ABSTRACT
Joseph and Pharaoh have at least one thing in common: they believe the divine is active in human affairs. He is not only up there but down here. The difference, supposedly, is that Pharaoh considers himself one of the gods, while Joseph believes that neither he nor Pharaoh is divine. The difficulty with this interpretation is that the difference between them in this respect is continually narrowed by Joseph’s behavior. To begin with, the first thing that Joseph does upon being called to the audience to hear Pharaoh’s dream is revealing. Though on special occasions Egyptians might paste on false beards, they shaved not only their faces but also their heads. Only foreigners and people of inferior ranks are pictured wearing beards. The Egyptians will be expected to conduct themselves as Joseph directs. In ancient times it was believed that a person who could name a thing could control it.
