As we read in Legends of the Jews, a masterful retelling of Jewish lore by Rabbi Louis Ginzberg, Joseph began to reap the rewards for his unwavering commitment to virtue. It's a powerful idea, isn't it? That our actions, our choices, ultimately shape our destiny. Ginzberg paints a vivid picture: "according to the measure of his merits God granted him reward." : The mouth that refused temptation now receives the "kiss of homage" from the people. The neck that refused to bow to sin is adorned with a gold chain. The hands that avoided wrongdoing now wear Pharaoh's own signet ring. It's like a divine compensation, a beautiful mirroring of virtue rewarded.
And the ceremony! Pharaoh doesn't just promote Joseph; he installs him with solemn grandeur. He clothes him in princely garments, places a gold crown upon his head, and has him ride in the second chariot, right next to the king himself! Imagine the spectacle! Thousands of musicians, drawn swords gleaming in the air, twenty thousand grandees marching on either side. The women of the nobility, captivated by Joseph's beauty, shower him with jewels. Yet, Joseph keeps his gaze down, focused, and as a result, the text tells us, God protects him and his descendants from the ayin hara, the evil eye.
The air is thick with incense and spices as Joseph makes his way through the city. Heralds proclaim: "This is the man whom the king hath chosen to be the second after him!" The people prostrate themselves, shouting, "Long live the king, and long live the deputy of the king!" And Joseph, ever mindful of his source of strength, looks heavenward and proclaims, "The Lord raiseth up the poor out of the dust… blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee."
Pharaoh showers Joseph with gifts: fields, vineyards, silver, gold, precious stones. He even decrees that every Egyptian must give Joseph a gift, or face death! Can you imagine the sheer volume of riches pouring in? He receives a hundred slaves from Pharaoh and acquires many more, residing in a palace that took three years to build. The hall of state, his audience chamber, is particularly magnificent, boasting a throne inlaid with precious stones depicting the entire land of Egypt and the Nile.
And as Joseph's wealth grows, so does his wisdom. God adds to his knowledge so that all might love and honor him. Pharaoh even gives him a new name: Zaphenath-paneah. It's quite a title, isn't it? Ginzberg explains that this name translates roughly to "he who can reveal secret things with ease, and rejoiceth the heart of man therewith." But it's more than just a title. Each letter of the name is said to represent a different quality: Zofeh (seer), Podeh (redeemer), Nabi (prophet), and so on. It's like a microcosm of all the virtues and skills Joseph possesses.
Even Joseph's wife, Asenath, has a fascinating backstory. According to the narrative, Asenath was the daughter of Dinah (Jacob's daughter) and Hamor. Abandoned as a baby, she was rescued by Potiphar, who raised her as his own. The name "Asenath" itself, we're told, is also meaningful. Each letter hints at her history and her virtues.
The story even claims that Asenath, as an infant, saved Joseph's life by defending him against false accusations. And as a reward, God destined her to be the mother of his children. She bears him two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, during the seven years of plenty. The text emphasizes that Joseph, even in his position of power, remains chaste and dedicated to God, especially refraining from pleasure during the impending famine.
Before the famine even hits, Joseph proves his worth by leading an army to victory against the people of Tarshish, who had invaded the territory of the Ishmaelites. This victory solidifies his position as a capable and powerful leader.
Then come the seven years of plenty. Joseph, with foresight and wisdom, gathers up all the grain, storing it in cities throughout the land. He even takes precautions to prevent rot and mildew. The Egyptians, however, aren't so diligent. They try to save their own grain, but when the famine strikes, their stores are worthless.
The famine is sudden and severe. The people are desperate, driven to seek Joseph's help. He tells them to renounce their idols and acknowledge God, but they refuse. They turn to Pharaoh, who, in turn, sends them back to Joseph.
The Egyptians complain to Pharaoh, saying that Joseph demands they be circumcised before receiving food. Pharaoh, unwavering, tells them, "Go unto Joseph!" And they reply, "We come from Joseph, and he hath spoken roughly unto us, saying, Go hence and circumcise yourselves! We warned thee in the beginning that he is a Hebrew, and would treat us in such wise." Pharaoh, however, stands firm. He recognizes Joseph's wisdom and authority.
The story culminates in a powerful lesson about trust, faith, and the consequences of rejecting divine guidance. Pharaoh, by consistently directing his people to Joseph, is rewarded with a long life and reign. But, as the story hints, this very success will eventually lead to arrogance and downfall.
The story of Joseph's rise to power is more than just a rags-to-riches tale. It's a testament to the power of virtue, the importance of faith, and the profound impact one individual can have on the world. It leaves you wondering, doesn't it? What virtues are we cultivating? What "gifts" are we being given that we can use to help others? And are we listening to the wisdom around us, even when it's challenging?
Now Joseph reaped the harvest of his virtues, and according to the measure of his merits God granted him reward. The mouth that refused the kiss of unlawful passion and sin received the kiss of homage from the people; the neck that did not bow itself unto sin was adorned with the gold chain that Pharaoh put upon it; the hands that did not touch sin wore the signet ring that Pharaoh took from his own hand and put upon Joseph's; the body that did not come in contact with sin was arrayed in vestures of byssus; the feet that made no steps in the direction of sin reposed in the royal chariot, and the thoughts that kept themselves undefiled by sin were proclaimed as wisdom. Joseph was installed in his high position, and invested with the insignia of his office, with solemn ceremony. The king took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in princely apparel, and set a gold crown upon his head, and laid a gold chain about his neck. Then he commanded his servants to make Joseph to ride in his second chariot, which went by the side of the chariot wherein sat the king, and he also made him to ride upon a great and strong horse of the king's horses, and his servants conducted him through the streets of the city of Egypt. Musicians, no less than a thousand striking cymbals and a thousand blowing flutes, and five thousand men with drawn swords gleaming in the air formed the vanguard. Twenty thousand of the king's grandees girt with gold-embroidered leather belts marched at the right of Joseph, and as many at the left of him. The women and the maidens of the nobility looked out of the windows to gaze upon Joseph's beauty, and they poured down chains upon him, and rings and jewels, that he might but direct his eyes toward them. Yet he did not look up, and as a reward God made him proof against the evil eye, nor has it ever had the power of inflicting harm upon any of his descendants. Servants of the king, preceding him and following him, burnt incense upon his path, and cassia, and all manner of sweet spices, and strewed myrrh and aloes wherever he went. Twenty heralds walked before him, and they proclaimed: "This is the man whom the king bath chosen to be the second after him. All the affairs of state will be administered by him, and whoever resisteth his commands, or refuseth to bow down to the ground before him, he will die the death of the rebel against the king and the king's deputy." Without delay the people prostrated themselves, and they cried, "Long live the king, and long live the deputy of the king!" And Joseph, looking down from his horse upon the people and their exultation, exclaimed, his eyes directed heavenward: "The Lord raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the needy from the dunghill. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee." After Joseph, accompanied by Pharaoh's officers and princes, had journeyed through the whole city of Egypt, and viewed all there was therein, he returned to the king on the selfsame day, and the king gave him fields and vineyards as a present, and also three thousand talents of silver, and a thousand talents of gold, and onyx stones and bdellium, and many other costly things. The king commanded, moreover, that every Egyptian give Joseph a gift, else he would be put to death. A platform was erected in the open street, and there all deposited their presents, and among the things were many of gold and silver, as well as precious stones, carried thither by the people and also the grandees, for they saw that Joseph enjoyed the favor of the king. Furthermore, Joseph received one hundred slaves from Pharaoh, and they were to do all his bidding, and he himself acquired many more, for he resided in a spacious palace. Three years it took to build it. Special magnificence was lavished upon the hall of state, which was his audience chamber, and upon the throne fashioned of gold and silver and inlaid with precious stones, whereon there was a representation of the whole land of Egypt and of the river Nile. And as Joseph multiplied in riches, so he increased also in wisdom, for God added to his wisdom that all might love and honor him. Pharaoh called him Zaphenath-paneah, he who can reveal secret things with ease, and rejoiceth the heart of man therewith. Each letter of the name Zaphenath-paneah has a meaning, too. The first, Zadde, stands for Zofeh, seer; Pe for Podeh, redeemer; Nun for Nabi, prophet; Taw for Tomek, supporter; Pe for Poter, interpreter of dreams; Ain for Arum, clever; Nun for Nabon, discreet; and Het for Hakam, wise. The name of Joseph's wife pointed to her history in the same way. Asenath was the daughter of Dinah and Hamor, but she was abandoned at the borders of Egypt, only, that people might know who she was, Jacob engraved the story of her parentage and her birth upon a gold plate fastened around her neck. The day on which Asenath was exposed, Potiphar went walking with his servants near the city wall, and they heard the voice of a child. At the captain's bidding they brought the baby to him, and when he read her history from the gold plate, he determined to adopt her. He took her home with him, and raised her as his daughter. The Alef in Asenath stands for On, where Potiphar was priest; the Samek for Setirah, Hidden, for she was kept concealed on account of her extraordinary beauty; the Nun for Nohemet, for she wept and entreated that she might be delivered from the house of the heathen Potiphar; and the Taw for Tammah, the perfect one, on account of her pious, perfect deeds. Asenath had saved Joseph's life while she was still an infant in arms. When Joseph was accused of immoral conduct by Potiphar's wife and the other women, and his master was on the point of having him hanged, Asenath approached her foster-father, and she assured him under oath that the charge against Joseph was false. Then spake God, "As thou livest, because thou didst try to defend Joseph, thou shalt be the woman to bear the tribes that he is appointed to beget. Asenath bore him two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, during the seven years of plenty, for in the time of famine Joseph refrained from all indulgence in the pleasures of life. They were bred in chastity and fear of God by their father, and they were wise, and well-instructed in all knowledge and in the affairs of state, so that they became the favorites of the court, and were educated with the royal princes. Before the famine broke over the land, Joseph found an opportunity of rendering the king a great service. He equipped an army of four thousand six hundred men, providing all the soldiers with shields and spears and bucklers and helmets and slings. With this army, and aided by the servants and officers of the king, and by the people of Egypt, he carried on a war with Tarshish in the first year after his appointment as viceroy. The people of Tarshish had invaded the territory of the Ishmaelites, and the latter, few in number at that time, were sore pressed, and applied to the king of Egypt for help against their enemies. At the head of his host of heroes, Joseph marched to the land of Havilah, where he was joined by the Ishmaelites, and with united forces they fought against the people of Tarshish, routed them utterly, settled their land with the Ishmaelites, while the defeated men took refuge with their brethren in Javan. Joseph and his army returned to Egypt, and not a man had they lost. In a little while Joseph's prophecy was confirmed: that year and the six following years were years of plenty, as he had foretold. The harvest was so ample that a single ear produced two heaps of grain, and Joseph made circumspect arrangements to provide abundantly for the years of famine. He gathered up all the grain, and in the city situated in the middle of each district he laid up the produce from round about, and had ashes and earth strewn on the garnered food from the very soil on which it had been grown; also he preserved the grain in the ear; all these being precautions taken to guard against rot and mildew. The inhabitants of Egypt also tried, on their own account, to put aside a portion of the superabundant harvest of the seven fruitful years against the need of the future, but when the grievous time of dearth came, and they went to their storehouses to bring forth the treasured grain, behold, it had rotted, and become unfit for food. The famine broke in upon the people with such suddenness that the bread gave out unexpectedly as they sat at their tables, they had not even a bite of bran bread. Thus they were driven to apply to Joseph and beseech his help, and he admonished them, saying, "Give up your allegiance to your deceitful idols, and say, Blessed is He who giveth bread unto all flesh." But they refused to deny their lying gods, and they betook themselves to Pharaoh, only to be told by him, "Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do!" For this Pharaoh was rewarded. God granted him long life and a long reign, until he became arrogant, and well-merited punishment overtook him. When the Egyptians approached Joseph with the petition for bread, he spoke, saying, "I give no food to the uncircumcised. Go hence, and circumcise yourselves, and then return hither." They entered the presence of Pharaoh, and complained to him regarding Joseph, but he said as before, "Go unto Joseph!" And they replied, "We come from Joseph, and he hath spoken roughly unto us, saying, Go hence and circumcise yourselves! We warned thee in the beginning that he is a Hebrew, and would treat us in such wise." Pharaoh said to them: "O ye fools, did he not prophesy through the holy spirit and proclaim to the whole world, that there would come seven years of plenty to be followed by seven years of dearth? Why did you not save the yield of one or two years against the day of your need?" Weeping, they made reply: "The grain that we put aside during the good years hath rotted." Pharaoh: "Have ye nothing over of the flour of yesterday?" The Egyptians: "The very bread in the basket rotted!" Pharaoh: "Why?" The Egyptians: "Because Joseph willed thus!" Pharaoh: "O ye fools, if his word hath power over the grain, making it to rot when he desireth it to rot, then also must we die, if so be his wish concerning us. Go, therefore, unto him, and do as he bids you."
