Joseph and Aseneth

Joseph and Aseneth

In the first year of the seven years of abundance, in the second month, Pharaoh sent Joseph throughout the land of Egypt to gather grain. In the fourth month, on the eighteenth day, Joseph came into the district of Heliopolis, collecting grain in measure like the sand of the sea.

In that city lived Pentephres, priest of Heliopolis, a ruler under Pharaoh and chief among his officials. He was exceedingly rich, wise, and gentle, and Pharaoh valued his counsel. Pentephres had a virgin daughter named Aseneth, about eighteen years old. She was tall, graceful, and beautiful beyond the daughters of Egypt, resembling the daughters of the Hebrews. She was as stately as Sarah, as lovely as Rebekah, and as fair as Rachel.

The fame of Aseneth’s beauty spread through the land. The sons of rulers, governors, and kings sought her in marriage, and rivalry arose among them because of her. Pharaoh’s firstborn son also desired her and begged his father to give her to him. But Pharaoh said, “Why should you seek a wife beneath your rank? The daughter of King Joakim is pledged to you. Take her, for she is a king’s daughter.”

Aseneth despised men and would look upon none of them. Pentephres had built a high tower beside his house. Its upper story contained ten rooms. The first was large and splendid, paved with purple stones, faced with precious stones of many kinds, and roofed with gold. Within it stood the gods of Egypt in gold and silver, and Aseneth worshiped them and offered sacrifice to them each day.

The second room held her ornaments, garments, gold, silver, and precious stones. The third contained the provisions of the earth. The remaining seven rooms belonged to the seven virgins who served Aseneth. Each virgin had her own room. They were of the same age as Aseneth, born on the same night, and beautiful as the stars of heaven. No man had ever spoken with them.

Aseneth’s own room had three large windows: one toward the east, one toward the south, and one toward the north. A golden bed stood there, covered with purple and gold. No man had ever sat upon it. Around the tower was a great court enclosed by a high wall, and within the court was a spring of living water. A fruitful tree grew beside it, bearing rich fruit in its season.

In those days Pentephres and his wife returned from their estate in the country. Aseneth rejoiced, dressed herself in a fine blue linen robe woven with gold, fastened a golden girdle around her waist, placed bracelets on her hands and feet, and adorned herself with jewels engraved with the names of Egyptian gods. She put a crown upon her head and covered herself with a veil. Then she descended and greeted her father and mother, and they rejoiced greatly over her.

Pentephres said to her, “Sit between us, my child, for I wish to speak with you.” He took her right hand and said, “Joseph, the mighty man of God, is coming to us today. Pharaoh has appointed him ruler over all Egypt, and he gathers grain to save the land from the famine that will come. He worships God, is wise and discerning, and the spirit of God rests upon him. He has kept himself from strange women. Come, my child, and I will give you to him as wife. He shall be your bridegroom forever.”

When Aseneth heard this, anger rose in her face. She looked sharply at her father and said, “Why does my lord and father speak as though he would hand me over as a captive to a foreigner, a fugitive who was sold as a slave? Is this not the shepherd’s son from Canaan whom his brothers abandoned? Was he not cast into prison because of his mistress and later brought forth by Pharaoh because he interpreted dreams? No. I will marry Pharaoh’s firstborn son, for he will rule the whole earth.” Pentephres was silent because she had answered proudly and in anger.

While they were speaking, a young man entered and cried, “Joseph is at the gates of the court.” Aseneth hurried from her father and mother, went up into her tower, and stood at the great eastern window to see Joseph enter.

The eastern gates opened. Joseph came in Pharaoh’s second chariot, covered with gold and drawn by four horses white as snow, with golden reins. Joseph wore a marvelous white tunic, and over it a purple robe woven with gold. A golden crown was upon his head, and around it were twelve precious stones, with twelve golden rays above them. In his right hand he held a royal staff, and in the other an olive branch heavy with fruit.

Pentephres, his wife, and all their household went out and bowed before Joseph. Joseph descended from the chariot and extended his right hand to them. When Aseneth saw him, her heart was pierced. Her body trembled, her knees weakened, and she said within herself, “Where shall I hide from him? How will Joseph, the son of God, regard me, since I spoke evil of him? No secret is hidden from him because a great light is in him. May Joseph’s God be merciful to me, for I spoke in ignorance.”

She said, “Wretched and foolish am I. I called him the shepherd’s son from Canaan, but behold, the sun has come from heaven in its chariot and entered our house. Who among men could father such beauty, and what woman could bear such light? Let my father give me to Joseph as a servant and slave, and I will serve him all my days.”

Joseph entered the house and sat apart, for he would not eat with the Egyptians. He looked toward the tower and saw Aseneth at the window. He said to Pentephres, “Who is that woman? Tell her to leave.” Joseph feared that she might desire him, for many women of Egypt had sent him messages and gifts, seeking to lie with him, but he remembered the command of his father Jacob to guard himself from strange women.

Pentephres answered, “My lord, the woman whom you saw is not a stranger but our daughter. She is a virgin and detests men. No man has seen her except you today. Let her come and speak with you, for she is as your sister.” Joseph rejoiced when he heard that she was a virgin and said, “If she is your daughter, let her come, for she is my sister, and from this day I will love her as a sister.”

Her mother brought Aseneth down. Pentephres said, “Greet your brother, for he also has kept himself pure and hates strange women as you hate strange men.” Aseneth said, “May you rejoice, my lord, blessed of God Most High.” Joseph answered, “May the God who gives life to all things bless you.”

Pentephres said, “Come and kiss your brother.” Aseneth drew near, but Joseph stretched out his right hand and placed it between them. He said, “It is not right for a man who worships the living God, blesses him with his mouth, eats the blessed bread of life, drinks the cup of immortality, and is anointed with the oil of incorruption, to kiss a strange woman who blesses dead and mute idols, eats bread from their table, drinks the cup of deceit from their libations, and is anointed with the oil of destruction. A man who worships God kisses his mother, his sister of his own people, and the wife who shares his bed, who bless the living God. Likewise, it is not right for a woman who worships God to kiss a strange man.”

When Aseneth heard these words, she was deeply distressed and wept. Joseph saw her tears and had compassion, for he was gentle and feared God. He lifted his right hand over her head and prayed, “Lord God of my father Israel, Most High and mighty, who gives life to all things and calls from darkness into light, from error into truth, and from death into life: give life to this virgin and bless her. Renew her by your spirit, refashion her by your hidden hand, and make her alive with your life. Let her eat the bread of life, drink the cup of blessing, and enter the rest prepared for your chosen ones.”

Aseneth rejoiced at Joseph’s blessing and went quickly to her room. She fell upon her bed, trembling with joy and fear, and wept bitterly because of the gods she had worshiped. Joseph ate and drank. Pentephres asked him to remain overnight, but Joseph said, “I must go throughout the city. In eight days I will return and stay with you.” Then he departed.

Pentephres and his wife went to their estate, and Aseneth remained with her seven virgins. Until sunset she neither ate nor drank. At night she went down to the gate, found the keeper asleep, removed the curtain of leather, filled it with ashes, and carried it to her room. She shut the door and groaned aloud.

The virgin whom she loved most heard her and called the others. They came and asked her to open. Aseneth answered, “A great pain has seized my head. I have no strength to open. Go to your rooms.” Then she went into the room of her treasures, took off her royal robe, and put on a black garment that she had worn when her elder brother died. She removed her golden girdle and bound sackcloth and a rope around herself. She cast away her crown, bracelets, and ornaments.

She threw her splendid robe from the window for the poor. She broke her gods of gold and silver into pieces and threw them to the poor and needy. She cast the food of her gods and their wine vessels to the dogs. Then she poured ashes upon the floor, loosened her hair, covered herself with sackcloth, and lay upon the ashes. She struck her breast and wept through the night.

In the morning the ashes beneath her had become mud from her tears. Again she fell upon her face until sunset. For seven days and seven nights she neither ate bread nor drank water. On the eighth day her strength failed and her limbs had grown weak. She raised herself from the ashes, stretched her hands toward the east, lifted her eyes to heaven, and prayed.

“Lord God of the ages, who gives breath to all, who brings invisible things into light, who made all things and revealed what was hidden; who stretched out heaven and founded the earth upon the waters; who fixed the great stones above the abyss so they would not sink but fulfill your will: hear my prayer. I confess my sins and reveal my transgressions before you.

“I have sinned, Lord. I have acted wickedly and spoken evil. My mouth has been defiled by food offered to idols and by the table of the gods of Egypt. I worshiped deaf and mute idols, and I am unworthy to open my mouth to you. I, Aseneth, daughter of Pentephres the priest, proud and arrogant, have sinned before you.

“Deliver me from those who pursue me, for I have fled to you as a child runs to father and mother. Stretch out your hands over me as a loving father and snatch me from my enemy. The ancient lion pursues me, and his children are the gods of Egypt whom I rejected and shattered. Their father seeks to devour me. Rescue me from his mouth, lest he tear me like a wolf and cast me into the abyss of fire, and the storm into the sea, and the great beast swallow me.

“Save me, Lord, for I am deserted. My father and mother would deny me because I shattered their gods. I have no other hope but you. You are the father of orphans, the defender of the persecuted, and the helper of the afflicted. All the possessions of my father are passing, but the dwellings of your inheritance are incorruptible and eternal.

“Look upon my humiliation. I removed my royal robe and put on black clothing. I loosened my golden girdle and bound myself with rope and sackcloth. I cast away my crown and covered myself with ashes. My chamber, once paved with precious stones and fragrant with myrrh, is now filled with tears and ashes. I gave my royal food to the dogs. For seven days and nights I have eaten no bread and drunk no water. My mouth is dry, my tongue is like horn, my lips like a potsherd, my face is wasted, and my eyes fail because of tears.

“Forgive me, Lord, for I sinned in ignorance and spoke against Joseph, your chosen one. I did not know that he was your servant. They told me he was a shepherd’s son from Canaan, and I believed them. I despised him, not knowing that your light was in him.

“To whom shall I flee but you? Who else can save me? My father and mother cannot rescue me, for they worship idols. The idols are broken, and those who served them have abandoned me. I have renounced all, and I come to you naked and alone. Receive me, Lord, as a child and do not reject me.

“My sins are many, but your mercy is greater. Wash me with the dew of life and cleanse me from the table of idols. Create me again and make me a daughter of life. Let your hand shelter me, for I have no refuge except you.”

Aseneth remained bowed upon the ground. Then the morning star rose in the east and the sky became bright. A man from heaven came to her. His appearance was like Joseph’s, but his face was like lightning, his eyes like the sun, the hair of his head like flames of fire, and his hands and feet like iron glowing in a furnace.

He called, “Aseneth, Aseneth.” She answered, “Who are you, my lord, who entered my room though the door is shut?” He said, “Rise and stand before me.” She rose trembling. He said, “Take off the black garment, remove the sackcloth, shake the ashes from your head, and wash your face with living water. Put on a new robe that you have never worn and fasten the bright double girdle of your virginity. Then return to me.”

Aseneth went into her inner room, washed, and dressed herself in a new shining robe. She fastened one girdle around her waist and another around her breast. She covered her head with a fine veil and returned. The man said, “Remove the veil, for today you are a pure virgin and your head is like a young man’s.” She removed it.

He said, “Take courage, Aseneth. The Lord has heard your confession and seen your humiliation. Your name is written in the book of the living. From this day you will be renewed, refashioned, and given life. You will eat the bread of life, drink the cup of immortality, and be anointed with the oil of incorruption.

“The Lord has given you to Joseph as bride, and he will be your bridegroom. You will no longer be called Aseneth, but City of Refuge, because many peoples will find refuge in you, and many nations will shelter under your wings. Within your walls those who turn to God in repentance will be safe.

“Repentance is the daughter of the Most High. She petitions him for all who repent. She is the mother of virgins and has prepared a heavenly bridal chamber for those who love her. God Most High loves her, and all his angels honor her. I am going to Joseph and will speak to him concerning you. He will come today and rejoice over you. Put on your wedding robe and all your finest adornment, and be ready.”

Aseneth asked, “What is your name, my lord, that I may bless you forever?” He answered, “My name is written by the finger of God in the book of the Most High, but what is written there may not be spoken to mortal ears.”

Aseneth fell at his feet and said, “Blessed be the Lord who sent you to deliver me from darkness and bring me into light.” She took hold of his robe and said, “Sit for a little while upon this bed, where no man has sat, and I will set food before you.” He said, “Do quickly.”

She spread a clean cloth and placed fresh bread upon the table. The man said, “Bring me also a honeycomb.” Aseneth was troubled and said, “There is no honeycomb in my house. Let me send to the estate.” He said, “Go into your inner room, and you will find one there.”

She entered and found a honeycomb upon the table, white as snow, full of honey, and fragrant like the breath of life. She brought it to him. He said, “Why did you say there was none in your house?” She answered, “My lord, there was none. Perhaps it came from your mouth, for its fragrance is like myrrh.”

He smiled, placed his hand upon her head, and said, “Blessed are you, Aseneth, because the hidden things of God have been revealed to you. Blessed are all who turn to the Lord in repentance, for they will eat of this honeycomb. The bees of the paradise of delight made it, and the angels of God eat from it. Whoever eats of it will not die forever.”

He broke a piece from the honeycomb and ate. With his hand he placed a piece in Aseneth’s mouth and said, “Eat.” She ate. He said, “Today you have eaten the bread of life, drunk the cup of immortality, and been anointed with the oil of incorruption. Your flesh will flourish from the fountain of the Most High, and your bones will grow strong like the cedars of paradise. Your youth will not wither, and your beauty will not fade. You will be like a fortified mother-city for those who seek refuge in God.”

He touched the honeycomb, and many bees came out, countless in number. They were white as snow, their wings purple, crimson, and scarlet, and their stings were sharp, yet they harmed no one. They surrounded Aseneth from head to foot. Great bees like queens settled upon her lips. They entered her mouth and made honey there.

The man said to the bees, “Return to your places.” They entered the honeycomb and the comb became whole as before. Then he stretched out his staff over the comb. Fire rose from the table and consumed it, and a sweet fragrance filled the room and the court.

Aseneth asked, “My lord, what of the seven virgins who grew up with me and were born on the same night? Will you bless them also?” He said, “They are seven pillars of the City of Refuge, and they will rest with you forever.”

The man said, “Bring me fire.” She brought burning coals. He took them in his hand and they became like living sparks. Then he opened a path in the air and departed toward the east in a chariot of flame drawn by four horses like lightning. Aseneth watched until he disappeared into heaven.

At once a servant came and said, “Joseph, the mighty man of God, is coming.” Aseneth called her steward and ordered a great meal. She put on her finest robe, which shone like lightning, fastened a royal girdle set with stones, placed bracelets on her hands and golden sandals on her feet, and set a golden crown upon her head.

She asked for pure water and looked into the basin. Her face was like the sun and her eyes like the morning star. When Joseph entered the court, Aseneth went down with the seven virgins to meet him.

Joseph saw her and said, “Come to me, pure virgin, for a message concerning you has come to me from heaven.” He stretched out his arms and embraced her. Aseneth embraced Joseph, and they greeted one another for a long time, and their spirits were renewed.

Aseneth brought Joseph into the house. He sat upon Pentephres’s seat. She brought water to wash his feet. Joseph said, “Let one of the virgins wash them.” Aseneth answered, “No, my lord. Your hands are my hands, and your feet are my feet. No other shall wash your feet.” She washed them herself. Joseph took her right hand and kissed it, and Aseneth kissed his head.

Pentephres and his wife returned from the estate. They saw Aseneth sitting beside Joseph in bridal garments and rejoiced. They praised God and ate and drank. Pentephres said, “Tomorrow I will summon the rulers of Egypt and celebrate your wedding.” Joseph answered, “First I must tell Pharaoh, for he is as a father to me. He will give Aseneth to me himself.”

Early the next morning Joseph went to Pharaoh and asked for Aseneth. Pharaoh rejoiced and summoned Pentephres and Aseneth. When he saw her, he marveled at her beauty and said, “The Lord God of Joseph bless you, child. Your beauty will remain, for the God of Joseph has chosen you for him.”

Pharaoh placed golden crowns upon Joseph and Aseneth and set his hands upon their heads, saying, “The Lord God Most High bless you, multiply you, magnify you, and glorify you forever.” He turned them toward one another, and they kissed. Pharaoh made a wedding feast for seven days and called all the rulers and kings of the nations. He proclaimed that anyone who worked during the seven days of Joseph and Aseneth’s wedding would die.

When the wedding was completed, Joseph entered Aseneth’s chamber. She conceived and bore Manasseh and Ephraim before the years of famine came.

After the years of abundance, the famine began. Jacob heard that Joseph was alive and came into Egypt with all his household. He settled in the land of Goshen. Aseneth said to Joseph, “I will go and see your father, for Israel is also my father.” Joseph said, “Let us go together.”

Joseph and Aseneth came to Jacob. Joseph’s brothers met them and bowed to the ground. Jacob sat upon his bed, an old man in vigorous age. His hair and beard were white as snow, his eyes bright, and his limbs strong. Aseneth marveled at him and bowed with her face to the ground.

Jacob said, “Is this my daughter-in-law, your wife? Blessed is she of God Most High.” He called her, blessed her, and kissed her. Aseneth embraced his neck and kissed him. After they had eaten and drunk, Joseph and Aseneth returned home. Simeon and Levi escorted them, Levi on her right and Simeon on her left.

Aseneth loved Levi because he was a prophet, worshiped God, and feared the Lord. He saw letters written in heaven and understood them, and he spoke secretly with Aseneth concerning the place of her rest in the highest heaven.

As Joseph and Aseneth passed by, Pharaoh’s firstborn son saw Aseneth from the wall. Desire and jealousy seized him. He summoned Simeon and Levi and said, “I have heard that you are mighty warriors. Join me, and I will give you gold, silver, servants, houses, and estates. Joseph wronged me by marrying Aseneth, who was pledged to me. Help me kill Joseph, and I will marry her.”

Simeon drew his sword in anger, but Levi, knowing his thought, stepped upon his foot and restrained him. Levi said, “Why are you angry? We are sons of a man who worships God, and it is not right to repay evil with evil.” Then he said to Pharaoh’s son, “We worship God, and Joseph is loved by God. How could we do such wickedness? Do not speak again against our brother. If you persist, our swords are ready.”

They drew their swords. Pharaoh’s son fell trembling at their feet. Levi lifted him and said, “Do not fear, but abandon this plan.” They departed, leaving him greatly afraid.

Pharaoh’s son then summoned Dan, Gad, Naphtali, and Asher, the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, because he knew they envied Joseph. He lied to them, saying, “Joseph waits for Jacob to die, and then he will destroy you and your children so you cannot share the inheritance, because you are sons of maidservants. Help me, and I will save you.”

Dan and Gad believed him and agreed. Pharaoh’s son said, “I will kill my father because he loves Joseph. You kill Joseph, and I will take Aseneth.” They told him that Aseneth would travel the next day to the vineyard with six hundred armed men and fifty outrunners. They planned to lie in wait by the river while Pharaoh’s son approached from the front with fifty mounted archers.

Pharaoh’s son went by night to kill Pharaoh, but the guards would not admit him. He returned enraged. Naphtali and Asher warned Dan and Gad, saying, “Why do you plot against our father Israel and our brother Joseph? God protects them. Withdraw from this evil.” But Dan and Gad refused.

The conspirators lay hidden in the thickets beside the stream. Aseneth came in her chariot with Benjamin and her guards. The men rose and attacked. They killed many of the guards, and Aseneth fled with Benjamin and the charioteer.

Levi knew by the spirit what had happened. He told his brothers, and the sons of Leah armed themselves and hurried after Aseneth. Pharaoh’s son met Aseneth with his fifty horsemen. Benjamin took stones from the ravine and struck Pharaoh’s son in the temple, so that he fell from his horse grievously wounded. Benjamin then hurled stones against the horsemen and slew them.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun fell upon the men who had ambushed Aseneth and destroyed them. Dan and Gad fled into the ravine. Seeing that Pharaoh’s son had fallen and his men were dead, they drew their swords and came against Aseneth and Benjamin.

Aseneth was afraid and prayed, “Lord God, who gave me life and delivered me from idols and corruption, and who promised that my soul would live, deliver me now from these wicked men.” Immediately the swords fell from their hands and became ashes.

Dan and Gad fell upon their faces before Aseneth and pleaded, “Have mercy on us, mistress. We sinned against you and against Joseph. Deliver us from our brothers, for they will kill us.” Aseneth said, “Take courage. Do not fear. Your brothers are men who worship God and do not repay evil for evil.”

The sons of Leah arrived in fury, intending to kill Dan and Gad. Aseneth stood before them and said, “Do not strike your brothers. God has delivered me, and their swords have become ashes. It is enough.” Levi praised her and restrained his brothers. Dan and Gad fled into the woods until their anger passed.

The sons of Leah found Pharaoh’s son still alive and brought him to Pharaoh. For three days he suffered, then died from the wound. Pharaoh mourned his firstborn son greatly. Soon afterward Pharaoh also died, being one hundred and nine years old.

Pharaoh entrusted the kingdom to Joseph. Joseph ruled Egypt for forty-eight years. Afterward he returned the kingdom to Pharaoh’s grandson, who was still a child when his father died. Joseph remained honored in Egypt, and Aseneth was with him in peace all their days.