How does Genesis 43:20 reflect the cultural practices of ancient Egypt? Text and Immediate Context “and said, ‘Please, sir, we really did come down here the first time to buy food.’ ” (Genesis 43:20) The verse records Joseph’s brothers addressing the Egyptian steward at the threshold of Joseph’s house. Their carefully worded petition provides a brief snapshot of social conventions in Middle-Kingdom Egypt (c. 19th century BC), the most plausible historical setting for Joseph’s administration. Petitionary Language and Titles of Respect Egyptian documents preserve a fixed formula for approaching officials: an introductory plea (“Pray, my lord…”) followed by an explanation of purpose. The Story of the Eloquent Peasant (pBerlin 3023, 12th Dynasty) repeats the address “My lord, hear me” before petitions, paralleling the brothers’ “Please, sir” (naʾ ʾadonî). The honorific “lord” (Egyptian nb; Hebrew ʾadon) was obligatory when speaking to someone who represented the palace. The brothers’ tone reflects the stiff court etiquette depicted in tomb scenes and letters where even minor bureaucrats were accorded formal reverence. The Egyptian Household Steward (imy-r pr) Joseph’s “steward” (Hebrew ʾasher ʿal-habbayit, v. 19) corresponds exactly to the Egyptian title imy-r pr, “overseer of the house,” attested on 12th-Dynasty stelae and tomb inscriptions (e.g., Statue of Siese, Louvre E 10679). This official managed food stores, finances, and audiences for a high-ranking master. By addressing the steward at the entrance rather than barging inside (v. 19), the brothers obey a well-known protocol: visitors first secured permission from the household manager, who then conveyed them to the noble. Grain-Buying and State-Controlled Commerce Famine relief under the Middle Kingdom flowed through royal granaries. Contemporary sources such as the Semna Dispatches and the tomb of Sobekhotep IV’s official Mentuhotep mention foreigners “coming down to buy grain” during shortages. Genesis 41–47 mirrors the historic practice: the state monopolized grain and issued regulated rations. Foreign caravans petitioned appointed officers, not pharaoh directly—hence the brothers’ conversation with Joseph’s steward rather than the monarch. Silver by Weight: Economic Detail Coins did not exist; silver (Egyptian ḥedj) was weighed in debens (≈ 91 g). Genesis 43:21 records money “by weight” (bĕmišqālô). Papyrus Brooklyn 35.1446 lists slaves purchased for “10 deben of silver,” confirming the biblical picture. The brothers’ anxiety that the steward might interpret the returned silver as theft (v. 18) reflects strict Egyptian penalties for tampering with weighed bullion. Hospitality, Fear, and Legal Retribution Tomb texts such as Instruction of Amenemope warn stewards to scrutinize foreigners lest they “steal from the house.” The brothers’ dread of being enslaved (v. 18) fits Egyptian law codes that allowed debt-bondage for fraud. Conversely, Egyptian etiquette required a host who accepted a guest to provide water for foot-washing and a meal (Genesis 43:24-25), customs illustrated in Beni Hasan tomb murals of servants washing travelers’ feet and presenting food. Archaeological Corroborations • Beni Hasan Tomb 3 (c. 1870 BC) shows 37 Semitic traders with donkeys, eye-paint, and trade goods, captioned “Asiatics entering to bring stibium.” Their clothing, beards, and donkey‐borne sacks match the patriarchal description (Genesis 42:26). • Papyrus Anastasi VI records border officials documenting Semites who “came to collect grain for their households.” • Stelae of Egyptian treasurers such as Khnumhotep reveal officials personally “hearing pleas of those who came to the storehouse,” echoing the brothers’ plea to the steward. Theological Perspective on Providence Through Culture While Egyptian structures were human, God’s providence employed them to preserve the covenant line. By embedding Joseph in Egypt’s administrative lattice, Yahweh ensured grain for the patriarchs, fulfilling Genesis 15:13-14 and preserving the Messianic lineage that culminates in the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:30-32). |
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