Lesson #17

Guess Whos Coming to Dinner?

(42: 1 43: 34)

In Lesson #16, although sold into slavery in Egypt, 17year old Joseph:
1. rises from a field slave to become manager of Potiphars household; 2. he is fired and ends up in prison, accused of assaulting his bosss wife; 3. within a few years he becomes head trustee of the prison; 4. and in thirteen years, by the time Joseph is 30 years old, he rises to the position of Prime Minister of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself.

In Lesson #17, Joseph

1. is Prime Minister of Egypt; 2. he is married to Asenath, the daughter of the High Priest of Heliopolis; 3. he has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim; and 4. Pharaoh treats Joseph as one of his own family. By any measure, Joseph is wildly successful. He has long since forgotten the betrayal that brought him to Egypt, and he has long since forgotten the father who never came looking for him. . . until his brothers show up at the front door!

Pontormo. Josephs Brothers Beg for Help (oil on wood), c. 1515. National Gallery, London.
This picture formed part of the decoration of the bedroom of Pierfrancesco Borgherini (in the Borgherini palazzo, Florence), commissioned to celebrate his marriage in 1515.

5. National Gallery, London.

All the ingredients for Tiger Nuts, a sweet treat often brought to the host at a dinner party in the Middle East!

Ingredients: 200g fresh dates 1 teaspoon cold water 25-30 Pistachios or 10-15 walnut halves 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon small jar of honey 75g ground almonds Directions: 1. Chop up dates and pistachios (or walnuts). 2. Mix up dates, chopped nuts, cinnamon and water 3. Roll into balls 4. Dip into honey 5. Roll in ground almonds

Yummmm!

Herodotus (c. 484-425 B.C.)

Called by Cicero the father of history, Herodotus traveled to Egypt c. 450 B.C., and he records his experiences in Book 2 of his Histories.

Egyptians may not eat with Hebrews; that is abhorrent to them, (43: 32).
The following is the mode of life habitual to [the Egyptians]: For three successive days each month they purge the body . . . which is done out of a regard for their health . . .. I believe, next to the Libyans, [the Egyptians] are the healthiest people in the world . . .. They live on bread made of spelt . . . their drink is a wine which they obtain from barley . . . many kinds of fish they eat raw, either salted or dried in the sun. Quails also, and ducks and small birds, they eat uncooked, merely salting them. All other birds and fishes . . . are eaten either roasted or boiled. The Egyptians adhere to their own national customs and adopt no foreign usages. Herodotus, Histories, Book 2

1. Why does Jacob not allow Benjamin to accompany his brothers to Egypt at the opening of Chapter 42? 2. What is Josephs immediate reaction upon seeing his brothers? 3. Why do the brothers not recognize Joseph? 4. What is Josephs intention in placing the brothers money back in their sacks? 5. Why does Judah (of all people) step up to protect Benjamin?

Copyright 2013 by William C. Creasy

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