Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/335

Rh Joseph and Jacob

317

past, and to safeguard and live by the and principles which he had brought with him as a precious heritage from his father's house.

of

traditions

his

spiritual truths

Nor

he

did

Egyptian court,

hesitate

to

declare

his cultured friends

before

and

the

assembled

titled associates, that

these Israelite shepherds, plain and unpolished, and possibly

even uncouth though they must have seemed to the Egyptian

and ladies, were his brothers. Nor did he shrink, cultured Egyptian though he was outwardly, from embracing and kissing them, and inquiring lovingly and anxiously after the welfare of his aged father. His sole concern was for their safety and happiness during these seven years of famine. He might easily have provided for them in their old home in Palestine, by sending supplies to them at regular intervals. He might thus have spared himself the constant reminder of his lowly, and from the cultured Egyptian standpoint, even base, shepherd, Israelite origin, which their presence must necessarily furnish. But no such thought entered his mind even for a moment. He was not ashamed of his origin, lowly and mean though it might seem to some, who were animated by false standards of cheap and superficial culture. On the contrary, he gloried in this origin, for lords

he realized

full

well

that

to

it

he owed

all

the spiritual

knowledge, insight and strength which he possessed, which

had alone enabled him

to

endure

all trials,

exalted and honorable station, and which to use all the

for his

own

ing of his

powers and privileges of

selfish

and

to rise to his

now prompted him his

high

office,

not

advantage, but for the benefit and bless-

fellowmen.

In comparison

treasures, Egyptian culture

with these spiritual

and refinement were as nothing,

except in so far as they heightened the spiritual value of the former, and lent direction and force to their application.

Nor was he ashamed

of his father and his brothers.

In-

stead he proudly presented five of his brothers and also his

aged father

to the

mighty Pharaoh himself.

And

instead of \n