Joseph and Aseneth

Historical English source page 15

INTRODUCTION xi and the book ends with a story of the frustration of a plot by Pharaoh's son, with the assistance of Dan and Gad, to kill Joseph and get possession of Asenath. Composition and Object That the book in its present shape is the work of a Christian writer will be at once recognised by any reader, the references to the sacred bread and cup and chrism,^ by which the ceremonies of the Eucharist and Confirmation are clearly meant, being sufficient to place the fact beyond doubt ; but to this may be added the exaltation of virginity which we find throughout the book, and the promi- nence of the doctrine of forgiveness,^ which, though not unknown to the Jews, would hardly be made so conspicuous in a Jewish work.' At the same time, however, there are passages which betray the hand of a Jewish writer. Thus, in the description of Asenath at the beginning it is said that she bore no resemblance to the Egyptian women but was in every respect like the Hebrew women, " tall as Sarah, and comely as Rebecca, and beautiful as Rachel," and in the account of Michael's visit there is a strange passage in which the angel says : " Take now the mantle from thine head, for that thou art to-day a pure virgin, and thine head is as of a young man ; " * though the Christian practice 1 Chs. viii., XV., xvi., xix. ' Chs. xxiii., xxviii., xxix. ' Again in the addition to Ch. xvi. given by BD and the versions (see Section " The Text ") the sign of the Cross is indicated. * Ch. XV,