nation’s history, or (more likely) that he simply chose to act in ignorance of Joseph’s wise counsel and how the Egyptians had benefited from it (Gen. 41). Verse 8 is also a striking example of a characteristic not only of Exodus in general but of many portions of biblical narrative: The writer does not provide a full, detailed account of what he is reporting. Two immediate questions come to mind with respect to verse 8. (1) Who is this pharaoh? (2) How much time has passed since the demise of Joseph’s