Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim: Ankh-Tawi,, Pi-Tom and Pi- |
So, as Par•ohꞋ Sa-hotep-ka-Ra En-yoteph 4th commanded, Yo•seiphꞋ settled his father and brother, giving them an estate in the best part of the Delta of Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim, in ërꞋëtz, Pi-Tom (which, at the time the scribe was writing this, had been renamed Ra-Mosh•ëhꞋ).
Yo•seiphꞋ maintained his family with lëkhꞋëm according to the number of their toddlers, because lëkhꞋëm was scarce even throughout ërꞋëtz Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim because the famine was very severe. Both ërꞋëtz Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim and ërꞋëtz Kᵊna•anꞋ hung by a thread because of the famine.
Throughout the famine, Yo•seiphꞋ sold the corn he had stored up, on behalf of Par•ohꞋ Sa-hotep-ka-Ra En-yoteph 4th throughout Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim until he had collected all of the money in Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim.
Stone pyramid complex from the Old Kingdom, ca. BCE 2686-2181. Tomb-temple of a Par•ohꞋ- |
After Yo•seiphꞋ had collected virtually all of the money in Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim, he sold corn, on behalf of Par•ohꞋ, in exchange for their livestock, tzon, donkeys, cattle and horses, until Par•ohꞋ Sa-hotep-ka-Ra En-yoteph 4th owned virtually all of the chattel in Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim.
Stela – stone "false door" into mountain depicts spirit- |
When Yo•seiphꞋ had purchased virtually all of the chattel in Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim, he sold corn, on behalf of Par•ohꞋ, in exchange for their land (except for the Egyptian priests), relocating the people far away from their land to ensure Par•ohꞋ was the only recognized owner, until Par•ohꞋ Sa-hotep-ka-Ra En-yoteph 4th owned all of the land of Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim.
Even the seed to sow Par•ohꞋ's new land was an investment of Par•ohꞋ—in return for which Yo•seiphꞋ legislated into law that (except for the Egyptian priests) the people were, henceforth, tenant farmers of Par•ohꞋ Sa-hotep-ka-Ra En-yoteph 4th required to pay 20% tax from their crops to Par•ohꞋ.
While Yi•sᵊr•â•eilꞋ lived in ërꞋëtz Mi•tzᵊraꞋyim, in ërꞋëtz GōshꞋen, they developed estates and were fruitful and became a great multitude.
Optional parental preparation:
Why were rumbling, fire-spewing volcanic mountains thought to be "spirit mountains"? Why did the earliest Egyptian tomb-temples resemble small hills or mountains rather than pyramids? (The later pyramids were an attempt to scientifically refine hill-like tomb-temples that failed to conjure up the spirit of the buried Par•ohꞋ.)
Questions you might anticipate that your child might raise and be prepared to discuss:
What is an estate?
What is a toddler?
What is chattel?
What's the difference between a tenant farmer and a farm owner?
How much is 20%? (1 out of 5, demonstrate with grapes, etc.)
What is a stela?