Scope: As we have seen, during the Second Intermediate Period, Egypt was ruled by foreigners, the Hyksos. The Hyksos introduced horses and chariots to Egypt. Were they the Israelites? The Bible describes a lengthy sojourn of Israelites in Egypt, but there is little archaeological evidence to support this. We examine the Joseph story to see what light Egyptology might shed on its authenticity. Both internal and external evidence is considered.
Outline
I. The Joseph story (Genesis 37-50) is our primary source.
A. Joseph is an interpreter of dreams. He dreams of eleven sheaves bowing down to him and of the sun, moon, and eleven stars (perhaps he has eleven brothers) bowing to him.
B. His brothers throw him in a well and sell him to Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt; Joseph becomes a slave.
C. Sold to Potiphar, pharaoh’s official, he has success in Egypt, although still a slave.
D. Joseph is falsely accused of seduction by Potiphar’s wife.
E. Joseph is thrown in jail.
1. The pharaoh’s cup-bearer, also in jail, dreams of three branches of grapes. (He will be released in three days.)
2. The baker dreams that birds eat three cakes on the tray on his head. (He will be hanged in three days.)
F. Pharaoh also has dreams, and much follows from them:
1. Seven lean cows eat seven fat cows.
2. Seven lean ears of corn eat seven full ears.
3. The cup-bearer remembers Joseph, who interprets the dreams, and Egypt’s economy is planned for fourteen years.
4. Joseph is given the ring of authority and all cry out “Abrek” wherever he goes.
G. Joseph and his brothers have a reunion.
1. Jacob (called “Israel”) sends all Joseph’s brothers but Benjamin, Rachel's son, to Egypt for food during a famine.
2. Joseph recognizes his brothers and asks for Benjamin.
3. When Joseph finally sees Benjamin, he plays a trick and has the silver divining cup placed in his sack. When it is “discovered,” Benjamin is kept as a hostage.
4. Joseph’s identity is finally revealed. God sent him to ensure the survival of the children of Israel.
H. Jacob comes to live in “Goshen,” the Eastern Delta.
1. Jacob has a vision of God: “I will bring you out of Egypt.” (Exodus foretold.)
2. Joseph buys up cattle and land for the pharaoh but doesn’t buy the land of the temple priests.
I. Jacob dies.
1. First he blesses his twelve sons—the twelve tribes of Israel.
2. He also requests burial outside of Egypt.
3. “Then Joseph ordered the doctors in his service to embalm his father. The doctors embalmed Israel and it took 40 days for embalming... The Egyptians mourned him for 70 days” (Genesis). In the whole Bible, only Jacob and Joseph are mummified.
4. A large retinue leaves Egypt to bury Israel.
J. The death of Joseph.
1. Joseph says, “Be sure to take my bones from here.”
2. They embalm him and lay him in his coffin in Egypt.
II. What does the evidence suggest? Some of the similarities are intriguing.
A. The Potiphar story is like the Egyptian “Tale of Two Brothers.”
B. Potiphar’s name is the Egyptian “Pa-di-Ra,” (“that given by Ra”).
C. Who were the magicians mentioned in Genesis? The Coptic (ancient Egyptian) word for magician is sesperonch and means “scribe of the house of life,” i.e., a religious school.
D. An Egyptian Dream Book confirms Joseph’s skill at interpreting prophetic dreams. The pharaoh’s dreams are not in the sesperonch's dream book, explaining why he couldn’t interpret the dream.
E. A stela on Sehel Island tells of a seven-year famine resulting from the Nile’s low water level.
F. Joseph’s signet ring of authority is typically Egyptian.
G. “Abrek” is close to an Egyptian phrase: ab (“heart”) + r (“to”) + k (“you”), perhaps similar to “god go with you.”
H. The priests were allowed to accumulate land, which was true in Egypt.
I. The Bible says “40 days to embalm, 70 for mourning.” This is in accordance with Egyptian rules for mummification.
Essential Reading:
The Bible, Genesis: 37-50.
Questions to Consider:
1. What parts of the Joseph story contain Egyptian elements?
2. What connection might the Joseph story have with the Hyksos?