(8) A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.
Bavli Sotah 11a (Soncino translation)
Now there arose a new king etc. Rav and Shmuel [differ in their interpretation]; one said he was really new, while the other said that his decrees were made new. He who said that he was really new did so because it is written 'new;' and he who said that his decrees were made new did so because it is not stated that [the former king] died and he reigned [in his stead].
Who knew not Joseph--he was like one who did not know Joseph at all.
Discussion: Why Would the New King Not Know Joseph?
1) Read Genesis Chapter 47:13-27. Why might a new king want to disassociate from Joseph? (Or pretend he doesn't know him?)
What do you think of Joseph's strategy? How might it have influenced a "new" Pharaoh's attitude toward Joseph in the future?
(י) הבה נתחכמה לו לא ראה פרעה וחכמי יועציו להכותם בחרב, כי תהיה בגידה גדולה להכות חנם העם אשר באו בארץ במצות המלך הראשון. וגם עם הארץ לא יתנו רשות למלך לעשות חמס כזה, כי עמהם הוא מתייעץ, ואף כי בני ישראל עם רב ועצום ויעשו עמהם מלחמה גדולה. אבל אמר שיעשו דרך חכמה שלא ירגישו ישראל כי באיבה יעשו בהם, ולכך הטיל בהם מס, כי דרך הגרים בארץ להעלות מס למלך כמו שבא בשלמה (מ''א ט כא):
(10) "Let us scheme against them" Pharaoh and his advisers did not decide to smite them with the sword, because that would be a great betrayal, to smite a nation that has come to the land on the command of the first king. Even the common people wouldn't give consent to the king to do such a crime, for he advises with them, and additionally the nation of Israel was numerous and mighty and would fight back in a great war. Rather he advised that they should act cleverly so that Israel should not feel that he is acting out of hate, and therefore he levied a tax on them, for it is common for foreigners to pay a tax to the king, as is seen by Solomon (Kings 1, 9:21)
German people’s comrades! German housewives!
You all know the disgraceful methods that so-called “German” Jews abroad are using to incite against the German people and Adolf Hitler’s national government.
If we do not want to give up and sink into deeper misery, we must defend ourselves.
We therefore call on you to heed the appeal of our Führer, the German people’s chancellor,
for a boycott against the Jews
and expect the full support of each person in this defensive action.
Do not buy from Jewish shops!
Do not go to a Jewish doctor!
But maintain the strictest discipline. Do not even touch the hair on a Jew’s head.
The boycott begins Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.
From that moment on, we will watch to ensure that the boycott is strictly followed. He who tries to ignore the boycott will be seen as an enemy of the German people.
Where in the world of 2017 have we seen similar kinds of agitation against a subgroup? How might this explain (or not) the refugee crises in Syria and Myanmar? What dangers may exist in our world here in Texas?