Rashidi followed them out and watched as Joseph was shuffled into the boat.
Menho shouted his orders. “Quickly, back to the palace!”
The oarsmen plied their oars furiously, and Rashidi stood on the wharf, staring in astonishment. When the boat had disappeared from view, he turned to Yafeu, who was standing by his side. “What am I to make of that?”
Yafeu grinned and pulled on his one ear, having lost the other in a battle years ago. “I always said Joseph was a strange fellow. Now we shall see how strange he is.”
****
Pharaoh did not look a great deal like a god as he paced back and forth in the throne room. He was small with spindly legs and a potbelly, and his face was wizened almost like a monkey’s. He had been an unattractive child, and as he grew older, he grew more and more homely. Not even the expensive clothing or ministrations of those who applied his makeup and fixed his hair could do much about that.
His wife, on the other hand, was attractive beyond description. She was, in fact, as beautiful as her husband was homely. She was a clever woman, a little cruel at times, but she was always very careful when she dealt with her husband. He was insignificant in appearance, but there was a stubborn streak in him that she could not control. Once he set his mind on something, there was no changing it.
“My husband,” she said gently, “do not disturb yourself. After all, it was only a dream.”
“No, it was two dreams!” Pharaoh insisted. He shook his head and continued to pace. “I have not been unable to sleep since they came.”
His wife had been the first to hear of the pharaoh’s dreams. She put no stock whatsoever in dreams but knew that her husband was terrifically superstitious, or religious as he would call it. She was very careful not to ridicule him, however, for that would be fatal. She had insisted that he call in his scholars and listened as Pharaoh had told them his dream. It all seemed like foolishness to her, and the interpretations put forth by the scholars seemed even more foolish.
Pharaoh had listened to them for a time, then shouted, “Get out, all of you! You’re all fakes!”
Since then the pharaoh had grown more and more impatient and hard to live with. Isiri was beside herself until the chief butler came to the pair and bowed down with his face to the ground. He looked up with an anguished expression. “I do remember my fault this day,” he cried.
“What do you mean?” Pharaoh demanded.
“You remember that Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker into the prison. While we were there we each dreamed a dream. There was a young man in the prison, a Hebrew, who was in high repute among the prisoners and with the officials. We told him our dream, and he interpreted to us. His interpretation was that I would be freed and returned to His Majesty’s service and that the baker would be executed. And so it was. I had forgotten it until this day, miserable man that I am!”
The pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph and refused to eat until he was brought to him.
“When this Hebrew seer comes, do not expect too much, my lord,” Isiri said. “Egypt is full of dream makers and those who interpret their dreams.”
“No!” the pharaoh cried. “I know somehow that this is the man!”
He had no sooner spoken than the butler came in, his face glowing. He bowed deeply and said, “He is here, O Divine One.”
“Bring him into our presence,” Pharaoh commanded. “We will hear him at once.”
****
Joseph arrived in the city filthy, exactly as he had come from working in his garden. He was promptly handed over to the servants of Pharaoh, who took him to the palace, washed him, treated his hair, and clothed him in rich garments. They brought him out into the gaily-colored vestibule with its tall ornamental columns wound with ribbons. There was a guard of armed men in front of the throne-room door, and as Joseph entered the room, he saw many people there, presumably waiting for an audience with the pharaoh. He could tell by their dress and jewelry that they were all wealthy, and he assumed they were the influential members of Pharaoh’s court. He had no time to study them carefully, however, for Belsunu kept urging him, “We must make haste, Joseph. Pharaoh awaits.”
Joseph had gone halfway across the room when a woman suddenly stepped in front of him and he halted. Shock ran along his nerves as he saw that it was Asenath. She was dressed in a gown of shimmering white, and her hair was tied back now. For a moment her lips were drawn together, but then she said clearly, “So, it is the assaulter of women.”
Joseph did not speak, but everyone around gasped, for they had all heard of Joseph’s history. They also knew the reason that Pharaoh had sent for Joseph. There were no secrets in Pharaoh’s court. Asenath’s father, the priest of On, stepped forward. “Say no more, daughter,” he said.
“You think I am afraid?” Asenath lifted her voice to Joseph again. “When I first saw you, you were a slave. The next time you were a prisoner. So now you’ve come to Pharaoh, but you are still a slave and a prisoner.”
Joseph bowed and said, “It is as you say, my lady.”
The quiet answer stunned Asenath. She had thought much about Joseph since the two times she had encountered him during his prison sentence, and she had tried to belittle him as much as possible. She had even made one of her influential friends investigate how it was that Joseph had risen to such prominence and power in the prison, and she was disturbed to hear the good report that came back to her. Her friend had said, “He is apparently a man of great ability, and the governor trusts him implicitly.”
Asenath had never really forgiven Joseph for his attack on her friend Lady Kesi. But when she spoke harshly to him, she saw no look of anger or bitterness in his eyes. This bothered her, for it proved that he was superior to her in this way.
“We must go! Come, Joseph!”
“Excuse me, my lady,” Joseph said quietly. “I am, as you say, only a prisoner and must obey.” He bowed and followed the butler out of the room.
Asenath was aware that her father was still gripping her arm and that his voice was filled with anger.
“Are you so foolish?” he snapped. “Who knows what will become of that man? If Pharaoh likes him, he will favor him. And he is no man to have as an enemy.”
Asenath could not answer. Joseph’s quietness, the softness of his eyes, and his calm expression had stunned her. She had also been aware that he was dressed in expensive garments, that his strong form was more like a soldier’s than that of a servant or slave. He was tall and strong and, she had to admit, one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.
“Let us leave this place,” she said to her father.
“No, we will stay. We must know what will come of this.” The priest’s face was lined with worry. “The pharaoh is susceptible to so many things. This fellow is good-looking and seems to have some power. We will wait for the outcome.”
Asenath longed to leave, but her father was insistent. Reluctantly, she went to sit with the crowds of people who were waiting to see the pharaoh that day.
****
As Joseph was led into the throne room, he had difficulty taking it all in. It was really a garden house, for there were flowers and plants everywhere. Sunlight streamed through high, arched windows. The room was supported by columns painted with exquisite scenes. Sparkling gems and stones were set in them, making them glitter in the light of the many burning lamps.
The pharaoh sat on a cushioned throne richly set with gems. Joseph saw right away that he was an excitable man—small and unimpressive and in truth rather homely. But there was intelligence in his eyes.
Pharaoh said, “Come nearer. I am Pharaoh, but do not let it make you fearful.”
Joseph advanced, and the pharaoh studied him carefully. “You are not afraid, I see. That is good.” He turned to his wife and said, “Is he not a good-looking person, my dear?”
“Very much,” Isiri said, “but it is not his attractiveness that has brought him here.”
“That is tr
ue,” the pharaoh agreed. “I have had a dream, and I wish to learn the truth of it. They say that when you hear a dream, you can give the interpretation. Is that so?”
Joseph found himself to be extraordinarily calm under the circumstances. It was as if God were protecting him with an invisible wall. He could see right away that Isiri had no faith at all in the interpretation of dreams and that the pharaoh was anxious but doubtful.
“It is not in me, O Pharaoh, but God Almighty who will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
The words pleased Pharaoh, and he said, “I will tell you my dream.”
Pharaoh began speaking eagerly, the words tumbling out of his mouth. “In my dream I stood on a riverbank, and seven very fat and well-favored cows came up out of the water. Then seven other cows came up, but these were skinny and starving. I’ve never seen such pitiful cattle in all my life! And then the seven lean cows ate up the seven fat cows. But when they had eaten them, they were still skinny and lean. Then I awoke. Do you understand, Joseph?”
“Yes, I understand, Your Majesty,” Joseph said quietly. “But there is more, is there not?”
“Yes. I then dreamed of a field in which seven plump and good ears were growing on one stalk, and seven others that were thin and wasted sprouted after them. The thin ears devoured the seven good ears.” Pharaoh broke off and stared at Joseph, then added, “I told this to my scholars, but none of them could interpret these dreams for me.”
Joseph bowed his head, and Pharaoh watched, knowing that the man was praying. Finally he asked in a thin, anxious voice, “Is your god able to tell you the meaning of my dreams?”
Joseph lifted his head and smiled. “It is not two dreams, O Pharaoh, but one. They are the same.”
“But the meaning? I have heard nothing but wild, fantastic interpretations. I want no more of them!”
“I think, O Pharaoh, that you yourself could interpret your dream.”
Pharaoh looked blank. “I … ? I’m no interpreter.”
“But think, Your Majesty, what is it that comes? The seven starving cows followed right after the seven fat ones in succession. What is it that comes out of eternity one after another, not together but in succession, with no break between them?”
“The years!” Pharaoh cried. “Of course! It’s years!”
“Your Majesty is right, and the seven bad ears of corn that sprouted right after the seven good ones—they are the same number.”
“Of course. They are years too.”
“Now, that is the meaning of your dream. The seven good cattle are seven good years, and the seven good ears are seven good years. The dream is one.”
“But what of the other, the thin cattle and the blighted ears?”
“These are years also. There will be seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, and then after them will come seven years of famine. All the plenty will be forgotten, and the famine shall consume the land. It will be terrible.”
Pharaoh’s face had turned pale and he turned to Isiri. “It is good news and bad, my lady. It is good that there will be seven plentiful years of harvest but then a terrible famine.” He stared at Joseph, then asked, “What must we do?”
“You must be very wise, O Pharaoh, as you surely are. Pharaoh must find a man who is discreet and wise to set over the land of Egypt.” Joseph’s voice rang with certainty, and Pharaoh stared at him without even blinking. “Then Pharaoh must appoint officers over the land to gather up a fifth of the good harvest to store during the seven plenteous years. They must store enough food in the cities to use during the seven years of famine. It is the only way to prevent starvation throughout the land. If Pharaoh does these things, he will be remembered throughout all eternity as a wise pharaoh indeed.”
Pharaoh stared at Joseph, then declared, “You must brace yourself, for what I am about to pronounce will shock you greatly.”
“I await your pleasure, O Pharaoh,” Joseph said calmly.
“Are you prepared? Then hear this: There is none so wise and discreet as you, Joseph. You are the man who must lead throughout these years of plenty and the years of famine! You shall be over my house, and according to your word shall all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than you. Now see that I have set you over the land of Egypt.”
With great solemnity, he removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand. Then he took the gold chain from around his neck and put it around Joseph’s neck. “Come,” he said, “we must tell the people.”
Isiri watched in stunned silence. She knew she had lost some of her own royal power and influence through this decision. Once her husband gave himself to a cause, he would have his mind on nothing else. What will come of it? she thought with dismay. This … this slave will now be ruler over Egypt! She had no choice but to hurry along with them as Pharaoh led Joseph out of the throne room into the larger room where the court was awaiting. She took her stand beside Pharaoh as everyone bowed low.
Joseph too was stunned by what had happened. He stood beside Pharaoh and listened, but his eyes were fixed on Asenath, who was directly across from him. She has never looked more beautiful, he thought.
The pharaoh lifted his voice and said to all the people gathered, “Hear you all this word from the god of Egypt. I place this man Joseph as overseer of the entire land of Egypt. His word shall be my word. Anyone who insults this man insults their king. Bow your knees, for I am Pharaoh, and without you, O Joseph, no man shall lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt. Bow down all and give him obedience!”
Asenath stared at Joseph, her eyes locked with his. He neither spoke nor moved, but she was aware that people all over the room were falling on their faces before Joseph. For one moment she thought of staying on her feet and defying him. If she had seen one sign of arrogant triumph in Joseph’s eyes, she would have done so, no matter what the cost.
But Joseph’s eyes were soft. He was not looking at another soul in the room and did not appear conscious that he was standing beside Pharaoh. His gaze was only for her. He bowed to her slightly, and there was a gentleness in the gesture that Asenath could not understand. She felt a fullness in her heart that seemed to swell until it reached her throat. To her surprise she felt tears rise in her eyes. She felt herself kneel and then bow down, and she heard the voice of Pharaoh saying, “This is the Provider! All in this kingdom will bow down and obey him!”
Part Four
The Provider
Chapter 18
Except for those times when a new pharaoh was crowned, Egypt had never seen such a splendid introduction as Joseph received. The second day after Pharaoh’s command that Joseph would be second in the land, the investiture began with a ceremonial procession in which Joseph drove in Pharaoh’s second chariot directly behind the monarch. He was surrounded by troops of Syrian bodyguards and Nubian fan bearers, and the crowd hailed him by one of his new titles, “The Provider! The Provider! Hail to the Provider!” The women were entranced with him, for he was young and handsome, but all hailed him as Pharaoh had commanded.
Everything was a sea of color and pomp and fervent ecstasy as the intense Egyptian sunshine sparkled on the gilded columns of the magnificent city. The populace were decked out in their best dress, bowing and paying homage to Joseph as he passed, with cheers and dancing in the streets, the women jangling tambourines.
Joseph was taken to his spacious new quarters, introduced to his servants, and showered with gold necklaces, armbands, and vases. It took two slaves to gather all the treasures that Pharaoh heaped upon him.
Pharaoh could not do enough for his new favorite official, his second-in-command. He gave orders for the construction of an eternal dwelling place and conferred on him many exalted names: Great Provider, Friend of the Harvest of God, Nourisher of Egypt, Chief Mouthpiece, Prince of Mediation, and Good Shepherd of the People. There had not been such a thing before in the history of Egypt, and the people reveled in it as they will over any new thing.
Joseph kept a calm presence amid all of this, and that was one of his many charms. Most men would be puffed up with pride by such an elevation to power, but this did not happen, and it endeared him even more to the people. As soon as Joseph could persuade Pharaoh to cease having celebrations in his honor and giving him new names, he set about doing the job Pharaoh had assigned him. He became a great lord at court and in the entire country. All other favorites were demoted, and only Joseph’s presence could make the king happy. Joseph never overstepped the bounds of his authority, but he promptly set in motion the plans necessary to save Egypt from starvation.
His first task was to undertake a journey of inspection throughout the country. He gathered a staff of young men who were brilliant and capable but had not been permitted to rise in government because of the older men who were firmly established in the positions of power. He quickly attained a thorough knowledge of the land and the laws concerning property. He discovered that, although theoretically everything belonged to Pharaoh, the actual estates of Pharaoh were not quite so spacious. The land was mostly divided up among small farmers and large landowners, all of whom paid taxes to Pharaoh but who owned the land themselves.
After his tour, Joseph established his staff in a large building and at once proclaimed the new law of the land. Without respect to persons, it fixed the produce tax at one-fifth, to be delivered to the royal storehouses at harvest. He gave orders for the construction of many new storehouses to hold one-fifth of the harvest of the land for the next seven years. A traveler in Egypt after this time would never be far from the sight of a cone-shaped corn bin, many of them standing in close rows or grouped in squares around a courtyard. They opened on top to receive the corn and had stout doors below to empty it out.
Joseph set all the machinery in motion to manage this new system of taxation. From the first day of Joseph’s administration, the reins were tightened on the one hand and loosened on the other. It was a masterful stroke that put the emphasis of government on collecting the corn rent while looking leniently on other debts. Thus Joseph managed to achieve the goodwill of the nobles as well as of the common people of Egypt—and most of all of Pharaoh.
Till Shiloh Comes Page 17
