Theologische Nuggets IV (Genesis 34 - 44:26)

Genesis 41:14

Da sandte der Pharao hin und ließ Josef rufen, und sie ließen ihn eilends aus dem Gefängnis. Und er ließ sich scheren und zog andere Kleider an und kam hinein zum Pharao

Endlich kommt Josef frei. Endlich hat er die Möglichkeit bei dem höchsten, bei dem "Obersten der Ägypter", dem Pharao sich erklären und vielleicht erlangt er jetzt endlich die Freiheit, die ihm rechtmäßig zusteht. 

Wie sah Josef nach einigen Jahren Gefängnis aus? Nicht gut genug um vor dem Pharao zu kommen. Also wird er für den Pharao vorbereitet, damit er in seine Anwesenheit kommen darf. Nicht nur das -  er muss sich auch nach ägyptischer Art und Weise vorzeigen und nicht als ein Hebräer. 

Verse 14 initiates the transformation of Joseph the Semite into Joseph the Egyptian. At the instruction of the king the attendants reverse Joseph's status, "quickly" (from rûṣ, "run," e.g., 18:2) ushering him from the dungeon of slavery to the presence of the king. The change in his slave's garments to a courtier's apparel portrays the magnitude of the change about to transpire in Joseph's fortunes.

K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, Bd. 1B of The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 758.

The Egyptians were the only Oriental nation that liked a smooth chin. All slaves and foreigners who were reduced to that condition, were obliged, on their arrival in that country, to conform to the cleanly habits of the natives, by shaving their beards and heads, the latter of which were covered with a close cap. Thus prepared, Joseph was conducted to the palace, where the king seemed to have been anxiously waiting his arrival.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, und David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 41.

they brought him quickly The Hebrew form used here, yeritsu, is from the Hebrew term for "to run" and reflects Pharaoh's sense of urgency.he shaved It is likely that both Joseph's head and beard were shaved. Egyptians were generally clean shaven, though iconography of the Old Kingdom (circa 2575–2150) indicates that some males had beards or moustaches.

John D. Barry u. a., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Gen 41,14.

Egyptians were known for their careful attention to personal cleanliness, and contrary to the customs of the Hebrews and others, the Egyptians only allowed a beard and hair to grow as a sign of mourning, which was the reverse of the custom of the Hebrews, who shaved both as a sign of mourning. ... The Egyptians normal custom was to shave both for reasons of cleanliness. Strangely, however, while so careful to shave their beards, the Egyptians apparently wore false beards at times, for we have a number of pictures and statues of Pharaohs showing them with beards, which we now know were fake.

James M. Freeman und Harold J. Chadwick, Manners & customs of the Bible (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998), 77.