Her story takes a dramatic turn in Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg, and it involves treachery, divine intervention, and a whole lot of pebbles!
Imagine this: Asenath, surrounded by her six hundred attendants, is ambushed by the forces of Pharaoh's son. Why? Because this prince was not happy about Joseph marrying her. The attack is brutal, forcing Asenath to flee. Just when things look dire, who comes to the rescue? None other than young Benjamin, in the same chariot as Asenath!
Now, Benjamin might have been the youngest, but he was no pushover. He leaps from the chariot, grabs some pebbles, and starts launching them at Pharaoh's son. And wouldn't you know it? One of those pebbles hits the prince square in the forehead, inflicting a severe wound! The charioteer, showing some serious team spirit, keeps Benjamin supplied with ammo, and together they take down forty-eight of the fifty riders. Talk about a David-and-Goliath moment!
But the drama doesn't end there. As we read in Legends of the Jews, the sons of Leah arrive just in the nick of time. Levi, with his prophetic gift, had foreseen the attack and rallied his brothers. They engage the ambushers, cutting them down. You'd think Asenath was safe, right? Wrong.
Now the sons of the handmaids appear, swords drawn, aiming to kill both Asenath and Benjamin. Their plan? To vanish into the woods. But Asenath, in her desperation, cries out to God for help. And here’s where the truly miraculous happens: the swords literally fall from their hands. They realize the Divine is on Asenath’s side. Overwhelmed, they throw themselves at her feet, begging for mercy.
Asenath, showing incredible compassion, assures them, "Be courageous and have no fear of your brethren, the sons of Leah. They are God-fearing men. Do but keep yourselves in hiding until their wrath is appeased."
When the sons of Leah arrive, Asenath throws herself before them, begging them to spare the sons of the handmaids. Simon, understandably, is having none of it. He argues that they deserve to die, reminding everyone that these were the ones who sold Joseph into slavery, causing immense suffering to Jacob and his entire family.
But Asenath persists. According to Ginzberg's retelling, her heartfelt pleas eventually win over the brothers. And she has a secret ally in Levi, who knows where the sons of the handmaids are hiding and doesn't reveal their location to Simon, fearing it would only intensify his anger.
Even more remarkably, Levi prevents Benjamin from delivering the final blow to the wounded prince. Instead, he tends to the prince's wounds, puts him in a chariot, and takes him back to Pharaoh. Pharaoh is deeply grateful for Levi's act of chesed, lovingkindness.
Despite Levi’s best efforts, the son of Pharaoh dies three days later from the wound inflicted by Benjamin. And then, grief-stricken, Pharaoh himself passes away at the ripe old age of one hundred and seventy-seven.
So, who inherits the crown? Joseph. He rules Egypt for forty-eight years. And when he steps down, he passes the crown on to Pharaoh’s grandchild, an infant he had essentially raised as his own son.
What can we take away from this dramatic tale? It's more than just a story of treachery and punishment. It's a story of courage, compassion, and divine intervention. Asenath, often a background figure, emerges as a woman of incredible strength and mercy. And it reminds us that even in the midst of conflict, acts of chesed can have a profound impact. The story also demonstrates the ability of prophecy to help prepare people for danger. What does this mean for us? Perhaps it's a reminder to look beyond the familiar narratives, to consider the untold stories, and to recognize the power of compassion in a world often driven by conflict.