We know the story ends with a seemingly happy resolution, a family reunited and thriving in a new land. But, like all good stories, there's often more to the tale than what initially meets the eye.
According to Ginzberg's masterful retelling in Legends of the Jews, Joseph and his brothers didn't exactly get a warm welcome from everyone. In fact, just three days after their arrival, a formidable army assembled, a coalition of the inhabitants of Seir (a mountainous region south of the Dead Sea) and the mysterious "children of the East." Their mission? To wage war against Joseph and his brethren. Can you imagine? A full-scale war erupting so soon after settling into their new Egyptian home!
Why? Well, perhaps jealousy played a role, or fear of the growing Israelite presence. Whatever the reason, the conflict was swift and devastating. Joseph, ever the leader, rose to the occasion, leading his warriors into battle with remarkable courage and skill.
The result? Utter annihilation for the invading army. Legends of the Jews tells us that Joseph and his warriors mowed down no fewer than six hundred thousand men! Six hundred thousand! It's a staggering number, a testament to the ferocity of the battle and the might of Joseph's forces. The small remnant that survived, understandably, fled in terror.
But the story doesn't end there. Imagine being among the defeated, returning home after such a catastrophic loss. The sons of Esau and the sons of Seir, now back in their own country after this fatal campaign, descended into bitter infighting. As Legends of the Jews continues, the sons of Seir, perhaps seeking someone to blame for their misfortune, turned on their former allies, demanding that the sons of Esau leave their territory. After all, it was they, the sons of Esau, who had brought this calamity upon them, they claimed.
What a mess! A story of war, defeat, blame, and ultimately, division. It reminds us that even after moments of great triumph, conflict can still arise, and the consequences of our actions can ripple outward in unexpected ways. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? How did Joseph and his brothers navigate the aftermath of such a victory? How did they deal with the knowledge that their arrival in Egypt had sparked such violence? These are the questions that linger long after the battle is won.