seven fruitful years against the need of the future, but when
the grievous time of dearth came, and they went to their
storehouses to bring forth the treasured grain, behold, it
had rotted, and become unfit for food.[194] The famine broke
in upon the people with such suddenness that the bread gave
out unexpectedly as they sat at their tables, they had not
even a bite of bran bread.

Thus they were driven to apply to Joseph and beseech his
help, and he admonished them, saying, "Give up your allegiance
to your deceitful idols, and say, Blessed is He who
giveth bread unto all flesh." But they refused to deny their
lying gods, and they betook themselves to Pharaoh, only
to be told by him, "Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you,
do!" For this Pharaoh was rewarded. God granted him
long life and a long reign, until he became arrogant, and
well-merited punishment overtook him.[195]

When the Egyptians approached Joseph with the petition
for bread, he spoke, saying, "I give no food to the
uncircumcised. Go hence, and circumcise yourselves, and then
return hither." They entered the presence of Pharaoh, and
complained to him regarding Joseph, but he said as
before, "Go unto Joseph!" And they replied, "We come
from Joseph, and he hath spoken roughly unto us, saying,
Go hence and circumcise yourselves! We warned thee in
the beginning that he is a Hebrew, and would treat us in
such wise." Pharaoh said to them: "O ye fools, did he not
prophesy through the holy spirit and proclaim to the whole
world, that there would come seven years of plenty to be