One thing. That is all Joseph asked of his brothers.
He saved their lives. He provided new homes and food and shelter for them and their families. And that is after they had treated him so badly, years before, so it really seems like the brothers are in serious debt to Joseph.
And then Joseph, explaining that the Egyptians find shepherding repugnant, instructed his brothers:
“When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ you shall answer, ‘Your servants have been ‘men of the (cow)herds from the start until now, both we and our fathers’”
Is that so much to ask? It doesn’t seem that way. And yet, the brothers brazenly disobey Joseph!
Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They answered Pharaoh, “We your servants are shepherds, as were also our fathers.” [they did not even mention their cows, which they did have]
Why did they do that? What did they possibly hope to gain by defying Joseph, their patron?
I offer a few possible answers, and welcome your own:
1: What if the brothers are saying that their family is done with the partial lies? Enough of, “she is my sister” from Avraham and Isaac. Enough acceptance of the “customs” of others, where powerful men like Shechem can simply seize Dinah because they feel like it. The brothers are indicating to Joseph that the Children of Israel refuse to be limited or defined by someone else’s sensibilities.
2: We know that the Egyptians named their cows, decked them out with finery, and even gave the finest bulls harems and palaces because they believed that cows were related to the bull-god Apis. [source] In the Torah, we are told that Pharoah is physically attracted to the cows he sees in a dream! Perhaps the brothers rejected being called cowherds because they did not want to treat animals as gods (or sex objects), and certainly not to assist in Egyptian idol-worship?
3: The words used have multiple meanings. The word for “herd” is mikneh – a mem in front of kaneh. Mem means “from” or “the essence of” – so that mayim, water, is the essence of yam, the sea. Similarly, Mikdash, the tabernacle, is the essence of kodesh, holiness. So, too, mikneh can be the concentrated sense of kaneh, meaning the stalk (of the corn in Pharaoh’s dream and the menorah) or acquisition (G-d is called “koneh heaven and earth”).
As such, the word mikneh in the Torah is used both to mean “herds” and “acquisition”. Especially in this verse, which does not say “herders of mikneh” (in the same way that sheepherders are called “herders of sheep”). No, this verse specifically says “men of mikneh.”
Why do these linguistic puns matter? Perhaps what Joseph wants his brothers to say is that they are important men, men who acquire things, who accrete wealth. The overall idea is that they could be seen as asset-enhancers for Pharoah’s country, much like Joseph himself was. “men of mikneh” means both “men who acquire” and “men of cows.”
These meanings are linked. Cows, even more than sheep and goats, are wonderful sources of goodness for people. In addition to be useful for food (meat and milk), dung (for heating) and leather for footwear and shields, they are also working animals: cows, unlike sheep or goats, pull plows, and thresh grain. Cows are assets that create more wealth in themselves and all around them. Perhaps Joseph wanted his brothers to suggest they were focused on asset-building – and they rejected that? Perhaps the brothers did not want Pharoah to consider them an opportunity or a threat concerning the things that Egypt valued: material prosperity?
4: The usage of koneh/mikneh in the text is actually quite specific – and often not about cows at all! Here are the first different uses of the word:
[Eve] conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gained (koneh) a person
Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who dwell in tents and amidst herds (mikneh).
Slaves purchased (mikneh) – [used multiple times for Avraham’s purchased slaves)
So “men of mikneh” could be a direct statement that the brothers were in the business of buying (and presumably selling) people. Which is precisely what Joseph thinks the brothers did to him! Perhaps they do not want to admit to being “men of mikneh” because they do not want to be manipulated into admitting specific guilt for the sale of Joseph into slavery! The brothers may well have preferred to be considered disgusting and repulsive by the Egyptians, rather than admit to human trafficking in front of Joseph.
Do any of these answers work better or worse for you? Do you have a better suggestion for why the brothers reject Joseph’s request?