2.3 – Beginning at the Bottom
An Introduction
In an instant, Joseph’s world changed.
Captain Potiphar addressed Joseph, his tone again serious and commanding, speaking to a new recruit. “Teyma speaks well of you, and you answered well. We will put you to the test tomorrow.”
Addressing the same servant who had been present throughout the visit, the captain instructed, “Farid, show Joseph to his quarters. See what is necessary beyond what he carries on his person. Then take him to Senen-set, if he is here, or show Joseph his room if he is away.”
And thus was Joseph dismissed.
The servant led Joseph deeper into the building. They walked along a corridor with many doors. Those on the left were to rooms on the outside wall. Those to the right had walls lining the extended open space beyond the inner garden. High windows lined the corridor, as well as the outer wall, while the inner rooms appeared to have lower windows open to the garden.
A ramp leading to the next level appeared to one side. Softer drawings on the wall, and blooming potted plants along the incline, spoke of a feminine presence and a more relaxed setting above.
They passed outside into an open space in the compound, low trees and shrubs creating a green barrier beyond an attractive sitting area. Beyond the line of shrubs and trees were two long buildings, each with a row of doors, reminiscent of buildings Joseph had seen in the city.
“I am Farid,” the servant said, for the first time addressing Joseph in an informal manner. “As the personal servant of the captain, I see to many things in his name.”
Joseph heard a simple statement of fact, no undue pride in this role the servant played.
“You were just in the home of Captain Potiphar, of course, and you probably are aware that the larger building is The Residence, home to King Senusret.”
He turned again toward the two long buildings set end to end directly in front of the door from which they had come.
“The building to the left is for storage of grains, flax, dried produce and such. The other building is living quarters, including yours there,” his arm outstretched toward one of the open doorways.
“You see the trees providing shade just beyond the granary? The women often congregate there, particularly for chores such as weaving and preparation of food, either for meals or for storage. The kitchen area is just off to the side.”
“Who else has quarters here?” asked Joseph, pointing toward the other 5 apartments in the living quarters.
“Ruia and his wife are at the far end in a larger space. He is my counterpart, overseeing everything beyond the house. He would normally be with you instead of me, or Senen-set would guide you, but they are in the fields overseeing the harvest.
“Meri-ptah has the next apartment. His father is high priest of the principle temple in Memphis, the Temple of Ptah. He also is in the fields, or should be, overseeing the use of livestock in the harvest and preparing for the movement of the herds above the flood plain.
“The next two spaces are smaller, like yours, and they house single men like yourself. You will meet them after they return from their work.
“And the space next to you on this end belongs to Senen-set. His father is high priest of the Temple of Horus not far from here. He has a wife and children here with him, as does Meri-ptah.
“We have other workers who live in the buildings near the gate,” he said, pointing toward the back of the compound, “and others who come from the village on the canal beyond the walls.”
They walked across the short open space to the second door on the end of the building that would be Joseph’s home. The servant walked through the open doorway and motioned for Joseph to enter.
A cooling breeze swept through the shaded interior, open in the front and the rear.
“You share this space with Shabaka. The front room can be used as you both wish. Or it may house other workers in the future. The back room is the bedroom. Shabaka works in either the fields or with the herds, as needed.”
By now they had walked through the first room to the second. Two low wooden frames covered with reeds and a mat sat end to end, filling one wall. A pot for waste stood beneath each bedframe.
The opposite wall held two low wooden chairs for seating and an equally low wooden piece as a table. They were cut for their purposes, not for show. The finishing was even but there was no adornment to soften the functionality. The walkway between the beds and the table was easily sufficient for foot traffic in both directions.
These two rooms were his living quarters. The space was designed for function, not for comfort. He felt confined, the walls too close, and wondered if he might sleep out under the stars instead.
As if he read Joseph’s mind, Farid said, “You may spend the night on the roof. That is the common practice. There is a ramp at the far end of the building.” He pointed in that direction.
“You appear to have good clothing.” Eying the work coat Joseph carried over one arm, Farid added, “I will provide you an extra tunic for work. That should be sufficient.”
Waving an arm around the small room, Farid asked, “Do you have any other needs?”
Joseph had little idea of what his needs would be other than food in a climate without rain or cold. Shelter was hardly necessary, little more than a place to store possessions that he did not have.
He had a blanket sufficient for the not so cool nights here, and clothing for the day. He shook his head.
“Senen-set is not here, so let me show you some of the grounds.”
Walking back outside, Farid pointed again to the shaded area at the end. “Everyone gathers for dinner in the area where the women are working. You will see the men very soon, as the sun reaches the horizon. You will share in the meal cooked for all.
“Introduce yourself to them. They will teach you much before you begin your day tomorrow.”
There were other buildings to which Farid made only passing reference: a modest temple, and the longer buildings for housing those who worked in the palace or on its grounds. There also were smaller buildings not mentioned by name or function.
They walked toward a back gate leading through the thick walls out into the fields. On the back wall inside this gate there was an additional long building similar to the one with his quarters. This structure was like the lodging and granary structures, with six doors, but the building and its doors were much larger than those for lodging.
Pointing to the first door, Farid said, “This is the stable for the king’s chariot and horses.” Indicating the other doors with a wave of his arm, he continued, “Each door has four stalls. The donkeys are kept here at times, as well, along with hay and straw.”
They walked out through the gate into an open field. The entire complex was on slightly higher ground than the flat expanse characteristic of the area. Joseph found himself facing a desert in the far distance, the closer area a checkerboard of fields of grasses and crops.
Farid pointed south, indicating that livestock were in that general direction. Joseph saw a herd of cattle congregated near a clump of trees. Goats were congregated in one corner of a fenced pasture where there appeared to be more brush and rough foliage than the grasses dominant elsewhere. A larger expanse of grassland stretched further south.
“Lake Fayum is a few day’s brisk walk to the west. There is a large valley, more like a bowl pressed down into the earth. A pool of water always covers the lowest point on the edge of the valley.
“The lake will grow larger with the flooding of the Nile. Some years it will come near to filling the bowl. Other years, it might overflow or fall short of flooding the valley. The greater the shortage, the worse will be the following harvest season. Overflows mainly cause damage to mud brick buildings and such, but they are easily rebuilt.
“Meri-ptah has charge over the livestock. This includes the stable and horses, as well as the donkeys and cattle.”
Turning and pointing north, Farid said, “And Senen-set has responsibility for the farmland, the crops, and the granaries, such as the building beside yours. Grain and any other produce that can be stored will be held inside to feed us from one harvest to the next.”
“By the way, we call them Senen and Meri informally, but in the captain’s presence, we use the full names lest we appear to disparage the gods associated with their names. Both men have responsibility for the king’s land and animals in the Fayum, as well as the lands around here.”
Joseph surveyed what could be seen of the king’s domain from this vantage point. He sensed an edge in Farid’s voice as he spoke the men’s names, but he could not determine what lay behind it.
Tested
Looking southward toward the herds again, Joseph saw in the near foreground what appeared to be a dead donkey. Walking closer, he saw the carcass was indeed a donkey, but there were no signs of the cause of death. He looked toward Farid for an explanation.
“That is Senen’s work. He said yesterday that the donkey had kicked him in the leg. In retaliation, he had hit the donkey with his fist squarely between the eyes. He said that he wanted the carcass left here as a warning.”
“Who is he warning with this violent act?” With a bit of a laugh, Joseph added, “I do not think the other donkeys will understand such a message!”
“No, you are right. I do not think it is the other donkeys,” replied Farid, his gaze fixed on Joseph. “He and Meri are always at one another, a perpetual contest of who is strongest and who will dominate.”
Farid averted his gaze from Joseph as he continued, “But this happened yesterday after the messenger had given me the message concerning Teyma bringing you to the captain. I was wrong to mention it to Senen, unaware of how he might perceive things.”
Farid asked Joseph a very direct question, looking him straight in the eye: “There are rumors about who you are and why you are here. Are you here to replace someone?”
Joseph was at a loss for a moment, and then he laughed and shook his head. “What? Do they think I will take somebody’s place? Do I look like I am ready to be ordering people around in my broken Egyptian? And how would a shepherd from Canaan know how to run an estate of this size? The seasonal flood is coming and I do not know of such things!”
“No, that does not make sense,” agreed Farid. Then he added with a smile. “And you will report to Senen,” a statement confirming Joseph’s position as a subordinate.
“The king and his army have just left for Kush, the northernmost part of Nubia. He goes to negotiate for the interests of the mine owners who provide so many valuable minerals, but he finds that an army at his back helps negotiations. So far, war has been avoided, and I know that he seeks to have good relations with the people of Kush and the other Nubians.
“The captain sees to all things beyond the military actions. There will be no great demands made of us beyond maintaining the estate. We each have our jobs to do. Senen will give you your assignments.”
Joseph nodded an acknowledgement. “Then since this beast has borne its last burden, a message of Senen’s power, is he ready to be skinned or will he just be buried?”
Farid obviously was concerned about over reaching his authority. “This is not my decision to make. Senen will determine the proper course of action.” Again Farid’s voice betrayed unease at the mention of Senen.
Joseph was beginning to understand the power structure, and he did not look forward to serving under Senen. He was certain the captain was aware of the lapses by those directly under his command. There must be much more that Joseph did not know.
The gardens were Senen’s responsibility, and Joseph had seen the poor results within moments of his arrival. And this waste of what appeared to have been a healthy animal due to the hardened anger of Senen appeared to be characteristic of the man’s attitude, judging from Farid’s speech.
Joseph considered whether the dead donkey was more a challenge against Meri, who had responsibility for the beast, or a welcoming statement intended to intimidate Joseph?
“Do you have things to show me other than Senen’s anger?”
Farid lowered his head, embarrassed by what he had been compelled to do. “Yes, let me walk you through the fields and tell you of the annual flood and what we must do. Senen is responsible for you, but allow me to give you some information in case he is not forthcoming.”
Joseph nodded appreciatively, aware that Senen might leave many pieces of necessary information unspoken.
Before they had gone more than a few steps, Farid halted and signaled to a large man whose course aimed at the gate from which they were departing.
“There he comes,” said Farid to Joseph.
The three men met at the gate, Senen’s eyes fixed firmly on Joseph.
“The captain says that you are my new man.” The words were a flat statement of fact. In case Joseph missed the point, he added, “Report to me tomorrow morning and I will set you to work.”
Joseph said, “Yes, sir,” as he nodded his acknowledgment, but Senen had already moved toward the gate ahead of them, taking his new worker for granted as part of his due as an overseer.
Just past the gate, Senen stopped, turned, and addressed Farid. “Did you show him the donkey?”
“Yes.”
Addressing Joseph, Senen ordered, “Skin the donkey. Tools are in the second stall,” he said, pointing with his arm toward the livestock structure. “Let me know when you are done and I will show you where to bury the carcass.”
Senen continued through the gate into the compound.
Farid shook his head. “I do not know what Meri will say about this, but Senen has given the order and you must obey. And I must return to my duties.”
As he turned to go, he said in a lighter tone, almost mocking, “Welcome to your new home.”
Joseph watched Farid head back toward the house. There was nothing for him to do but to be obedient. At least Senen was not wasting the hide after needlessly destroying the animal.
He went to the second door of the stables and saw the area within that held larger tools for plowing and cutting tools for the harvest. A workbench held other small tools, including a variety of knives. He selected one of the larger flint knives, picked up a flat piece of shale for scraping, and a worn cloth discarded to the side. Joseph proceeded back outside the gate.
The donkey lay on its side, so Joseph maneuvered the carcass onto its back, stomach and legs up. He slit down the center from neck to tail, careful not to puncture the stomach or the body cavity, in general. Since they were not harvesting the meat, he did not remove the organs, but simply made sure that digestive and waste fluids did not contaminate the hide.
He turned the carcass onto its open front and made the same long shallow incision along the back. He made the horizontal cuts reaching down each leg to the hoof. The mule was larger and heavier with a tougher hide, but the process did not feel much different from his experience with sheep.
As he was preparing to pull the hide away from the membrane separating skin and meat, a booming voice startled him.
“Who are you and what are you doing?”
Joseph looked up, a knife in one hand and the other hand holding a flap of skin. He was addressed by a man every bit the size of Senen, and he knew it must be Meri.
“I am Joseph, skinning this dead donkey, as Senen ordered.”
“You are new here, but do you not know that I am over the livestock, including the donkeys?” Meri’s tone did not make any allowance for ignorance. The pairing of his dead donkey and the man who was rumored to threaten everyone’s position provided a double dose of anger and adrenaline.
Joseph saw he was on precarious ground, if there was any ground at all!
“The donkey has been here for a day, as I understand it. We are too late to harvest the meat, but the hide can still provide leather for straps or bags or shoes, or whatever you choose.”
The practical answer deflected whatever wrath might have been directed at Joseph. Meri switched tack. “Do you know what happened to the donkey?” he demanded.
“Senen said that the donkey had kicked him, and that he responded in kind with a fist to his head. He left the carcass here as a warning.”
Meri let out a grunt, but then he smiled, and finally he burst into a hearty laugh, as if he understood something that Joseph did not. He turned abruptly and walked through the gate.
Joseph returned to his work of scraping the inner portion of the hide as clean of tissue as he could.
The few hours of afternoon remaining were quiet until other workers began returning from the field. They had surely seen the donkey as they left that morning, and had not Meri seen it, also? Was he really unaware?
At any rate, the workers filed past Joseph, looking at his work and introducing themselves as they went toward the entrance gate. There did not seem to be any animosity or apprehension about Joseph’s presence. Perhaps the question of who was in charge was a moot point to them since their individual roles would remain unchanged.
Joseph finished his task a few moments later, the naked carcass lying in the dirt. The late afternoon was hot. Joseph drank again from the jug provided and wiped the sweat from his brow, swatting at the flies attracted to the feast. These hours of work in the hot sun had left him weary.
He knew the carcass must be buried tonight. By the morning there would be a stench, as well as an army of flies and insects (if not larger animals, as well) to help return the flesh to the dust from which it had come.
He picked up the heavy hide and carried it into the compound for Senen’s instructions.
Senen and Meri were sitting with their backs against the wall of their shared homes, talking as if they were good friends. Whatever differences they may have had were resolved for the moment.
Seeing Joseph approach, Senen said, “Give the hide to Ana over there,” pointing toward the area where several women were gathered in conversation. “She will finish the job. Then come back and I will show you where to bury the carcass.”
Meri was impassive, evidently content with the outcome of the events of the day.
Joseph did as he was told and then followed Senen to the tool storage stall. Senen selected a shovel, a long pole, and some rope, then led Joseph back out through the gate,
As they reached the high point where Joseph had stood earlier, Senen stopped.
“See the trees just over there?” An extended arm guided Joseph’s eyes to a place not far from where they stood. “You will see the dirt piled for a cow buried several weeks ago. I will help you carry the carcass there and you can dig a hole beside the other.”
Senen and Joseph returned to the carcass. They tied its legs to the sturdy pole and lifted. Joseph was muscular and used to hard labor, but the load was such that he was not sure he could go that far. His end of the pole was lower than Senen’s, the dead weight of the donkey’s remains almost dragging the ground.
Senen showed no signs of difficulty and started walking to the destination. Joseph, holding on with both hands and resting some of the weight on his shoulder, followed (or was pulled) since there was no other choice.
When they arrived at the designated spot, Senen indicated to drop the load and they did.
“You will reach a dense clay in a few feet. That will be deep enough. Dinner will be left in your room for you.”
Joseph could see that his new master felt no compunction about leaving him to work into the dark of night. Perhaps this was just an initiation, breaking him so that he would be compliant or, if too weak, would fail at his new job and be dismissed. Captain Potiphar said that they would test him. Perhaps this was the test.
Watching Senen retreat into the shadows of sunset stretching from the compound’s wall, Joseph determined to do what was necessary. A pale three quarters moon was already evident in the still blue sky. That would be enough to see him through the job.
The topsoil was soft. He found the denser soil layer, as promised, and completed the burial within a few hours. He felt the strain of the afternoon in his back, and a blister was rising on one hand.
He made his way back to the meal waiting for him. The steady light breeze was refreshing, and after eating he went onto the roof to take full advantage of its coolness. There were low partitions designating the respective apartments below. In the dim light, Shabaka appeared to be asleep, as was everyone else. Joseph lay with his blanket on the mat brought from below and was asleep within minutes.
He dreamed again of his brothers being here in Egypt with him. This time, they played more distinct roles. At first, they were giving him orders, haughty and sure of themselves.
By the end of the dream, he was giving them orders. Their names and faces had changed somewhere along the way to those of the servants of Captain Potiphar.
This was an opportunity to do what he had not done in Canaan. Now that he understood his brothers, Joseph also understood the men around him in Egypt. How to free these men from their bondage and into the lives intended for them was the key to a better future for him as well as for them.
An Alternative Home
The late night of work and the intensity of his dream resulted in a night with little rest.
Morning came quickly, and Senen right on top of it. Joseph did not even have the opportunity to speak with his roommate, who in the early morning light he saw to be fully black. The man was not a dark skinned Egyptian, but someone from Nubia, which included Kush or anywhere farther south.
Senen cut across his thoughts: “Since you are familiar with working with animals, your first job is a thorough cleaning of the stalls. You know where the shovel is. The other tools are available there as you need them.”
Questioning the order was not a legitimate option, but apparently Senen felt a need to explain. He continued, “This is normally Meri’s responsibility, but we agreed this will be sufficient repayment for the donkey.”
Joseph realized that he was the means of exchange. The score between the two men was even, and Joseph had been the price paid. He had buried Senen’s anger, and now he would clean what Meri had neglected. The donkey had been a message to Joseph, and Meri had agreed with Senen’s delivery of that message and confirmed it with his own orders.
He was willing to earn his food and place to stay, and he had performed a great deal of labor on his first day. Now he would labor more, perhaps a few days. But Potiphar was not yet receiving from him anything that improved the captain’s or the king’s lot. None of this was the captain’s test. Joseph was merely cleaning up unnecessary messes.
Over the next few days, he labored alone. The stalls appeared to have received token cleanings, the center of each recently swept clean. But a mixture of straw and excrement on the floor lined the bottoms of the mud brick walls.
The horses and chariot were with the king, and the donkeys not in the stalls during the day, so nothing prevented him from immediately beginning work.
These few days were filled with removing the muck of the stalls, cleaning long neglected refuse that left him gasping for air. The lower portions of the walls were discolored and stank horribly.
A solution of lye removed most of the discoloration and all of the odor, per Meri’s instructions. Removing mold and mildew was critical for maintaining the health of the animals. Joseph did not know how even the animals had withstood the stench. A full bath in the nearby canal was necessary each afternoon just to be able to stand his own company.
He had virtually no contact with people during his workday. The evening meal provided the most opportune time to meet his equals since all who lived in the compound shared the common space in the center in the evening.
Dinner was usually an array of vegetables fresh from the gardens, fresh bread, and beer. The barley beer was the preferred drink since the sediments and flavor of the Nile were hidden. Beer was often almost a meal itself, full of herbs and spices. Although whatever food was fermented (usually barley or emmer wheat, with dates for sugar) was filtered for the most part from the liquid, some of it and a fair amount of nutrition remained.
Water also was available, set aside in large vats. The top portion was clear and felt refreshing on a hot day, but the lower part of the container would have grit and was generally used for watering plants.
The meal and a couple of hours afterward provided an opportunity for casual conversation, opportunities for learning a bit more about the people and his new home.
Sometimes after the meal there was music from the gardens for the king’s family. When the king was present, there were generally visitors to The Residence each evening.
Listening to the gentle strains drifting through the estate was relaxing for everyone, and provided a peaceful background for whatever activities occurred in the servants’ compound.
With the king absent, there were far fewer guests but the routines of the evening continued for the “family” of servants. The most usual evening was for the kids to play games, and the adults to sit and talk for a while if they were not too weary with their day.
The roof was a shared area, as well, but the attempt at privacy for the spaces discouraged any further socialization once people had gone up top. This was a retreat for privacy.
The three families sharing Joseph’s building had constructed low walls giving some additional privacy to their sleeping spaces. Although reducing air flow somewhat, the nights were still preferable here compared to the enclosed quarters below.
Shabaka had been there only a little over a year, but he proved to be Joseph’s best source of information.
“Ruia is over everyone outside of the household, but you will see that this is more in name than in fact. Senen and Meri never show him any deference, in either the work they perform or even in the informal setting of these evenings.” Joseph had seen all of this very well.
In the working hours, any order to those two men from Ruia was an invitation to discussion and redefining the task in their own terms. Obedience was not part of the equation.
And Joseph was finding that getting any information out of Senen or Meri must be accomplished one-on-one. When the two were together, each pushed his own agenda, their desire for dominance.
Joseph observed their relationship was like two men fighting a private battle: if there was a third person involved, they would unite against the outsider. When that battle had been won, they would resume the fight with each other.
Ruia was not strong enough to control these two men or even to act as a referee. Shabaka reminded Joseph that in addition to their physical intimidation, they carried the deciding factor of fathers who were both influential high priests. Risking the wrath of such men was not wise.
Joseph thought of Reuben, the eldest of the sons of Leah. By birth, he should have been the leader among the sons, acting as Jacob’s proxy when the father was not present. But Simeon and Levi intimidated him, and Jacob had never supported his first son against the later ones.
In a similar manner, Senen and Meri held power over Ruia, the same power they held over Potiphar. Yes, the captain (and perhaps even the king) was a victim of the political power of well-connected servants, and Ruia was the one who suffered the abuse daily. A handsome man with a strong, lean body, he probably could have handled either of the two men singly in a fair fight, but this was not a fair fight.
Shabaka said that the two men were younger sons of the priests. They had had no hope of inheriting the wealth or the position of their respective fathers. In effect, their fathers had traded them to the king. All that Captain Potiphar could do was to acknowledge their positions. Although nominally under him and then Ruia, they had been expensive purchases of outside political support. The cost to Potiphar and the king had been the ability to effectively run the king’s estate.
Joseph observed that Ruia and Senen were there with everyone, but he rarely saw Meri.
Asking about Meri’s absence, Shabaka said that Meri and his wife often ate with those of the guard. These men and their families were housed outside of the compound.
When Joseph asked the reason, his roommate shrugged and said they seemed to be Meri’s friends.
Asking about Captain Potiphar, Shabaka said that with the king at war in the south, the captain had gone to the delta region as the king’s representative. This inspection of forts and the king’s lands ensured that the king’s absence due to military matters in the south did not loosen his position in the north.
Indeed, this had been one of the major reasons for the move of the palace from Thebes to Itj-tawy a few generations earlier. This more central capital emphasized that the two lands – north and south – were one land under one king.
Listening to Shabaka was almost like listening to Teyma outline a problem. No hint at a solution was offered, but the facts that would lead to a resolution were placed into the light. There was the feeling that simply understanding them from the correct perspective would show a pattern and a solution.
Joseph could see the truth of Shabaka’s analysis in the unfinished work, both in the gardens in front of the house and those inside. These were like the neglected stalls of the horses and donkeys, testaments to who possessed power on the estate. Neither Senen nor Meri could be held accountable because of their connections to important priests and temples.
As easy as the relationships among the lower staff appeared, Joseph sensed an undercurrent of uncertainty, the hint of fear instilled in each person because of the unpredictable nature of these two men who were subordinates to Ruia and the captain in name only.
There was some comfort in identifying the problem that plagued the estate, but the captain undoubtedly was aware of the situation, as well. This was much as it had been with his brothers in Canaan.
But resolution of this discord was another issue. If the man in charge, the one man who by right had all authority was unable to solve it, how would Joseph?
Joseph reflected on how this would have been handled in Canaan. How might Jacob have handled Simeon and Levi, supporting Reuben and the other sons with fairness for all?
Ten sons, twelve when Joseph and Benjamin were included, was too large a number for dividing the herds and roaming the land as separate families.
The impracticality of this was easy to see if each of the sons had ten sons and they continued to multiply herds and still roam the same fixed land. Inevitably, some must leave the herds or take their herds to other lands. More likely, some would stay as servants to an older brother.
Joseph felt impressed again by the blessing of having been sold. His father would not have allowed Joseph to leave, but staying with his half-brothers would have led only to perpetual conflict.
If his eyes and ears had been open….No, if his heart had been open, he would have understood the family dynamics in Canaan, the inevitability of a confrontation.
What the half-brothers had done, selling Joseph and sending him into exile, had addressed only the most obvious problem. They still had to deal with underlying issues of succession and inheritance. Again, events may have been more of a blessing than they seemed at the time.
So how was he to apply this lesson to this place and time in Egypt?
For Senen and Meri to remain in their role as ungovernable servants promised a future of discord and unrest. The best of the other servants would leave if they could, the worst would stay. The fortunes of the estate would remain in a downward spiral as long as order was flouted and leadership remained absent.
Dismissal of the two was not possible. They had no reason to leave of their own accord, nothing that called them to a different life. Finding that calling for them (for they did not appear to be looking for it) must be Joseph’s priority.
In the meantime, some of what Joseph had learned from Petra in handling animals came to mind.
Most of the problems with the animals, sheep or donkey or other, was not really a problem with the animal but with the people who were their masters. All was a matter of trust and communication. The animal that feared and did not trust its master would forever be a problem. Remove the fear and establish trust through good communication, both in an easy voice and in consistent actions.
Thinking of how the favoritism of his father, coupled with Joseph telling his dreams, had colored his relationships with his brothers, he could see how the same thing was happening here. He was the new man who would upset the power balance, and anyone with power would feel fear and distrust. They would act on those emotions.
How could he change the perception of Senen and Meri and put the future on its correct path? He hoped for a dream for guidance, or at least a good night’s rest.
Continue reading
An Introduction
In an instant, Joseph’s world changed.
Captain Potiphar addressed Joseph, his tone again serious and commanding, speaking to a new recruit. “Teyma speaks well of you, and you answered well. We will put you to the test tomorrow.”
Addressing the same servant who had been present throughout the visit, the captain instructed, “Farid, show Joseph to his quarters. See what is necessary beyond what he carries on his person. Then take him to Senen-set, if he is here, or show Joseph his room if he is away.”
And thus was Joseph dismissed.
The servant led Joseph deeper into the building. They walked along a corridor with many doors. Those on the left were to rooms on the outside wall. Those to the right had walls lining the extended open space beyond the inner garden. High windows lined the corridor, as well as the outer wall, while the inner rooms appeared to have lower windows open to the garden.
A ramp leading to the next level appeared to one side. Softer drawings on the wall, and blooming potted plants along the incline, spoke of a feminine presence and a more relaxed setting above.
They passed outside into an open space in the compound, low trees and shrubs creating a green barrier beyond an attractive sitting area. Beyond the line of shrubs and trees were two long buildings, each with a row of doors, reminiscent of buildings Joseph had seen in the city.
“I am Farid,” the servant said, for the first time addressing Joseph in an informal manner. “As the personal servant of the captain, I see to many things in his name.”
Joseph heard a simple statement of fact, no undue pride in this role the servant played.
“You were just in the home of Captain Potiphar, of course, and you probably are aware that the larger building is The Residence, home to King Senusret.”
He turned again toward the two long buildings set end to end directly in front of the door from which they had come.
“The building to the left is for storage of grains, flax, dried produce and such. The other building is living quarters, including yours there,” his arm outstretched toward one of the open doorways.
“You see the trees providing shade just beyond the granary? The women often congregate there, particularly for chores such as weaving and preparation of food, either for meals or for storage. The kitchen area is just off to the side.”
“Who else has quarters here?” asked Joseph, pointing toward the other 5 apartments in the living quarters.
“Ruia and his wife are at the far end in a larger space. He is my counterpart, overseeing everything beyond the house. He would normally be with you instead of me, or Senen-set would guide you, but they are in the fields overseeing the harvest.
“Meri-ptah has the next apartment. His father is high priest of the principle temple in Memphis, the Temple of Ptah. He also is in the fields, or should be, overseeing the use of livestock in the harvest and preparing for the movement of the herds above the flood plain.
“The next two spaces are smaller, like yours, and they house single men like yourself. You will meet them after they return from their work.
“And the space next to you on this end belongs to Senen-set. His father is high priest of the Temple of Horus not far from here. He has a wife and children here with him, as does Meri-ptah.
“We have other workers who live in the buildings near the gate,” he said, pointing toward the back of the compound, “and others who come from the village on the canal beyond the walls.”
They walked across the short open space to the second door on the end of the building that would be Joseph’s home. The servant walked through the open doorway and motioned for Joseph to enter.
A cooling breeze swept through the shaded interior, open in the front and the rear.
“You share this space with Shabaka. The front room can be used as you both wish. Or it may house other workers in the future. The back room is the bedroom. Shabaka works in either the fields or with the herds, as needed.”
By now they had walked through the first room to the second. Two low wooden frames covered with reeds and a mat sat end to end, filling one wall. A pot for waste stood beneath each bedframe.
The opposite wall held two low wooden chairs for seating and an equally low wooden piece as a table. They were cut for their purposes, not for show. The finishing was even but there was no adornment to soften the functionality. The walkway between the beds and the table was easily sufficient for foot traffic in both directions.
These two rooms were his living quarters. The space was designed for function, not for comfort. He felt confined, the walls too close, and wondered if he might sleep out under the stars instead.
As if he read Joseph’s mind, Farid said, “You may spend the night on the roof. That is the common practice. There is a ramp at the far end of the building.” He pointed in that direction.
“You appear to have good clothing.” Eying the work coat Joseph carried over one arm, Farid added, “I will provide you an extra tunic for work. That should be sufficient.”
Waving an arm around the small room, Farid asked, “Do you have any other needs?”
Joseph had little idea of what his needs would be other than food in a climate without rain or cold. Shelter was hardly necessary, little more than a place to store possessions that he did not have.
He had a blanket sufficient for the not so cool nights here, and clothing for the day. He shook his head.
“Senen-set is not here, so let me show you some of the grounds.”
Walking back outside, Farid pointed again to the shaded area at the end. “Everyone gathers for dinner in the area where the women are working. You will see the men very soon, as the sun reaches the horizon. You will share in the meal cooked for all.
“Introduce yourself to them. They will teach you much before you begin your day tomorrow.”
There were other buildings to which Farid made only passing reference: a modest temple, and the longer buildings for housing those who worked in the palace or on its grounds. There also were smaller buildings not mentioned by name or function.
They walked toward a back gate leading through the thick walls out into the fields. On the back wall inside this gate there was an additional long building similar to the one with his quarters. This structure was like the lodging and granary structures, with six doors, but the building and its doors were much larger than those for lodging.
Pointing to the first door, Farid said, “This is the stable for the king’s chariot and horses.” Indicating the other doors with a wave of his arm, he continued, “Each door has four stalls. The donkeys are kept here at times, as well, along with hay and straw.”
They walked out through the gate into an open field. The entire complex was on slightly higher ground than the flat expanse characteristic of the area. Joseph found himself facing a desert in the far distance, the closer area a checkerboard of fields of grasses and crops.
Farid pointed south, indicating that livestock were in that general direction. Joseph saw a herd of cattle congregated near a clump of trees. Goats were congregated in one corner of a fenced pasture where there appeared to be more brush and rough foliage than the grasses dominant elsewhere. A larger expanse of grassland stretched further south.
“Lake Fayum is a few day’s brisk walk to the west. There is a large valley, more like a bowl pressed down into the earth. A pool of water always covers the lowest point on the edge of the valley.
“The lake will grow larger with the flooding of the Nile. Some years it will come near to filling the bowl. Other years, it might overflow or fall short of flooding the valley. The greater the shortage, the worse will be the following harvest season. Overflows mainly cause damage to mud brick buildings and such, but they are easily rebuilt.
“Meri-ptah has charge over the livestock. This includes the stable and horses, as well as the donkeys and cattle.”
Turning and pointing north, Farid said, “And Senen-set has responsibility for the farmland, the crops, and the granaries, such as the building beside yours. Grain and any other produce that can be stored will be held inside to feed us from one harvest to the next.”
“By the way, we call them Senen and Meri informally, but in the captain’s presence, we use the full names lest we appear to disparage the gods associated with their names. Both men have responsibility for the king’s land and animals in the Fayum, as well as the lands around here.”
Joseph surveyed what could be seen of the king’s domain from this vantage point. He sensed an edge in Farid’s voice as he spoke the men’s names, but he could not determine what lay behind it.
Tested
Looking southward toward the herds again, Joseph saw in the near foreground what appeared to be a dead donkey. Walking closer, he saw the carcass was indeed a donkey, but there were no signs of the cause of death. He looked toward Farid for an explanation.
“That is Senen’s work. He said yesterday that the donkey had kicked him in the leg. In retaliation, he had hit the donkey with his fist squarely between the eyes. He said that he wanted the carcass left here as a warning.”
“Who is he warning with this violent act?” With a bit of a laugh, Joseph added, “I do not think the other donkeys will understand such a message!”
“No, you are right. I do not think it is the other donkeys,” replied Farid, his gaze fixed on Joseph. “He and Meri are always at one another, a perpetual contest of who is strongest and who will dominate.”
Farid averted his gaze from Joseph as he continued, “But this happened yesterday after the messenger had given me the message concerning Teyma bringing you to the captain. I was wrong to mention it to Senen, unaware of how he might perceive things.”
Farid asked Joseph a very direct question, looking him straight in the eye: “There are rumors about who you are and why you are here. Are you here to replace someone?”
Joseph was at a loss for a moment, and then he laughed and shook his head. “What? Do they think I will take somebody’s place? Do I look like I am ready to be ordering people around in my broken Egyptian? And how would a shepherd from Canaan know how to run an estate of this size? The seasonal flood is coming and I do not know of such things!”
“No, that does not make sense,” agreed Farid. Then he added with a smile. “And you will report to Senen,” a statement confirming Joseph’s position as a subordinate.
“The king and his army have just left for Kush, the northernmost part of Nubia. He goes to negotiate for the interests of the mine owners who provide so many valuable minerals, but he finds that an army at his back helps negotiations. So far, war has been avoided, and I know that he seeks to have good relations with the people of Kush and the other Nubians.
“The captain sees to all things beyond the military actions. There will be no great demands made of us beyond maintaining the estate. We each have our jobs to do. Senen will give you your assignments.”
Joseph nodded an acknowledgement. “Then since this beast has borne its last burden, a message of Senen’s power, is he ready to be skinned or will he just be buried?”
Farid obviously was concerned about over reaching his authority. “This is not my decision to make. Senen will determine the proper course of action.” Again Farid’s voice betrayed unease at the mention of Senen.
Joseph was beginning to understand the power structure, and he did not look forward to serving under Senen. He was certain the captain was aware of the lapses by those directly under his command. There must be much more that Joseph did not know.
The gardens were Senen’s responsibility, and Joseph had seen the poor results within moments of his arrival. And this waste of what appeared to have been a healthy animal due to the hardened anger of Senen appeared to be characteristic of the man’s attitude, judging from Farid’s speech.
Joseph considered whether the dead donkey was more a challenge against Meri, who had responsibility for the beast, or a welcoming statement intended to intimidate Joseph?
“Do you have things to show me other than Senen’s anger?”
Farid lowered his head, embarrassed by what he had been compelled to do. “Yes, let me walk you through the fields and tell you of the annual flood and what we must do. Senen is responsible for you, but allow me to give you some information in case he is not forthcoming.”
Joseph nodded appreciatively, aware that Senen might leave many pieces of necessary information unspoken.
Before they had gone more than a few steps, Farid halted and signaled to a large man whose course aimed at the gate from which they were departing.
“There he comes,” said Farid to Joseph.
The three men met at the gate, Senen’s eyes fixed firmly on Joseph.
“The captain says that you are my new man.” The words were a flat statement of fact. In case Joseph missed the point, he added, “Report to me tomorrow morning and I will set you to work.”
Joseph said, “Yes, sir,” as he nodded his acknowledgment, but Senen had already moved toward the gate ahead of them, taking his new worker for granted as part of his due as an overseer.
Just past the gate, Senen stopped, turned, and addressed Farid. “Did you show him the donkey?”
“Yes.”
Addressing Joseph, Senen ordered, “Skin the donkey. Tools are in the second stall,” he said, pointing with his arm toward the livestock structure. “Let me know when you are done and I will show you where to bury the carcass.”
Senen continued through the gate into the compound.
Farid shook his head. “I do not know what Meri will say about this, but Senen has given the order and you must obey. And I must return to my duties.”
As he turned to go, he said in a lighter tone, almost mocking, “Welcome to your new home.”
Joseph watched Farid head back toward the house. There was nothing for him to do but to be obedient. At least Senen was not wasting the hide after needlessly destroying the animal.
He went to the second door of the stables and saw the area within that held larger tools for plowing and cutting tools for the harvest. A workbench held other small tools, including a variety of knives. He selected one of the larger flint knives, picked up a flat piece of shale for scraping, and a worn cloth discarded to the side. Joseph proceeded back outside the gate.
The donkey lay on its side, so Joseph maneuvered the carcass onto its back, stomach and legs up. He slit down the center from neck to tail, careful not to puncture the stomach or the body cavity, in general. Since they were not harvesting the meat, he did not remove the organs, but simply made sure that digestive and waste fluids did not contaminate the hide.
He turned the carcass onto its open front and made the same long shallow incision along the back. He made the horizontal cuts reaching down each leg to the hoof. The mule was larger and heavier with a tougher hide, but the process did not feel much different from his experience with sheep.
As he was preparing to pull the hide away from the membrane separating skin and meat, a booming voice startled him.
“Who are you and what are you doing?”
Joseph looked up, a knife in one hand and the other hand holding a flap of skin. He was addressed by a man every bit the size of Senen, and he knew it must be Meri.
“I am Joseph, skinning this dead donkey, as Senen ordered.”
“You are new here, but do you not know that I am over the livestock, including the donkeys?” Meri’s tone did not make any allowance for ignorance. The pairing of his dead donkey and the man who was rumored to threaten everyone’s position provided a double dose of anger and adrenaline.
Joseph saw he was on precarious ground, if there was any ground at all!
“The donkey has been here for a day, as I understand it. We are too late to harvest the meat, but the hide can still provide leather for straps or bags or shoes, or whatever you choose.”
The practical answer deflected whatever wrath might have been directed at Joseph. Meri switched tack. “Do you know what happened to the donkey?” he demanded.
“Senen said that the donkey had kicked him, and that he responded in kind with a fist to his head. He left the carcass here as a warning.”
Meri let out a grunt, but then he smiled, and finally he burst into a hearty laugh, as if he understood something that Joseph did not. He turned abruptly and walked through the gate.
Joseph returned to his work of scraping the inner portion of the hide as clean of tissue as he could.
The few hours of afternoon remaining were quiet until other workers began returning from the field. They had surely seen the donkey as they left that morning, and had not Meri seen it, also? Was he really unaware?
At any rate, the workers filed past Joseph, looking at his work and introducing themselves as they went toward the entrance gate. There did not seem to be any animosity or apprehension about Joseph’s presence. Perhaps the question of who was in charge was a moot point to them since their individual roles would remain unchanged.
Joseph finished his task a few moments later, the naked carcass lying in the dirt. The late afternoon was hot. Joseph drank again from the jug provided and wiped the sweat from his brow, swatting at the flies attracted to the feast. These hours of work in the hot sun had left him weary.
He knew the carcass must be buried tonight. By the morning there would be a stench, as well as an army of flies and insects (if not larger animals, as well) to help return the flesh to the dust from which it had come.
He picked up the heavy hide and carried it into the compound for Senen’s instructions.
Senen and Meri were sitting with their backs against the wall of their shared homes, talking as if they were good friends. Whatever differences they may have had were resolved for the moment.
Seeing Joseph approach, Senen said, “Give the hide to Ana over there,” pointing toward the area where several women were gathered in conversation. “She will finish the job. Then come back and I will show you where to bury the carcass.”
Meri was impassive, evidently content with the outcome of the events of the day.
Joseph did as he was told and then followed Senen to the tool storage stall. Senen selected a shovel, a long pole, and some rope, then led Joseph back out through the gate,
As they reached the high point where Joseph had stood earlier, Senen stopped.
“See the trees just over there?” An extended arm guided Joseph’s eyes to a place not far from where they stood. “You will see the dirt piled for a cow buried several weeks ago. I will help you carry the carcass there and you can dig a hole beside the other.”
Senen and Joseph returned to the carcass. They tied its legs to the sturdy pole and lifted. Joseph was muscular and used to hard labor, but the load was such that he was not sure he could go that far. His end of the pole was lower than Senen’s, the dead weight of the donkey’s remains almost dragging the ground.
Senen showed no signs of difficulty and started walking to the destination. Joseph, holding on with both hands and resting some of the weight on his shoulder, followed (or was pulled) since there was no other choice.
When they arrived at the designated spot, Senen indicated to drop the load and they did.
“You will reach a dense clay in a few feet. That will be deep enough. Dinner will be left in your room for you.”
Joseph could see that his new master felt no compunction about leaving him to work into the dark of night. Perhaps this was just an initiation, breaking him so that he would be compliant or, if too weak, would fail at his new job and be dismissed. Captain Potiphar said that they would test him. Perhaps this was the test.
Watching Senen retreat into the shadows of sunset stretching from the compound’s wall, Joseph determined to do what was necessary. A pale three quarters moon was already evident in the still blue sky. That would be enough to see him through the job.
The topsoil was soft. He found the denser soil layer, as promised, and completed the burial within a few hours. He felt the strain of the afternoon in his back, and a blister was rising on one hand.
He made his way back to the meal waiting for him. The steady light breeze was refreshing, and after eating he went onto the roof to take full advantage of its coolness. There were low partitions designating the respective apartments below. In the dim light, Shabaka appeared to be asleep, as was everyone else. Joseph lay with his blanket on the mat brought from below and was asleep within minutes.
He dreamed again of his brothers being here in Egypt with him. This time, they played more distinct roles. At first, they were giving him orders, haughty and sure of themselves.
By the end of the dream, he was giving them orders. Their names and faces had changed somewhere along the way to those of the servants of Captain Potiphar.
This was an opportunity to do what he had not done in Canaan. Now that he understood his brothers, Joseph also understood the men around him in Egypt. How to free these men from their bondage and into the lives intended for them was the key to a better future for him as well as for them.
An Alternative Home
The late night of work and the intensity of his dream resulted in a night with little rest.
Morning came quickly, and Senen right on top of it. Joseph did not even have the opportunity to speak with his roommate, who in the early morning light he saw to be fully black. The man was not a dark skinned Egyptian, but someone from Nubia, which included Kush or anywhere farther south.
Senen cut across his thoughts: “Since you are familiar with working with animals, your first job is a thorough cleaning of the stalls. You know where the shovel is. The other tools are available there as you need them.”
Questioning the order was not a legitimate option, but apparently Senen felt a need to explain. He continued, “This is normally Meri’s responsibility, but we agreed this will be sufficient repayment for the donkey.”
Joseph realized that he was the means of exchange. The score between the two men was even, and Joseph had been the price paid. He had buried Senen’s anger, and now he would clean what Meri had neglected. The donkey had been a message to Joseph, and Meri had agreed with Senen’s delivery of that message and confirmed it with his own orders.
He was willing to earn his food and place to stay, and he had performed a great deal of labor on his first day. Now he would labor more, perhaps a few days. But Potiphar was not yet receiving from him anything that improved the captain’s or the king’s lot. None of this was the captain’s test. Joseph was merely cleaning up unnecessary messes.
Over the next few days, he labored alone. The stalls appeared to have received token cleanings, the center of each recently swept clean. But a mixture of straw and excrement on the floor lined the bottoms of the mud brick walls.
The horses and chariot were with the king, and the donkeys not in the stalls during the day, so nothing prevented him from immediately beginning work.
These few days were filled with removing the muck of the stalls, cleaning long neglected refuse that left him gasping for air. The lower portions of the walls were discolored and stank horribly.
A solution of lye removed most of the discoloration and all of the odor, per Meri’s instructions. Removing mold and mildew was critical for maintaining the health of the animals. Joseph did not know how even the animals had withstood the stench. A full bath in the nearby canal was necessary each afternoon just to be able to stand his own company.
He had virtually no contact with people during his workday. The evening meal provided the most opportune time to meet his equals since all who lived in the compound shared the common space in the center in the evening.
Dinner was usually an array of vegetables fresh from the gardens, fresh bread, and beer. The barley beer was the preferred drink since the sediments and flavor of the Nile were hidden. Beer was often almost a meal itself, full of herbs and spices. Although whatever food was fermented (usually barley or emmer wheat, with dates for sugar) was filtered for the most part from the liquid, some of it and a fair amount of nutrition remained.
Water also was available, set aside in large vats. The top portion was clear and felt refreshing on a hot day, but the lower part of the container would have grit and was generally used for watering plants.
The meal and a couple of hours afterward provided an opportunity for casual conversation, opportunities for learning a bit more about the people and his new home.
Sometimes after the meal there was music from the gardens for the king’s family. When the king was present, there were generally visitors to The Residence each evening.
Listening to the gentle strains drifting through the estate was relaxing for everyone, and provided a peaceful background for whatever activities occurred in the servants’ compound.
With the king absent, there were far fewer guests but the routines of the evening continued for the “family” of servants. The most usual evening was for the kids to play games, and the adults to sit and talk for a while if they were not too weary with their day.
The roof was a shared area, as well, but the attempt at privacy for the spaces discouraged any further socialization once people had gone up top. This was a retreat for privacy.
The three families sharing Joseph’s building had constructed low walls giving some additional privacy to their sleeping spaces. Although reducing air flow somewhat, the nights were still preferable here compared to the enclosed quarters below.
Shabaka had been there only a little over a year, but he proved to be Joseph’s best source of information.
“Ruia is over everyone outside of the household, but you will see that this is more in name than in fact. Senen and Meri never show him any deference, in either the work they perform or even in the informal setting of these evenings.” Joseph had seen all of this very well.
In the working hours, any order to those two men from Ruia was an invitation to discussion and redefining the task in their own terms. Obedience was not part of the equation.
And Joseph was finding that getting any information out of Senen or Meri must be accomplished one-on-one. When the two were together, each pushed his own agenda, their desire for dominance.
Joseph observed their relationship was like two men fighting a private battle: if there was a third person involved, they would unite against the outsider. When that battle had been won, they would resume the fight with each other.
Ruia was not strong enough to control these two men or even to act as a referee. Shabaka reminded Joseph that in addition to their physical intimidation, they carried the deciding factor of fathers who were both influential high priests. Risking the wrath of such men was not wise.
Joseph thought of Reuben, the eldest of the sons of Leah. By birth, he should have been the leader among the sons, acting as Jacob’s proxy when the father was not present. But Simeon and Levi intimidated him, and Jacob had never supported his first son against the later ones.
In a similar manner, Senen and Meri held power over Ruia, the same power they held over Potiphar. Yes, the captain (and perhaps even the king) was a victim of the political power of well-connected servants, and Ruia was the one who suffered the abuse daily. A handsome man with a strong, lean body, he probably could have handled either of the two men singly in a fair fight, but this was not a fair fight.
Shabaka said that the two men were younger sons of the priests. They had had no hope of inheriting the wealth or the position of their respective fathers. In effect, their fathers had traded them to the king. All that Captain Potiphar could do was to acknowledge their positions. Although nominally under him and then Ruia, they had been expensive purchases of outside political support. The cost to Potiphar and the king had been the ability to effectively run the king’s estate.
Joseph observed that Ruia and Senen were there with everyone, but he rarely saw Meri.
Asking about Meri’s absence, Shabaka said that Meri and his wife often ate with those of the guard. These men and their families were housed outside of the compound.
When Joseph asked the reason, his roommate shrugged and said they seemed to be Meri’s friends.
Asking about Captain Potiphar, Shabaka said that with the king at war in the south, the captain had gone to the delta region as the king’s representative. This inspection of forts and the king’s lands ensured that the king’s absence due to military matters in the south did not loosen his position in the north.
Indeed, this had been one of the major reasons for the move of the palace from Thebes to Itj-tawy a few generations earlier. This more central capital emphasized that the two lands – north and south – were one land under one king.
Listening to Shabaka was almost like listening to Teyma outline a problem. No hint at a solution was offered, but the facts that would lead to a resolution were placed into the light. There was the feeling that simply understanding them from the correct perspective would show a pattern and a solution.
Joseph could see the truth of Shabaka’s analysis in the unfinished work, both in the gardens in front of the house and those inside. These were like the neglected stalls of the horses and donkeys, testaments to who possessed power on the estate. Neither Senen nor Meri could be held accountable because of their connections to important priests and temples.
As easy as the relationships among the lower staff appeared, Joseph sensed an undercurrent of uncertainty, the hint of fear instilled in each person because of the unpredictable nature of these two men who were subordinates to Ruia and the captain in name only.
There was some comfort in identifying the problem that plagued the estate, but the captain undoubtedly was aware of the situation, as well. This was much as it had been with his brothers in Canaan.
But resolution of this discord was another issue. If the man in charge, the one man who by right had all authority was unable to solve it, how would Joseph?
Joseph reflected on how this would have been handled in Canaan. How might Jacob have handled Simeon and Levi, supporting Reuben and the other sons with fairness for all?
Ten sons, twelve when Joseph and Benjamin were included, was too large a number for dividing the herds and roaming the land as separate families.
The impracticality of this was easy to see if each of the sons had ten sons and they continued to multiply herds and still roam the same fixed land. Inevitably, some must leave the herds or take their herds to other lands. More likely, some would stay as servants to an older brother.
Joseph felt impressed again by the blessing of having been sold. His father would not have allowed Joseph to leave, but staying with his half-brothers would have led only to perpetual conflict.
If his eyes and ears had been open….No, if his heart had been open, he would have understood the family dynamics in Canaan, the inevitability of a confrontation.
What the half-brothers had done, selling Joseph and sending him into exile, had addressed only the most obvious problem. They still had to deal with underlying issues of succession and inheritance. Again, events may have been more of a blessing than they seemed at the time.
So how was he to apply this lesson to this place and time in Egypt?
For Senen and Meri to remain in their role as ungovernable servants promised a future of discord and unrest. The best of the other servants would leave if they could, the worst would stay. The fortunes of the estate would remain in a downward spiral as long as order was flouted and leadership remained absent.
Dismissal of the two was not possible. They had no reason to leave of their own accord, nothing that called them to a different life. Finding that calling for them (for they did not appear to be looking for it) must be Joseph’s priority.
In the meantime, some of what Joseph had learned from Petra in handling animals came to mind.
Most of the problems with the animals, sheep or donkey or other, was not really a problem with the animal but with the people who were their masters. All was a matter of trust and communication. The animal that feared and did not trust its master would forever be a problem. Remove the fear and establish trust through good communication, both in an easy voice and in consistent actions.
Thinking of how the favoritism of his father, coupled with Joseph telling his dreams, had colored his relationships with his brothers, he could see how the same thing was happening here. He was the new man who would upset the power balance, and anyone with power would feel fear and distrust. They would act on those emotions.
How could he change the perception of Senen and Meri and put the future on its correct path? He hoped for a dream for guidance, or at least a good night’s rest.
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