Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/352

Rh The Book of Genesis

334

which described certain

historic

or legendary conditions

within

the

probably during the period just preceding the reign The names here refer to the tribes rather than to the of David. This ancient poem was embodied in the individual sons of Jacob. original narrative, even though a large portion of it has little of the tribes of

Israel,

of

nature

more or

a

less

blessing.

The poem

contains

numerous

references,

obscure, to historical conditions which obtained

among

the separate tribes in the days immediately preceding the establish-

ment of the united kingdom by David.

Deuteronomy XXXIII

offers

an interesting parallel to this passage.

Different

Stages of

Embalming

L, 2f. In ancient Egypt people of the higher classes were usually Embalming was a complicated process which required embalmed. from thirty to seventy days. It was performed by a special class

of physicians.

V.

3.

The usual period

of

mourning

was

seven

verse states therefore that the mourning for Jacob

days.

The

was protracted

far beyond the customary period.

himself could not come before Pharaoh, since, mourning he had allowed his hair and beard to grow. To appear before the king unsha^ved and in the garments of mourning would have violated the fundamental principle of Egyptian court etiquette; cf. XLI, 14. HowV. 11. Abcl-mizraim really means "meadow of Egypt". ever the verse confounds ahel with the similar Hebrew word ebeU This place lay east of the Jordan, and which means "mourning"'.

V.

owing

4.

Joseph

to his \n