When Joseph, after years of hardship, finally rose to power in Egypt, his first thought was for his family. Famine gripped the land, and he knew his brothers and father were struggling back in Canaan. So, he brought them to Egypt, but not without a plan.
The Torah tells us Joseph presented some of his brothers to Pharaoh (Genesis 47:2). But it wasn't just a casual introduction. According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, Joseph hand-picked the weakest of his brethren. Why? He didn't want Pharaoh to be tempted to conscript them into his army! Joseph was protecting his family, ensuring they wouldn't be absorbed into Egyptian society as warriors. It was a clever move, showing both respect for Pharaoh and a deep commitment to his own kin.
But the story doesn't end there. Joseph also had to figure out where to settle his family. He didn't want them living right alongside the Egyptians, fearing they might intermingle and lose their unique identity. So, he presented them as shepherds. Now, this might seem like a simple occupational detail, but it was a masterstroke.
You see, the Egyptians had some… peculiar religious practices. They worshipped the constellation of rain and even venerated animals. And they absolutely despised shepherds! As Legends of the Jews explains, this aversion made it much less likely that the Egyptians would want to associate closely with Joseph's family.
Pharaoh, understandably eager to please the powerful Joseph, was happy to grant his request. He offered them the land of Goshen, a fertile region perfect for grazing. But here’s where it gets even more interesting. According to Legends of the Jews, Goshen was rightfully theirs anyway! Remember when Pharaoh took Sarah, Abraham's wife, against her will? As recompense for that transgression, he had given her that very land as an irrevocable possession. Talk about divine irony!
So, there you have it: a story of family, strategy, and a little bit of ancient history repeating itself. Joseph, in his wisdom, secured a safe haven for his family, leveraging both Egyptian customs and a past injustice to ensure their well-being. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, about the long and winding ways that justice and destiny sometimes intertwine?