Asenath had never particularly admired Potiphar, but she did at that moment. It was the voice of a man who knew his wife's faults but was doing all he could to save her.
A small cry came, and Asenath turned quickly to see that Kesi had collapsed. She was crouched over, with her forehead on the floor, making small, pleading noises.
Joseph said immediately, “Asenath, help your friend. Comfort her, for she need not be afraid.”
Asenath stared at Joseph uncomprehendingly. There was no hint of anger in his expressionâonly compassion. She then went quickly to Kesi and put her arms around her. “Come, Kesi. It's all right. You're safe.” She helped the trembling woman to a couch and then turned around to watch the drama that was unfolding.
Joseph was staring at Ufa, who could not endure his glare. He fell down and cried out, “Mercy, master, mercy!”
Joseph's voice was even but cold. “You are a cruel man, Ufa, and a man in your position should be kind.” Turning to Potiphar, he said, “For the sake of your own house, Lord Potiphar, I advise you to remove this man from his position. Let him serve as one of your lesser servants until he has learned compassion.”
Potiphar could not believe what he was hearing. He had expected to hear Ufa's doom pronounced, and now facing Joseph, memories came flooding back of how he had liked the man but had been responsible for his imprisonment. “What is your pleasureâabout me, sir?”
The room was as still as a tomb. Asenath was staring at the two men, who seemed locked in some sort of struggle. Finally Joseph nodded. “You have great ability, sir, and you have had great sorrows. But I remember that you could have had me executed. You showed mercy, and so I show mercy to you.”
Asenath saw Potiphar's shocked expression and knew he had expected anything but this.
“The pharaoh needs loyal servants,” Joseph said and smiled, “and I will expect good things from you in times to come.”
“Is that all my punishment, master?”
“Not all,” he said, turning to Masud.
Masud's eyes were bright, and he smiled as Joseph came toward him and embraced him. “I have missed you, my friend.”
“And I you, sir.”
Joseph turned back to Potiphar. “Lord Potiphar, I would have your servant Masud raised to the position of chief overseer over all your house in the place of Ufa.”
“It shall be done. It is done now,” Potiphar said with relief. Ufa gave a desperate glance at Masud, then backed up and leaned against the wall.
Joseph looked around and said, “May God bless your house.” He bowed to Potiphar, who bowed back. Then he turned and walked toward the door.
He was halted there, however, for Asenath could not bear it any longer. She rushed to stand before him and said, “O Mighty Provider of Egyptâ” She tried to control her trembling hands but could not. “In the name of my friends, I thank you for your mercy, O Mighty One.”
Joseph turned to face her, but she could not bear to look into his eyes. She had no idea of what he would say, but finally he said quietly, “If I have any qualities in me that are good, my lady, they were placed there by the God of my fathers. I bid you farewell.”
Asenath bowed deeply along with all the others as Joseph left the room. As soon as he was gone, Potiphar expelled his breath in an explosion. He sat down as if his knees had lost their strength and gazed around the room, saying in a shaky voice, “I have never believed in miracles, but now I am forced to, since I have seen one in my own house.” He got to his feet and said, “Masud, you are my right hand from this moment. Do as you will in my house.” A murmur of joy went around among the servants, and then Potiphar went over to Kesi. “Come, my dear,” he said, lifting her up. “We have been given life. Let us not waste it.” Kesi clung to him as the two left the room, and the servants began to talk among themselves in a high-pitched babble.
Asenath left the house, filled with wonder, and the question burned in her,
What sort of man is this Joseph? And how could I have been so wrong about him?
****
Rashidi looked up when Yafeu burst into his quarters with a stunned expression on his face. “It's Josephâhe's come!”
Rashidi got to his feet just as Joseph entered. Rashidi bowed and went to his knees, but Joseph came and lifted him up. Rashidi saw that, except for the expensive clothing and his additional weight, it was the same Joseph.
“How's the poem going, my friend?”
Rashidi laughed. It was indeed the same man. “It is going well, master.”
“You will have to bring it with you.”
“Where am I going?”
“I am going to make you my first lieutenant. I cannot do without you. You need my help to finish your poem.”
“Well, I see, then, there is some justice in the world,” Rashidi said, swelling up. “A man of my ability should be recognized.”
“You are impossible!” Joseph laughed. He put his hand on Rashidi's shoulders and said, “What would you do if you were in my place?”
“That's easy. I would kill everyone who offended me while I was a slave or prisoner. It's what anyone would do.”
Joseph did not speak for a moment, then answered soberly, “No, my friend, it was what I might have done at one time, but I have changed since I was thrown into the pit by my brothers. And since I came through your prison, I have no need for revenge. Now, you must come with me at once, for I need you by my side.”
The task of building enough granaries to hold seven years' worth of grain was monumental. Joseph put all of Pharaoh's prisoners on the project, as well as every man throughout the land who was not otherwise employed. The work progressed rapidly, drawing Pharaoh's intense interest as granaries sprouted like mushrooms all over the land. When the project was well under way, Joseph took him on a tour of the land, to Pharaoh's great delight.
When they returned to the palace, Pharaoh turned to Joseph, his froglike face filled with pleasure. “You have done more than I expected, my friend. You are the friend of Pharaoh indeed, as well as his servant.”
“I trust I will always be both, Your Majesty.”
“I have been thinking of what I could do for you,” Pharaoh said, and a pixyish expression crossed his homely face. “And I have decided to do a great thing in your life.”
Joseph smiled, for Pharaoh always thought that everything he did was a great thing. “You must not do me any more honor, Your Majesty. You have already done too much.”
“Nonsense,” Pharaoh replied. “I'm not speaking of gold or titles or offices. I want to give you something better, something warm and soft and pleasurable. In short,” he laughed aloud and clapped Joseph on the shoulder, “I have decided to give you a wife.”
Joseph was not easily surprised, for the pharaoh was not a difficult man to figure out. In fact, he was barely a man, being very immature for his years, but Joseph was careful to keep the dignity of their relationship in place. The pharaoh might skip around and punch Joseph in the ribs and slap him on the shoulder, but Joseph always treated Pharaoh with the greatest respect.
“I am grateful for your thoughts,” Joseph said, “but marriage is out of the question for a time. You know how little time I am at home.”
“That's right. You're always out building things and talking to people, but a man can be busy and have a wife.
I
do.”
Joseph had to restrain a smile, for Pharaoh's business was mostly ceremonial. His own was serious and was for the purpose of saving the empire. “I beg you do nothing hastily, Your Majesty.”
“Well,” Pharaoh said, somewhat disappointed, “we'll wait ⦠for a time, but it's something you must have.”
“The time will come, I am sure.”
“There's something else,” Pharaoh said, looking up into Joseph's face quizzically. “You've taxed everybody in the land except the priesthood. Will you tax them?”
“No, I think not, Majesty. You don't need any enemies among the priesthood. They are very powerful.”
Pharaoh seemed disappointed, but, as usual, he accepted Joseph's decision. “Well, that may be so, but we're going to have to control them ⦠starting today.”
“Today, Majesty?”
“Yes. We'll start at the top with the priest of On. Do you know him?”
“Slightly, sir.”
“He and his daughter are coming to the palace today. You may not think it's wise to tax them, but I want you to scare them a bit.”
“And why is that, Your Majesty?”
“Oh, it's good to keep the people afraid of you. As a matter of fact, I've often thought it would be a good thing to execute a priest every once in a whileâyou know, just as an
example
to the rest.”
Joseph was not often outwardly amused at the pharaoh, but he suddenly could not contain his laughter. “I hardly think that would be a satisfactory solution, Your Majesty, not for the priest of On.”
“I suppose not.” Pharaoh seemed disappointed. “But together we will keep him in his place, eh?”
“I am sure you can do that without my help, Your Majesty.”
****
The priest of On was rarely frightened, but as he approached the throne room with his daughter, he turned to Asenath and said, “Why would the pharaoh send for me?”
“There could be many reasons, Father.” She had been surprised when her father had asked that she accompany him to meet with the pharaoh, but since she was considered a priestess herself, he felt it would be proper. Besides the duty she owed to her father, Asenath was intensely curious, for she understood from her father's words that Joseph would be present.
I've got to get that man out of my mind!
she had thoughtâand then had set about making herself as attractive as possible.
As the two made their way into the palace and went through the usual ceremonial rites required to go before the god of Egypt, Asenath grew more and more tense. When they were shown into the throne room, she saw Pharaoh seated on his throne with Joseph standing to one side. She and her father bowed, then Pharaoh said sternly, “Rise up! Come closer!”
“O Mighty Pharaoh, we have come at your command,” Potiphera said, his voice shaking. Asenath listened as the two exchanged preliminary remarks, but her eyes were fixed on Joseph. He was wearing simple clothing, despite the riches that were now his, and wore a single gold ring on his right bicep. His eyes were clear, and he had a ruddy complexion as he stood respectfully back at the pharaoh's right hand.
“Potiphera, I have called you here to insist upon something.”
“Anything, Your Majesty!”
“I do not believe you have recognized the state of my Great Provider. You have not shown him honor. I am displeased.”
“Oh, please, Majesty, do not say such a thing! I and all the priests are delighted at the wonderful work that the Provider is doing in Egypt! I am second to none in my admiration of the Great Provider of Egypt!”
Asenath was totally disgusted. At home her father had done nothing but complain about Joseph's rise to power, and now he was groveling before Pharaoh like a whipped dog. She could hardly bear to glance at Joseph, but when she did she saw that he remained expressionless.
“Come. I must talk further with you,” the pharaoh said, “but first I must have refreshment. Joseph, entertain Asenath.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Joseph bowed slightly, then turned to Asenath, who stiffened as he approached. “I welcome you to the palace, my lady. Perhaps you would like to see some of the plans for the future.”
Asenath could only nod and murmur, “Of course, Provider.”
Joseph escorted her out of the palace and proceeded to show her the works that were under way. Many of them were still in the planning stages, drawn on papyrus sheets, but finally he said, “It is warm in here. Shall we go out to the garden? There are fountains there, and it is much cooler.”
“I have no choice,” Asenath said stiffly. “Pharaoh has made it plain that you can command everyone in Egypt.”
Joseph's eyes opened with surprise, and he shook his head at once. “I will not command you, my lady, but I will ⦠invite you. You would do me honor.”
Asenath stared at him, hardly believing what she was hearing. She followed him to the lush garden, with its soothing greenery and sparkling fountains. A servant brought them cool, refreshing drinks, and she listened as Joseph spoke of the plans for storing up grain in preparation for the famine.
Suddenly Asenath could stand it no longer. “You must hate me, Provider.”
Joseph stared at her, incredulous. “Hate you? Why, certainly not!”
“But you
must,
” Asenath insisted, touching her hair self-consciously. “I don't know how to talk to you.”
“Why, just as you would to any other man.”
“You're not any other man. You are the Great Provider of Egypt.”
“I don't feel any different,” he said with a smile. “It's only a title. I am still the same man I've always been.”
“You don't feel any different,” Asenath asked with astonishment, “now that you're second-in-command of the land of Egypt?”
“No. I still feel like a servant.”
“But that's impossible! How could you not feel different?”
Joseph was quiet for a moment, then said, “Would you allow me to tell you a little of my life history, my lady?”
“I would like very much to hear it.” Asenath sat quietly as Joseph told her about his childhood. He was a fine storyteller with a vivid imagination and was able to re-create for her the story of how he had been a talebearer and earned the hatred of his brothers.
She was shocked when he told her how he had been thrown into a pit, and she interrupted him to exclaim, “How you must hate them!”
“No indeed. I love them, my lady. They were not entirely to blame.”