On Joseph (Memra 7)

Memra Seven on Joseph Memra Seven on Joseph of the holy Mar Jacob When he came out of the prison and stood before Pharaoh and interpreted the dreams he had seen. The mysteries of the Lord’s path were inscribed for me among the readings, in which I might descend to the appointed time of the Word of the Only One. In that Son are written the books of profundity, and there is no page that does not bear His image among the readings. He is the cause of all true revelations, and everything that is from Him and beyond is free from falsehood. He gave to the prophets that they might stand over hidden things, and to the seers He revealed deep things. He it was who commanded the interpretation of dreams from the house of the father, and in interpretation He enriched the thoughtful. He is the truth, and everything true was spoken through Him, and there is no word that came forth from Him that is false. He taught Joseph, His servant among the Egyptians, and from Him he received the clarity concerning revelations. For in Him his testimony was formed, and in Him it was placed, when by them he subdued the whole land through his wisdom. For if Joseph had not taken the image of his Lord, he would not have ruled over hidden things and over revelations. The dreams encountered him, and they interpreted clearly; the troubled visions passed by serenely. He took authority and governed it wisely, so that in all affairs the image of the Son was imprinted in him.

He subdued the earth, and in the hidden and revealed things the wisdom of the king was shown forth. Dreams were subjected to him beforehand, and that same interpretation of dreams and visions honored him, and he was honored by the Egyptians. Over the revelations he was ruler, and he interpreted the visions, and he was established over the triumphs of the headship. To the land of dreams he subdued by the knowledge that was given to him, and then Egypt feared him and became his lord, until they saw that in the visions of the night he was ruler, and not ruler over them, his servants whom he governed, until he went out after the dreams and interpreted the visions. And the Egyptians did not give him a hand, and he subjected the visions. For they were saying that he who is ruler over the dream of the night, those whose interpretation is not heard because of his fear, how much better than the dream that rebelled against him, even if he errs like a vision, he was hunting him. From the hidden things he was brought to the hunt of the revealed things, for he was sent from God, and he spread out the land, and first entered and learned the mysteries of the house of God, and then he was empowered to become lord of the house of Pharaoh, as a physician Pharaoh called him, and he felt his pain, and as he desired, he took the health, and then he was subjected. The king saw a vision in the night and increased his troubles, and Joseph entered who interpreted the hidden things, until here the discourse that preceded this one drove.

He fell silent, and now the tongue is stirred to speak. It is fitting, then, that the word hasten to the reading, and the hearing of the ear is bent, and its time is toward the goal. Do not take the interpretation for yourself, while you are listening, O you. What profit is there for you? You will find, when you are thirsty, toward the profit the word hastens, and also the hearing. And this is the word by which all interpretations are moved. Not concerning that Pharaoh saw a dream, for it is trivial for me to speak of the wondrous mystery that was used by the distressed Hebrew. Not concerning that Joseph interpreted the dream of the king, for that interpretation is difficult; let the wonder be interpreted, I say. He says, "I know because of the dream in a practical manner," and again the Hebrew turns to speak spiritually. Joseph entered and Pharaoh began to speak: "I dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter who can explain it to me." The king confessed that there is no interpreter among the Egyptians, so that the wisdom of the Hebrew man might be great. He belittled all the wisdom of the Egyptians, when he said, "I dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter." And Joseph began to help, and again he interpreted, so that he would not be afraid except of the Lord; peace to Pharaoh. To take in the face, he drove out that he might depart from the king's house, because of the righteousness of the soul he spoke without fear. He was not afraid except of the Lord; peace to Pharaoh. In this he showed that he took in the face, not being subjugated. When he had not interpreted his dream for the king, he began to conceal.

Do not, O God, decree evil for you; it does not conceal the face. Even in this, show its truth before the interpretation, so that it may not be subjected to conceal the truth and take it with insolence. The clear word, which cannot be bent to falsehood, would have shown that if not for the Lord, he would not have interpreted. Before he bound that interpretation, he set it toward God, that toward him Pharaoh would take his vengeance for what he spoke. The king says, "I saw a face standing at the bank of the river, and behold, seven cows, fat and well-fed, were grazing, and after them, seven lean and emaciated cows were eating the good grasses, as I saw. They lay down and slept, and I saw seven ears of good grain, and after them, seven dry and withered ears, and those that were parched were devouring the full ones." And all the goodness remained in that evil. Joseph heard Pharaoh's dream and understood it, and fittingly began to interpret it skillfully, that God fittingly caused him to show Pharaoh. Both dreams have one interpretation and one meaning. Seven fat cows signify seven years of abundance, and seven ears of grain likewise signify seven good years. And again, seven lean cows signify seven years, and those dry ears are the same. A great abundance the Lord will work throughout the land, and after these there will be famine and scarcity in the seven years that I mentioned first.

The cause that does not cease, the famine that covers all Egypt. After these, there will be a famine unlike any other, and a great abundance will be hidden in the famine that comes after you. From God, a decree went forth to show you that the dream was interpreted twice, so that you might be amazed. This deed was placed in truth by God, so that there would be abundance and after it famine throughout all the land. By the hands of the dream, the Lord of the waters sent to you, that you might be prepared like a wise one to administer the land, and he sought Pharaoh, a man who was wise and full of experience, to store up grain in the land during the years of abundance. It was placed in her, a remedy in the land for the coming famine. Even for this, the dream was prepared to be interpreted. Joseph began to command the house of the Egyptians, for the time had come for him to rise to his authority, so that the dreams would be fulfilled, which were proclaimed to him alone from the prison. And he began to administer the house of the kingdom of the waters, interpreting the vision, wise of heart, and not wearying him. And the waters were for the coming famine; he was administering. The king took one from five and from the land to the sea, so that grain might be stored in the place for the coming famine. When they had not given him authority, he assumed authority over the house of the king. And as it was throughout all the land, he was commanding. Egypt marveled at how wise the son of the Hebrews was, who interpreted dreams and ruled as he established the land.

Pharaoh marveled at him and at his interpretations and his counsels, and he was astonished at how wise wisdom had become. He began to speak with him as if he were over the whole land, a steward and filled with the spirit from God. He gave authority over the unjust one within the palace, and began to honor and exalt him who had been humbled. Pharaoh said, "You shall rule over my royal house, and you shall be lord over all Egypt, even over the judge. The throne alone is lacking from you, and nothing else. All my authority is yours; they shall serve you as a master." Truth dawned, and he gave the chief office to Joseph, and made him lord, him who had been persecuted throughout his journey. The waves that had raged against him from every side were still, and great wealth began to flow from the granaries. From him vanished the lack of food and the slander, the envy that had stood against him and the persecution of all times. The tree that was to bear fruit that had been hidden in him boiled over, and from him ceased the frost and the cold and all the winds. The king placed the signet ring in his hand and made him lord, as if to say, "The seal of my kingdom shall be yours." He put on the robe of fine linen and ascended to the chief office, and the whole land blessed and bowed to him as to a king. They cast necklaces of gold around his neck so that he might be adorned, and proclaimed before him, "Father and lord of all Egypt." He sat on the chariot of the king to govern Egypt.

The command of his governance ran throughout the whole land. It seemed good to him that he should be lord over the lords, for he had not made a mistake among the masters when he was subjected. The governance of that wise man was pleasing to him, who prudently conducted himself in all regions. It was fitting for him to be ruler over the kingdom, for he sought before the wall for himself prudence. That one is great who governed himself well, like one who seeks a great city of seven walls, who subdued the movements within himself. Great is that one who subdued the multitude of regions and the peoples in them, who conquered his passions like one who triumphed in the house of rebels. And like a city, he purified the soul from defilement. Not so is a city fortified upon mountains as the soul is upon the thoughts of prudence. Behold, the wise man extols his city as it was said. But greater than he is he who establishes the soul in a dwelling place. This one who was able to govern himself without error—small is the city of kings that he governed compared to him. For Joseph, a beautiful governance was pleasing, that he was able to display himself well from his youth. For he himself did not learn to govern for later ones, so that he might be able to display for them this beautiful thing: to be ruler over many. For him who ruled over his will with beautiful things, Joseph was able, both for his own time and for later ones.

He governed well and administered wisely, because he was a faithful scribe to his station. Kings received his teaching and submitted to him. For this one, then, the governance of all Egypt was fitting for him; after him it would run to submit to him. In truth, he was raised up over the chariot, and in the yoke of the self he rode first in righteousness. He was exalted, and governance was fitting for him. And when he was humbled, he did not murmur against God. By these types that were in him, it was made known that there was in him that which would be a governor for all Egypt. By that which he was a faithful servant, it was shown clearly that he would be high above servants and not be brought low. By that humiliation, his distinction was revealed: that he was neither exalted nor despised his stations. Even when he was a servant, he was turned in righteousness, so that he would be a lord, just as he was governed in faithfulness. Chosen gold went up to the crown of all the provinces, and of the chosen, kings placed him over their crowns. It was fitting for him, the man who governed himself well, that the governance over many should stand in his hand. It was fitting for him, the man of heads, when he was raised above authority, and his word ran and was not cut off from hearers, because the charioteer is powerful when he separates from the side. These, his followers alone, do everything. The man who did not exist and desired himself in beauties.

It was also fitting for him to show this to others, he who prepared himself and removed himself from the wanton, and it is fitting that he also teach others by his uprightness. If in his station he did not make a beginning of authority, he would be hindered when the command was entrusted. If his limbs did not serve him to enslave his passions, by which senses he could overcome his impulses, his own and what is not his, by what would they obey? He found his own, and then he also sought that of others, for what rebels from nature, how can it be? His word is a storm when it commands those without pain. To Joseph, good authority was pleasing, and it was easy for him to command, for he was without pain. He weighed himself from wickedness and then arrived to be placed in the position as a seal of good things. He completed and gave a woe to the city whose king was a child; even its nobles in the morning ate like children. This is a soul that is prayerful and active in vigils, and in heavy thoughts, troubled about the flocks. Blessed is the city whose king is wise and also free, this is the soul whose trust is placed in stability. What guided this city without wickedness? There is nothing that hinders from its governance. Here Joseph began himself in uprightness, and truth seized him and spread through all Egypt. He healed himself with the mercy of the Lord abundantly.

And it was fitting that he go down to the land of Egypt from the provinces. The governance was entrusted to him, that wise man, by that which was upright: the journey of his self over the desires. He was the steward of the house who managed his affairs, and he was a father to them because of the abundant mercies that were there. At the time of famine, for the hunger that came, he was distributing, for the great abundance of the entire region depended on him. A dream revealed to him the distress that was in the land, and against the famine he contended with his wisdom. A vision came and brought the good news of the years that were coming, and Joseph began to take up the provisions that were needed for him. The wise man arranged a great remedy against the famine, so that the region would not think of him what it would when it contended. Like a merchant, he bore in a storehouse abundant grain, which stood as a reserve against the time of scarcity. The entrance of the land he concealed with many locks, so that it would be for the famines not to be delivered from distress. He went out in the region where he contended, the grain of the land, and heights and depths measured the entrances from all sides. The entrance of the land was revealed to that wise man, for it was fitting for him to distribute it wisely. When he was in Samaria, his eye was upon the righteous famine, for that revelation from God was true for him. He bore and concealed all the many entrances, so that for the salvation of the famines the grain of the land would be when it contended.

The regions of the land of Egypt were filled to satiety before Joseph, for it had manifest authority over his governance. The land’s abundance yielded before him, all the regions where the great storehouse of fullness was placed. The excellent traveller toiled beyond the power of the unwearying, and filled the land of Egypt with satiety, so that it might overcome the famine that was to come. He sustained the land with many provisions, so that it would not be laid waste at the time of the famine when it came. The seven good years encountered him, as he interpreted it, and in his diligence he wisely distributed the grain. He was a steward for every time, for every season, so that when all the times encountered him, he distributed the grain. In the time of satiety he did not err toward the famine that was prepared, and in the face of this he increased sustenance throughout all Egypt. Through Joseph, behold how the governance was entrusted, how vigilant he was over the distribution of the good things, for he was the manifestation of the fullness of beauties, that wise man. And what looked discerningly at him was being equipped; what had no head of a people was itself the head. And diligence was required of him over his station, his movements among the destitute when he subdued his great victory as a head of a people, like his glory, so that it was not entrusted to many to interpret the grain. Behold your thoughts: if you are wise, distribute the grain; you are your own head, and your glory is set by your will.

Nor was the region you governed small, for you had in it a great sign and hard labor, as you toiled day and night to make it fruitful, so that it might be won. Your soul itself was roused to watch over it, what it had withheld from the evil ones—great is your labor. If you are wise for a single soul that is fair, and never will you guide the governance of the whole land, for every man is his own head and also ruler. And when he governs his region well, he is more victorious than the victorious. So too Joseph here triumphed in governance, when he found his region full from the storehouses. By himself he established governance and command, and as he wished, he guided it wisely in his wisdom. Not that which was elevated over the chariot was anything, but that which was great, which he conquered within the storehouses. The abundance that he stored, when he had authority, was hidden and not present, and his good name endures in the world, while he does not cease. The decree that Pharaoh placed in his hand is now no more. But his vigilance throughout the ages is a great victory. Not the grain that was in his form did he set in the earth, but his region took the victory in the lands. These noble ones who are in the storehouses, the glorious ones came to the place where Joseph’s storehouses came. Now cease from his story all its benefits, for in all his narrative he is full of all that is fair.

Great is the profit of the story of the toilers for all who hear it. Blessed is the toil that crowned your labor with your crowns.