Thread by @Elishabenabuya

In last week's #Torah portion, we were introduced to a character named Potiphar.

We run into a character this week with a simillar name that ended up creating a lot of confusion.

So here's a short thread to show how confusing it is!

#Mikeitz
#EBAMeme

1/7

The #Torah calls Potiphar a chief chef. But most commentators don't like that. Some say he was a butcher (the text doesn't indicate that).

And because of the importance of a different Poti-phera, some hold that he was the chief executioner.

(Imagination)

#Mikeitz
#EBAMeme

2/7

The #Torah also calls Potiphar a eunuch. Again, many commentators are uncomfortable with this. After all, he was married. And the other Poti-phera had a daughter.

So some claim it just means that he was an important official, with his genitals intact!

#Mikeitz
#EBAMeme

3/7

It is clear that these are two different characters. The LXX (a Greek interpretation) doesn't help by naming them the same!

Here we see the differences in spelling.

There are also differences in roles.

#Mikeitz
#EBAMeme

4/7

Here, we see that the Torah has the priest of On (who "On" was is unknown) had the daughter, not the chef.

And Joseph marrying an Egyptian woman made some commentators go crazy! (or crazier).

#Mikeitz
#EBAMeme

5/7

It is fun to read that the names "Manesseh" and "Ephriam" are not only puns, but will be names used by later writers as metaphors for places of idolatry.

"Messiah ben Joseph" was originally one who would mislead others (perhaps an anti-Christian polemic).

#Mikeitz
#EBAMeme

6/7

So in closing, Potiphar and Poti-Phera were two different characters.

The latter may have had a sort of theophoric in his name, "Pharaoh".

The attempt to merge the two is an attempt to consolidate different stories.

It fails.

#Mikeitz
#EBAMeme

7/7