Can Welcoming and Boundaries Coexist? Exploring Contradictions in Ancient Texts
In this article, you will learn how Genesis 47:6 contradicts Genesis 13:15, Exodus 23:33, Deuteronomy 7:2-3, Deuteronomy 23:6 and Numbers 33:55. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
Understanding the layers of ancient biblical texts can be as challenging as untangling a complex web. Take, for example, the story of Joseph in Genesis 47:6, where Pharaoh trusts Joseph so deeply that he offers Joseph's family a place in the fertile land of Goshen. This act of generosity and trust towards foreigners seems straightforwardly positive. However, other sections of the same collection of texts seem to weave a different narrative.
Genesis 13:15, for instance, promises the land indefinitely to Abraham's descendants. In contrast, the scenario in Genesis 47:6 shows temporary accommodation for those not native to the land. This setup creates a tension between inclusivity and exclusivity of land rights. Much like how a host might offer a traveler a room for the night while emphasizing that the home belongs to the host's family alone, these verses reflect the delicate balance between hospitality and ownership.
In Exodus 23:33, there's a clear warning against letting foreigners reside in the land, cautioning that it could lead to idol worship. This stands in stark contrast to Joseph's family being welcomed with open arms. It's like being advised to lock your doors to strangers yet choosing to leave them open for a trusted friend.
Deuteronomy 7:2-3 and Deuteronomy 23:6 further advise against forming alliances and seeking the good of certain foreign nations, which is quite different from the favorable conditions Joseph's family received. It’s comparable to being told to avoid partnerships in business, yet finding a trusted friend in a foreign collaborator.
Finally, Numbers 33:55 warns that permitting foreigners among you could result in trouble. The hospitality shown to Joseph's family seems to sidestep this warning, raising the question: can boundaries coexist with kindness?
These contradictions invite us to ponder the ways hospitality, trust, and community boundaries interact in the complex tapestry of human and divine relationships.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Genesis 47:6 | The land of Egypt [is] before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest [any] men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle. |
| 2. | Genesis 13:15 | For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. |
| 3. | Exodus 23:33 | They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee. |
| 4. | Deuteronomy 7:2-3 | And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: |
| 5. | Deuteronomy 23:6 | Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever. [prosperity: Heb. good] |
| 6. | Numbers 33:55 | But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them [shall be] pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. |