Yosef's Economic Policies/1/en

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Yosef's Economic Policies

Introduction

Egyptian History in the Torah?

After the Torah relates the arrival of Yaakov's family in Egypt, it describes at length Yosef's economic policies during the years of famine.  The description is surprising, for it is not apparently clear what purpose this story holds for the reader.  Why does the Torah, usually so careful and often sparse in its language, find it necessary to expound about Egyptian economics?  In the words of Abarbanel:

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What messages is the reader supposed to glean from the story and all its details?