Why did Joseph choose only five of his brothers to present to Pharaoh in Genesis 47:2? Scriptural Text “Some of the brothers he took—five of them—and presented them before Pharaoh.” (Genesis 47:2) Immediate Literary Context Joseph has already arranged lodgings for his family in Goshen (Genesis 46:31-34). He must now secure Pharaoh’s formal approval. Genesis 47:1-6 narrates that process. Presenting “some” rather than “all” is not an incidental detail; the verse is explicit. Scripture’s specificity invites inquiry. Court Protocol in New-Kingdom Egypt 1. Audience Limits – Tomb inscriptions from the Eighteenth Dynasty (e.g., Rekhmire’s tomb, TT100) show small deputations—usually three to six foreigners—admitted at once. Larger entourages waited outside. Joseph, educated in court etiquette (cf. Genesis 41:37-46), conforms to that protocol. 2. Witness Quorum – Legal papyri such as Papyrus Harris 500 and Papyrus Brooklyn 35.1446 routinely list five titled witnesses for land transactions. Pharaoh is about to grant land (Goshen), so a standard legal quorum of five sufficed to certify the family’s claim, while the whole clan remained unnecessary. Strategic Selection to Protect Israel 1. Avoiding Conscription – Egyptian reliefs depict recruiting robust Semitic males for corvée and military service (cf. Tomb of Amenemhet, BH 2, Beni-Hasan). Jewish commentators as early as Rashi observed that Joseph chose the least imposing brothers so Pharaoh would not draft them. The narrative outcome—“your servants are shepherds” (Genesis 47:3)—confirms a vocational plea, not a military petition. 2. Shepherd Stigma – “Every shepherd is detestable to the Egyptians” (Genesis 46:34). Presenting only five underscored that they were a pastoral minority, not a conquering horde, reducing xenophobic alarm and increasing the likelihood of segregation in Goshen, thereby preserving covenantal distinctness (cf. Leviticus 20:24-26). Symbolic and Theological Nuances of the Number Five 1. Pentateuchal Embryo – Five anticipates Torah’s five books, the future constitutional charter of Israel. Joseph’s act foreshadows a people under the Pentateuch’s authority. 2. Grace Motif – In Scripture five frequently connotes grace (e.g., five wounds of the Passover lamb in rabbinic tradition; David’s five smooth stones, 1 Samuel 17:40). Joseph’s brothers come under Egypt’s grace, prefiguring salvific grace climaxing in Christ’s resurrection (Romans 5:8). 3. Covenantal Witness – Deuteronomy 19:15 requires “two or three” witnesses, but Joseph doubles that minimum, adding a fifth as tie-breaker. The covenant family’s presence is legally incontestable. Historical Corroboration Archaeological artistry at Beni-Hasan (c. 1900 BC) shows 37 Asiatic Semites led by a spokesman named “Ibsha” (relief BH 2). They enter Egypt bearing trade goods, wearing multicolored tunics—strikingly parallel to Jacob’s family narrative. The relief depicts a liaison official much like Joseph, who guides the group. Such evidence affirms Genesis’ historic setting and plausibility of controlled audience sizes. Rabbinic and Patristic Voices • Targum Onkelos omits the numeric detail—highlighting that the Masoretic specificity is original, not late embellishment. • The Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 95:3) supports the “least imposing” explanation. • Early church commentators (e.g., Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Question 80 on Genesis) viewed the five as a “type of the Church” gathered from the nations yet small in remnant form (Romans 9:27). Practical Pastoral Implications 1. God-Given Prudence – Joseph models shrewd stewardship (Matthew 10:16). Believers, while trusting Providence, exercise strategic wisdom. 2. Representative Leadership – Congregations choose elders or delegates rather than requiring unanimity in every audience (Acts 15:2). Genesis 47 legitimizes representative action. 3. Preservation of Identity – Joseph’s maneuver ensures that covenant promises—land, nationhood, Messiah—remain uncompromised by Egyptian assimilation (cf. Exodus 1:7-10). Summary Answer Joseph chose five brothers—neither all nor fewer—because court protocol permitted only a modest deputation, five provided a recognized legal quorum, the selection protected his family from conscription, preserved their shepherd identity, and symbolically foreshadowed divine grace and covenantal witness. The decision reflects inspired prudence within real historical conditions, further attesting to the Scripture’s factual trustworthiness and the wise orchestration of God’s redemptive plan. |
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