In the biblical narrative, the Egyptians' disdain for shepherds is a notable cultural detail that emerges in the context of the Israelites' sojourn in Egypt. This aversion is explicitly mentioned in the book of Genesis, providing insight into the social and cultural dynamics of ancient Egypt.

The key reference to the Egyptians' abhorrence of shepherds is found in Genesis 46:34. When Joseph's brothers come to Egypt during the famine, Joseph instructs them on how to present themselves to Pharaoh. He advises them to say, "Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did." Joseph explains that this is necessary because "all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians" (Genesis 46:34). This statement highlights a significant cultural divide between the Egyptians and the Hebrews, who were primarily a pastoral people.

The Egyptians' disdain for shepherds can be understood in several ways. Historically, Egypt was a highly advanced civilization with a strong emphasis on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of crops along the fertile Nile Delta. The Egyptians' settled, agrarian lifestyle contrasted sharply with the nomadic, pastoral lifestyle of shepherds. This difference in lifestyle may have contributed to the Egyptians' perception of shepherds as uncivilized or inferior.

Additionally, the Egyptians' religious beliefs and practices may have played a role in their aversion to shepherds. The Egyptian pantheon included deities associated with agriculture and the fertility of the land, which were central to their way of life. In contrast, the nomadic lifestyle of shepherds, who moved with their flocks in search of pasture, may have been seen as disruptive to the settled agricultural order that the Egyptians valued.

The cultural tension between the Egyptians and shepherds is further illustrated in the account of Joseph and his family. When Joseph's family settles in the land of Goshen, they are allowed to live separately from the Egyptians, which may have been partly due to their occupation as shepherds. This separation allowed the Israelites to maintain their distinct identity and way of life while residing in Egypt.

The Egyptians' abhorrence of shepherds also serves as a backdrop to the broader narrative of the Israelites' time in Egypt. It underscores the cultural and social challenges they faced as a distinct people living in a foreign land. Despite these challenges, the Israelites thrived and multiplied, setting the stage for the subsequent events of the Exodus.

In summary, the Egyptians' disdain for shepherds, as mentioned in Genesis, reflects the cultural and social dynamics of ancient Egypt. It highlights the contrast between the agrarian Egyptians and the pastoral Hebrews, providing context for the Israelites' experience in Egypt and their eventual deliverance.Genesis 46:34
That you shall say, Your servants' trade has been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.
Nave's Topical Index

Egypt
... by the Pharaohs to the nomad shepherds of Asia ... the sea had been to the Egyptian a
thing abhorred. ... Unfortunately for the Egyptians, Amasis died while the Persian ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

A Discourse
... yea, they so much the more by her are abhorred. ... too, is a condition very desolate:
the Egyptians found it so ... is in the field, in the forest among the shepherds. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... themselves, after the example and at the instigation of the Egyptians, with the ... Their
misdeeds were such, that "men abhorred the offering of the Lord," and yet ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... THESE, when the spirit of delusion has left them, are abhorred, both skin ... neither
shall the Arabian pitch tent there: neither shall the shepherds make their ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

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