Joesph and The Pharoh's Dream

Illustration by Stephen Bornstein

2008

 

 

Joseph's interpretation of the pharaoh’s dream.

 
This illustration is about one of the greatest inflection points in western society.

 

The Beginning of Predictive Science.  

It is about the authority of religion functioning along side the beneficial applications of predictive sciences.

The meaning behind this Illustration.

This illustration is a snapshot in a moment in time.

The image shows Joseph, son of Jacob, explaining to the Pharaoh, Amenhotep III, the interpretation of, profound meaning, and specific actions needed by his unnerving dreams.

Whether this event historically occurred, or is simply myth, is not important. Like all historical myths, it’s the message and hidden meaning they convey that is important.

 

The Pharaoh had two dreams.

 

The Pharaoh had two dreams, each on a different night. In the second, the Pharaoh dreams of seven stalks, ripe with grain. Then seven skinny stalks consume the fat stalks.  

  
In the actual biblical text, Joseph clearly states that because God sent him the same dream twice, that the forthcoming cycle of abundance followed by a horrible famine, is an act of God, and will inevitably come to pass.
 
Not withstanding God’s Will, let the Pharaoh also look out on his land and take appropriate action. Joseph gave him exacting instructions on a specific nationwide infrastructure project required to avoid the forthcoming existential famine. He even specifies that the “New Granary Infrastructure” be located in the cities. So that during the famine, the Pharaoh's Royal central government will still be in total control, and not be at the mercy of a majority rural populace.

 

Below is the portion of the Bible, Old Testament, Genesis, containing Joseph's first meeting with the Pharaoh. Joseph is explaining why he had two dreams and what he must do.



Old Testament, Genesis (41:32-36)
 

32] And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
 

[33] Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
 

[34] Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
 

[35] And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
 

[36] And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

The message of this story is:

This is "The beginning of Predictive Science". The Pharaoh can continue praying to his gods for their hoped for benevolence, however be smart, and also take care of yourself and all Egypt at the same time.

Explaining The illustration from the top:

 

 

Ein Sof – The Infinite.

 

At the very top of the illustratio, n is the Kabbalah term Ein Sof meaning ‘The Infinite”. The abstract concept pioneered by “The Patriarch Abraham”while still living at his father’s house in Ur. The same God, Joseph attributes his pharaoh’s dream interpretation to him.

 

 

 

Joseph meets The Pharaoh.

 

In the center is Joseph, recently plucked out of the pharaoh’s dungeons, interpreting his two dreams. The Pharaoh immediately realizes the importance and ramification of Joseph’s interpretation. He suddenly becomes aware of the vast increase in authority and power for a clearly benevolent cause. One that would be easily understood by the entire Egyptian populace.

 

 

Pharaoh's Horrible Dream.

 

Under the pair, the Illustration shows the Pharaoh’s highly unnerving dream of seven fat and domesticated cows, being consumed by seven ferocious, ravenous, carnivorous steers.

 

 

 

 

 The Pyramids of Pharaoh's Ancestors.

 

Behind the Pharaoh are shown the pyramids of Giza. Constructed a thousand years before, the Pharaoh immediately realized that this would require a unified national effort, that rivaled that of the pyramids of Giza.

 

 

Visions of a New Infrastructure.

 

Behind Joseph, is imagery of the new Egypt wide “Granary System”. A monumental undertaking of several years, that Joseph recommended the new granary system be located in the cities, rather than in the countryside as before.

 

 

The Hebrew text:

The first, line is “Rabinu Yosef, “meaning 

“Our Teacher Joseph”.

“Rabinu” traditionally is used specifically in reference to Moses. However, because of the impact of this Story on the development of all western civilization and the sciences in particular, Joseph arguably deserves the honorific title of “Our Teacher” as well.
 

Under the name of Joseph, appears  

"Amenhotep III" in a Cartouche, the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol always containing the name of a pharaoh.

Inside is written, in Hebrew, Amenhotep “Gimel” (the third letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and symbol for 3).

 

 

Could Amenhotep III be the unnamed pharaoh in Joseph's Story from Bible?

 

 

Amenhotep III: Born 1401 died 1351 B.C. he ruled Egypt for 37 years from June 1386 to 1351 BC.

Amenhotep III also know as “Amenhotep the Magnificent” or “Amenhotep the Great”.

 

 

 

Historically, he is widely accepted, as having expanded the Egyptian kingdom through alliances and royal marriages.

He is well known for his great largesse, and benevolence. He amply bestowed the benefits of Egypt’s wealth and power of unified and organized infrastructure projects to all the smaller kingdoms surrounding it. 

 

His reign was a period of unprecedented prosperity and splendor, when Egypt reached the peak of its artistic and international power, and as such he is considered one of ancient Egypt's greatest pharaohs.

 

Was all this from Joseph’s influence?

This great wealth and resources acquired by Amenhotep III, could arguably be credited to the results of the biblical character of Joseph, and the story of his advice and the successful implementation, using powers just under the pharaoh’s himself.  

 

All twelve Hebrew Tribes come to Egypt.

 

During the period of the Great Famine, that Joseph predicted, all of the twelve Hebrew Tribes under Jacob migrated to Egypt.Where they enjoy great wealth under Joseph. Until "Came a Pharaoh that did not know of Joseph" and they were put under cruel bondage.

 

Did Akhenaton adopt Joseph’s monotheistic god YHWH?

 

Akhentatón, son of Amenhotep III, went on to found the first Western Monotheist religion. He is credited with creating an entirely new, single god, “Aton”. 

His religion bears a strong resemblance to the abstract monotheistic desert religion of “Yahweh”. Abraham’s faith and that of his great grandson’s, Joseph. Whom as second in command to the pharaoh, his father, Amenhotep III, his son, Akhetatón would have known well and either admired or envied.

 

 

Akhentatón even built a new royal city Akhenaton (today Amarna). While, at first content with simply eschewing the old gods and their enormous temple at Karnak and even ignoring his own mother. 

 

 

Towards the end of Akhenaten’s reign,Three years before his death, an unknown event transpires, that creates great tension in all of Egypt. He angrily returns to Thebes, the old capital, and defaces all the all inscriptions, containing the name “Amen” on the enormous pillars at the Karnak Temple along the river Nile. Even those of his own father, “Amenhotep III”. This act of destruction has been intentionally left untouched to this day as an eternal admonishment to the catastrophic results from disturbing the religious establishment. 

 

 

His wife, Queen Nefertiti’s images also disappear from all official inscriptions. Obviously, an inexpensive, but much beloved, plaster Nefertiti bust is hastily buried in the corner of a worker’s mud brick hut. 

 

 

Three years later, after Akhenaten’s death, the new, young,12 years old Pharaoh, Tutankhamen is put on the throne and restores all of the old gods. He also ordered the destruction of Akhenaten‘s new capital city.

 

 

Nefertiti’s now famous plaster painted bust, is found buried in 1890 at the site of his destroyed capital city. 

It resides today in a Berlin museum. 

Tutankhamen dies after only 10 years and is hurriedly buried in the valley of the kings. The 18th dynasty comes to an end. 

 

 

 

Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1927. Which represents the only fully intact tomb from ancient Egypt discovered to date.

 

The 19th dynasty begins with Ramses I ascending the throne for a short period of time. His Son, Seti I, succeeds him.

 

 

His grandson, Ramses II, embarkes on a great temple building campaign.

 

 

Ramses II, Frees Joseph's Hebrew Tribes from Slavery

 

Ramses II is also the Pharaoh that confronts Moses, who forces him to release Joseph’s brethren, the 12 Hebrew tribes from bondage.

 

 

 

After much confrontation, Ramses releases the Twelve Hebrew tribes from bondage.

 

 

 

The Twelve12 Hebrew tribes quickly depart Egypt.

 

Moses leads the Twelve12 Hebrew tribes through the "Reed Sea" and the Egyptian Army is drowned.