[Avodah] The Nature of Egyptian Society

Professor L. Levine llevine at stevens.edu
Sun Dec 24 06:24:17 PST 2017


The following is from RSRH" commentary on Bereishis 46:33


Now, when Pharaoh calls you and asks, What is your occupation?


33 In a state like Egypt, the individual is completely identified with his
occupation. Children are not born as human beings but as artisans,
peasants, soldiers, and so forth. Accordingly, Pharaoh's first question
to Yosef 's brothers would naturally concern their occupation.
They were instructed to answer Pharaoh's question candidly, to
tell him the truth, even though it would be unpleasant. For the
Egyptians' loathing for the brothers' occupation and, in general, the
nations' aversion to the Jews were to serve as primary factors in the
survival of this race, which was destined to journey through the ages
in isolation. As long as the moral morn had not dawned for the
nations, the barriers they erected to isolate the Jews served to protect
the Jews from becoming infected with the barbarism and demoralization
of the people in whose midst they had to walk for hundreds
of years.
Yosef therefore immediately emphasizes the aspect that will arouse
the aversion of the Egyptians. His clear intention is that, as a result, his
brothers will be allocated a separate province in which to dwell.
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