Not just a little hunger pang, but the gnawing, desperate emptiness that turns societies upside down. That’s the scene we’re walking into.
"The grain that we put aside during the good years hath rotted!" That’s the cry of the Egyptian people to Pharaoh, according to Legends of the Jews. Can you feel their desperation?
And Pharaoh’s reply? It's pretty insightful, actually. "Have ye nothing over of the flour of yesterday?" he asks. But even the bread in their baskets has turned to rot! This is where Pharaoh gets it. He realizes something profound. "O ye fools, if his word hath power over the grain, making it to rot when he desireth it to rot, then also must we die, if so be his wish concerning us. Go, therefore, unto him, and do as he bids you."
Who is this "him"? Well, we're about to find out.
The famine, we're told, didn’t just stay in Egypt. It spread. It crawled its way into Phoenicia, Arabia, and even Palestine. Everyone was suffering.
Now, picture Jacob, back in his home. His sons are out and about, young and strong, walking the roads. But they don't know what their wise, old father suspects: that there's grain to be found in Egypt. Jacob even suspects that Joseph, his long-lost son, is there.
Remember Joseph? Sold into slavery by his brothers? As Legends of the Jews reminds us, Jacob's prophetic abilities had been dimmed by his grief over Joseph's disappearance. But now, they flicker to life.
But why send his sons to Egypt even before they're truly in need? Jacob, ever the strategist, had another reason. He didn’t want to flaunt any comfort he had before his neighbors, the sons of Esau and Ishmael. He didn't want to stir up envy. A very practical concern, isn't it?
And he's not just worried about envy. He's worried about outright conflict. He tells his sons not to walk around with bread in their hands, not to show off any weapons. He’s trying to keep a low profile, avoid trouble.
And here's the thing: Jacob knew his sons were impressive. Legends of the Jews tells us they were of "heroic stature and handsome appearance." They were likely to attract attention. So, he gives them very specific instructions: don't all go through the same gate. Don't show yourselves together in public. Why? "That the evil eye be not cast upon them."
The "evil eye," or ayin hara (עין הרע), is a powerful concept in Jewish tradition – the idea that envy and ill-will can manifest as a curse. Jacob is taking precautions, trying to shield his family from harm, both physical and spiritual.
So, what does this all mean? It’s more than just a story about famine and survival. It’s about a father's wisdom, a family's hidden connections, and the ever-present need to navigate a world filled with both opportunity and danger. It's a reminder that even in times of scarcity, foresight, and a little bit of humility can go a long way. And that sometimes, the answers we seek are closer than we think, hidden in the hands of those we least expect.