Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/342

Rh The Book of Genesis

324

XXIV

Lksson

JACOB'S BLESSING XLVI-L)

(Genesis

Ye meant pass, as

it

is

The law XIX, 8.)

evil against

this day,

of

the

me; but God meant it for good, to bring to much people alive. (Genesis L, 20.)

to save

Lord

perfect,

is

restoring

the

(Psalm

soul.

Read Psalm XIX.

The wonderful romance merely to bring the story

of Joseph

to a

is

finished.

It

remains

proper close by picturing the

happiness of the father and brothers in Egypt, and to suitably reenforce the central theme.

For, as

we

see

now,

all

these narratives are merely successive chapters of this one,

great Joseph story, and this

and as

artistically told,

it

is

and

is

is

most

efifectively,

dramatically

therefore one of the very greatest,

one of the oldest, classics of the world's

Through it all there runs one central theme, which was intended by its author or authors to concretely It is

literature.

the story illustrate.

the thought of God's absolute providence, which guides

the destinies of

men and

nations with fixed and wise pur-

men do, somehow, way passing human understanding, l)rings greater good and blessing for all men. "Ye meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive", Jose])h answers his brothers,

pose,

and even out of

all

the evil which

in a

when, after his father's death, they fear that Joseph might now avenge himself upon them. "It was not you that sent me hither, but God", in order to fulfil His wondrous pur- \n