Our tale begins after the passing of Joseph, a figure of immense importance in the Jewish narrative. With Joseph gone, along with his brothers and even Pharaoh's mighty men, a new generation rises. Among them is Zepho, a descendant of Esau, and he believes the time for retribution is at hand. He's been waiting for this moment, you see, harboring a deep-seated desire for vengeance against the children of Jacob – the Israelites.
And he's not alone in this quest. He aligns himself with Hadad, the king of Edom – another nation with a history of conflict with the Israelites – and rallies the nations of the East and the Ishmaelites to his cause. Imagine the sheer scale of this alliance! Ginzberg, in his monumental work Legends of the Jews, describes the allied army as so enormous that it stretched across a distance equal to a three-day journey when lined up for battle. That's a force to be reckoned with.
This colossal army gathers in the Valley of Pathros – likely located in Upper Egypt. Facing them are three hundred thousand Egyptians and a relatively small contingent of one hundred and fifty Israelites from Goshen, the region where they resided.
But here's where things get complicated. The Egyptians, they're wary. They don't fully trust the Israelites. They fear that in the heat of battle, the Israelites might switch sides, joining forces with the descendants of Esau and Ishmael. A valid concern, considering the complex relationships and ancient rivalries at play.
So, they strike a deal. A precarious agreement is made: the Israelites are to hold back. They are not to come to the aid of the Egyptians until it becomes absolutely clear that the enemy is gaining the upper hand. Can you imagine the tension? The distrust hanging in the air? It sets the stage for a battle fraught with uncertainty, where alliances are fragile and the fate of nations hangs in the balance.
What does this say about trust, and the long shadow of history? How do past grievances shape the present, and can they ever truly be overcome? Food for thought, as we continue this journey into the legends of our ancestors.