres) and was quite cosmopolitan.
Egyptians dealt with Asiatic influx in various ways. Sometimes they were friendly to those seeking to enter their territory. Other times, not so much. Trading though was common, and slaves were a popular commodity. Papyrus Brooklyn 35.1446 (c. 1809–1743 BCE) lists names of dozens of Semites attached to an upper-class estate along with their respective positions. One of these titles is overseer of the house .
Joseph as an overseer fits well into the second millennial BCE period. Potiphar who bought Joseph was a high-ranking Egyptian dignitary. The Bible labels him as one of Pharaoh’s officials, a captain of the imperial guards (Gen 37:36; 39:1 – ISV). It is reasonable to believe that he had a significantly large household with many servants to which he would appoint someone like Joseph to manage.
The slave price of twenty shekels of silver (Gen 37:28) is consistent with Joseph’s lifetime. Earlier in history male slaves were sold for ten shekels (Ur c. 2100 BCE). The average price rose to sixty shekels as time went on (Assyria c. 800 BCE).
Joseph’s Crime2
It is easy to misunderstand the crime to which Joseph was accused. It was not attempted rape. Infidelity was common in ancient Egypt. Marriage was a revolving door, especially among the middle and upper classes. Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph:
She called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he (Potiphar) has brought a Hebrew in to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice (Gen 39:14).
Joseph was a slave. Potiphar’s wife was upper middle class. Joseph was accused of behaving in a way that was inappropriate for his social standing. As expected, Potiphar remanded Joseph to prison to await sentencing from the courts. Since Potiphar was a high ranking official, it makes sense that Joseph would be sent to the same prison where Pharaoh’s enemies were held (Gen 39:20).
Prisons in Ancient Egypt
The right to a speedy trial was unknown in the ancient world. The courts were in no rush. For many prisoners, a minor offence resulted in a life sentence. In rare cases someone like the king might intervene. Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams spared him from the fate of most of his fellow captives.
Egyptian prisons were not like those of modern times. There were guards, but not always locks, gates, or fences. These prisons were rock quarries in the middle of the desert; some of these have been found by archaeologists (See picture above). Good luck for someone walking away. Likely, they would die of heat stroke or thirst.
Interpreter of Dreams3
God gave Joseph the gift of interpretation early in life. But as a seventeen-year-old, he didn’t have the maturity to deal with it. He was brash, arrogant, feeling quite superior. It took years in prison for him to learn discipline. It was there that he recognized that prophetic dreams and their interpretations belong solely to God (Gen 40:8).
The emphasis on dream interpretation is a very important cultural reference. Unlike the Hebrews, Egyptians placed a high value on dreams and their meanings. They still do. Papyrus Chester Beatty III is sometimes called the dream book. It contains lists of possible dreams and their interpretations. The dream book inscriptions follow the format: “If a man sees himself doing X, then Y.”4 Examples follow:
If a man sees himself sawing wood: Good – His enemies will be destroyed.
Chief Cup Bearer and Chief Baker
This brings us to the cup bearer and baker who worked in Pharaoh’s court. Having offended the Pharaoh in some way (Gen 40:1), they wound up in the same prison with Joseph. In fact, they were assigned to Joseph by the chief guard. Both had troubling dreams on the same night (Gen 40:5), but they did not have access to the book of interpretations. Seeing their sadness, Joseph offered them an interpretation. The cup bearer’s dream follows:
In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me, and in the vine were three branches . It was as though it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters produced ripe grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup , and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand (Gen 40:9–11).
Joseph went against the standard interpretation. Basically his interpretation was:
Good – In three days (represented by the three branches) your position will be restored (Gen 40:13).
This encouraged the Chief Baker to ask Joseph for an interpretation. His dream follows:
I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head. In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head . (Gen 40:16–17)
Unfortunately for him, the interpretation was:
Bad – In three days (represented by the three baskets) Pharaoh will cut off your head, you’ll be hanged, and birds will eat your flesh (Gen 40).
Well, three days later, it was Pharaoh’s birthday. This was not a birthday as we know it today. Ancient Egyptians did not celebrate years from physical birth. It was rather the anniversary of his ascension to the throne. That is the time when Pharaohs become gods. Egyptians honored and celebrated ascension dates. In any case, both Joseph’s interpretations were accurate. Years later, this lead to his release from prison to become vizier over Egypt.
Conclusion
As I prepared this article, I of course noticed the compatibility of the Joseph narrative with the second millennial BCE Egyptian culture. Yet, these consistencies are not what stands out for me. A number of other verses came to mind:
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires (1 Cor 12:7–11).
And:
For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it (1 Cor 4:7)?
Joseph was given a particular gift for a particular purpose at a particular time. He thought himself to be something because of this gift. His brothers became jealous and sold him to slave traders. Potiphar then sent him to prison where he languished for a long time. Then, when the time was right, his gift of interpretation lifted him from prisoner to the high position of vizier over Egypt. This points to another verse:
A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps (Prov 16:9).
None of us are superior, regardless of the gift or gifts we possess. I believe a verse from Jeremiah sums things up well:
Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches. But let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am Yahweh who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth; for I delight in these things (Jer 9:23–24).
Dan Harvey, author of Wrestling with Faith,
secondlooknow.com
I loved how you made this entry practical. We see in joseph’s story the wisdom expounded in pauls letter. Inspiration is found in these subtle connections.