<b>And Joseph died, and all his brethren (Exod. 1:6).</b> Nevertheless, <i>the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly</i> (ibid., v. 7). R. Yannai declared: Each woman bore six children at one time, while (because each word in the biblical verse is in the plural form, thus implying a minimum of two) others say that each one bore twelve, for the word <i>paru</i> (“were fruitful”) indicates two; <i>vayishresu</i> (“and increased abundantly”), two; <i>vayirbu</i> (“and multiplied”), two; <i>vaya’asmu</i> (“and waxed”), two; <i>bime’od me’od</i> (“exceeding mighty”), two; and <i>the land was filled with them</i> (ibid.), two, totaling twelve in all. R. Jonathan said: <i>The land was filled with them</i> implies that they filled the land like reed branches. When the Egyptians observed this, they issued new decrees against them, as it is said: <i>Now there arose a new king</i> (Exod. 1:8). Was he in fact a new king? Rather, he fashioned new decrees against them. Another explanation of <i>Now there arose a new king</i>. Was it not Pharaoh? Rather, the Egyptians cried out: “Come, let us attack this nation.” “You fools,” he said to them, “we have survived only because of them, how dare we attack them now? Were it not for Joseph, we would not be alive.” When he refused to carry out their request, they removed him from his throne for three months until he promised them: “I am with you in all you do.” Then they restored him to his throne. That is why it is written: <i>And now there arose a new king</i>.
The prophet said: <i>They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, for they have begotten strange children; now shall the new moon devour them with their portions</i> (Hos. 5:7). That is to say, they gave birth to children, but neglected to circumcise them. This teaches us that after Joseph’s death the people disregarded the covenant of circumcision, saying: Let us be like the Egyptians. When the Holy One, blessed be He, observed this, He suppressed the love He bore them, as it is said: <i>He turned their heart to hate His people</i> (Ps. 125:22).
<i>Now shall the new moon devour them</i> (Hos. 5:27). <i>New</i> is written to indicate that new, harsh decrees were imposed upon them. Therefore, it is written: <i>Now there arose a new king who knew not Joseph. Who knew not Joseph</i>. Did he actually fail to recognize Joseph that the verse should say <i>Who knew not Joseph</i>? R. Abin said: It may be compared to the fate of one who had stoned the statue of a commander. The king then decreed: “Let him be decapitated lest he do the same to me tomorrow.” Pharaoh said in this instance “I do not know Joseph” because later on he would say: <i>I do not know the Lord</i>.