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Who were the priests of On? Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest?
Genesis 41:1 - 57
ESV - 1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile. 2 And behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
In Genesis 41, we read that Joseph married the daughter of the priest of On. Verse 45 says, "Pharaoh . . . gave [Joseph] Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife." This seems to...
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Lena Wms
Supporter
Historical Biblical Facts are extremely hard to find. This being said, and using the Bible, and Josephus as my research base, I offer this: As a priest daughter, Asenath was a virgin. Therefore, under the law of Joseph's fathers, Jacob, Issac and Abraham, he was given a wife that was at least partially in sync with his own standards. Remember, Joseph was thirty years old at this point and a virgin himself. Gen 41:46 He had been in Egypt since he was 17. Joseph knew how to read and write Egyptian by this time. He was able to immediately communicate with Asenath. Therefore, she was taught very quickly about the God of Joseph. We know this because Manasseh was not given an Egyptian Name, nor is there a record, as the firstborn, of him being taught by Egyptian scholars. Joseph's Egyptian name meant Savior. He certainly was an instrument that the LORD God of Abraham used to save His people! Had it not been for Joseph, their cattle, their little ones and finally they, themselves, would have died of starvation. What a beautiful testimony of Forgiveness. Joseph never once lifted up his hand to strike his brothers for all they had done to him. I believe this too was a testimony to Joseph's wife. She knew that he could have had them killed, enslaved, beaten, or otherwise cruelly tortured and been well within his "rights". Joseph forgave them. Not just for his father's sake as they thought, but true forgiveness. Gen 50:16-17 Forgiveness overcomes all, even the marrying of a pagan priestess who's heart and mind was surely turned to the One True God by Joseph's fine example! Be Blessed Lena
Peter Leon
Supporter
Joseph was born prior to the writing of the Pentateuch. Hence there was no Law forbidding his marrage.
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