Tanakh and the Ancient Near East Index – Parashat Vayigash/0

Tanakh & the Ancient Near East Index – Parashat Vayigash

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Overview

Knowledge of the history, law, cultic practices and realia of the Ancient Near East can often shed much light on Tanakh. This index contains a list of links to articles which touch on the connections between Tanakh and ancient cultures.

Egyptian Words in the Yosef Narrative

• See Egyptian Background to the Yosef Narratives, which explores Egyptian loanwords that appear in the Biblical narrative of Yosef.
• See Cognates and Loanwords for more extensive discussion of the etymology and
  meaning of these words.
• See Egyptian Loanwords as Evidence for the Authenticity of the Exodus and Wilderness Traditions by Benjamin J. Noonan, which argues that the appearance of Egyptian words in the Biblical text indicates the authenticity of its narratives relating to Egypt. 
  
  

Land of Goshen

• See Bo - The Land of Goshen by Professor Yoel Elitzur for discussion of the geography and etymology of Goshen.
• For analysis of the purpose of settling in Goshen, see Why Live in Goshen?

Wagons in Ancient Egypt

• Olam Hamikra includes images of ancient wagons.
• See Wagons and Carts and their Significance in Ancient Egypt, by Heidi Kopp-Junk, for information about different types of wagons and carts that were used in Ancient Egypt, and the possibly prestigious association they had, which would explain the significance of Yosef’s choosing to send wagons to his father. 

Shepherding in Ancient Egypt

• See ‘Every Shepherd is an Abomination Unto the Egyptians’, by Samuel McKoy, for an exploration of the possible reasons for Egyptian aversion to shepherding.

Yosef's Economic Plan

• See The Development of Taxation in the Bible: Improvements in Counting, Measurement, and Computation in the Ancient Middle East, by Manuel L. Jose and Charles K. Moore, for an analysis of taxing systems in Tanakh, beginning with Yosef’s policies in Egypt.
• For an overview of the role of the priestly caste in Ancient Egypt, see Clergy, Priests & Priestesses in Ancient Egypt. 
• For an overview of the governmental and social hierarchy of Ancient Egypt, see The Social Structure of Ancient Egypt.
• See Yosef's Economic Policies for analysis of the significance and fairness of Yosef’s plan.