It’s a story filled with sibling rivalry, lingering resentment, and, well, a whole lot of armed conflict.
The animosity, you see, didn’t just end with Jacob tricking Esau out of his birthright. Oh no. It simmered, festered, and eventually boiled over into outright war. Ginzberg, in his Legends of the Jews, paints a vivid picture of this clash.
It all stemmed from the sting of defeat. The sons of Esau, they just couldn’t let go of the humiliation Joseph and his people had inflicted upon them. Remember how Joseph rose to power in Egypt? Yeah, that didn't sit well. So, fueled by pride and a thirst for revenge, they hatched a plan.
They weren't alone, mind you. They enlisted the help of Agnias, the Ishmaelites, and other nations of the East. Think of it as a very large, very angry coalition. Their goal? To launch a second campaign against Egypt and free Zepho and his followers from Joseph's control.
Now, imagine the scene: a massive army, numbering no less than eight hundred thousand infantry and cavalry, marching towards Egypt. It sounds pretty intimidating. But here’s where the underdog story kicks in. Despite their overwhelming numbers, this colossal force was defeated at Raamses by Joseph, his brothers, and… wait for it… a mere six hundred men!
Talk about David versus Goliath!
The defeat was crushing. They lost their king, Bela, and a quarter of their army was left on the battlefield. Can you imagine the morale after that? Utterly demoralized, they fled, with Joseph hot on their heels, cutting down many of the fleeing soldiers.
It just goes to show you, doesn't it? Sometimes, it's not about the size of your army, but the strength of your spirit. Or, perhaps, the blessings of something…more. Whatever it was, Joseph and his brothers clearly had something special on their side that day. And it’s a reminder that even the most lopsided odds can be overcome.