Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
When Jacob uttered the words, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage
have been few and evil," God said to him: "Jacob, I saved thee out of
the hands of Esau and Laban, I restored Joseph unto thee, and made him
to be a king and a ruler, and yet thou speakest of few and evil days.
Because of thy ingratitude, thou wilt not attain unto the days of the
years of the life of thy fathers," and Jacob died at an age
thirty-three years less than his father Isaac's.[328]
On going out from the presence of Pharaoh, Jacob blessed the king with
the words, "May the years still in store for me be given unto thee, and
may the Nile overflow its banks henceforth again and water the land."
His words were fulfilled. In order to show that the pious are a
blessing for the world, God caused the Nile to rise above its bed and
fructify the land of Egypt.[329]
JOSEPH'S KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY
Jacob and his family now settled in the land of Goshen, and Joseph
provided them with all things needful, not only with food and drink,
but also with clothing, and in his love and kindness he entertained his
father and his brethren daily at his own table.[330] He banished the
wrong done to him by his brethren from his mind, and he besought his
father to pray to God for them, that He should forgive their great
transgression. Touched by this noble sign of love, Jacob cried out, "O
Joseph, my child, thou hast conquered the heart of thy father
Jacob."[331]
Joseph had other virtues, besides. The title "the God- fearing one,"
borne only by him, Abraham, Job, and Obadiah, he gained by reason of
his kindness of heart and his generosity. Whatever he gave his
brethren, he gave with a "good eye," a liberal spirit. If it was bread
for food, it was sure to be abundant enough, not only to satisfy the
hunger of all, but also for the children to crumble, as is their
habit.[332]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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