AEB 70.0453 : Although mainly concerned with the Joseph story in the O.T. Egypt is mentioned in most of the chapters. Important remarks to Egypt occur on p. 5-9 (genealogy), 91-100 (motifs such as that of the spurned wife, magicians and wisemen, the famine), 110-128 (the use of divine names in Egyptian literature), 153-156 (paraphrased recapitulations in Egyptian literature). Chapter 8 (187-243) deals with the Egyptian background of the Joseph story. The author disputes Vergote's conclusion (see AEB 59.0608 = Vergote, Joseph en Égypte, 1959) that the background details reflect Ramesside times. He lists no less than 23 elements, all pointing to a later period. We mention: the title "eunuch" (sāris) occurs first in the Persian period (cfr AEB 69.0301); the investiture of Joseph with a ring, a linen garment and a gold collar is not in accordance with the Egyptian custom as represented in 9 instances, from Tuthmosis III to Ramses II, where the only symbol of office is the staff twrit, while the 32 instances of rewards given by the Pharaoh to officials (listed p. 209-213), in which no ring or garment, but several collars occur, relate to quite a different ceremony; the Egyptian proper names in the Joseph story show a late type; the use of "Pharaoh" in stead of "king" in the oath formula occurs from the 9th century onwards; Joseph's agrarian reforms reflect no particular period, but tax-freedom for the priests may point to the ideal situation obtained under the Saites or later. From these and more arguments the author concludes to the period between c. 650 and 425 B.C. as the probable date of the composition of the Joseph story. An extensive bibliography on p. 254-272, index on p. 273-290. |