How old was Yosef’s Pharaoh, and why it matters

We are well aware of the ages of Yosef and Yaakov in their journeys through Egypt. Yosef was 17 when he was sold, 30 when he stood before Pharaoh, and 39 when his brothers came to Egypt looking for food. Yaakov was 108 when Yosef was sent to Egypt, and he tells Pharaoh in Vayigash that he is 130, after Pharaoh asks him, “How old are you?”

The question is, how old was this Pharaoh? Not knowing which of the Egyptian Pharaohs he was, nor exactly when Yosef was elevated to viceroy, we cannot say with certainty.

But in reading the narrative, the possibility lends itself that Pharaoh was much younger, in line with the reality that some of the Pharaohs were boys when they assumed the leadership of ancient Egypt.

Does it really matter how old he was? Probably not. But his age, especially if he was much younger, does explain many of the questions we may have in trying to understand how Pharaoh took such a liking to Yosef so quickly.

His impetuousness caused him to throw his Chief Cupbearer and Chief Baker into prison; such a youthful obstinance could even call for the Chief Baker’s death.

He doesn’t trust any of his advisors when it comes to interpreting his dream. He meets Yosef, a young, handsome, seemingly trustworthy man. He develops an instant accord with him, and takes his advice to such an extent that he gives Yosef the keys to the kingdom, putting him in charge of all the food for the years of plenty. Was Pharaoh incapable of using someone in-house; was he unable to supervise the efforts himself?

If we view him as young and relatively inexperienced, we can understand why Pharaoh feels the way he does towards Yosef. Everyone else who speaks to him patronizes him. Everyone else thinks they are working in his best interest. And he doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like being babied, pampered and treated as if any idea he thinks of won’t work because he is merely a youth.

Yosef comes along, and treats the king in the manner the king wants to be treated. As a human being, an equal, a king, a ruler — as one who is capable of making his own decisions.