Goshen as a Prism of Biblical Exegetical Thought

Abstract

Goshen is an iconic place of Israelite culture and its survival as described in the Hebrew Bible and discussed in countless religious works. My thesis focuses on the story and development surrounding Goshen and how the approaches that various commentators take in interpreting the Goshen story reflect their respective attitudes and beliefs about Torah learning and education as well as the historical contexts in which they lived. The central premise that drives this thesis is that the parshanut methods of each figure along with their backgrounds clearly inform their treatment of Goshen. What follows below is a discussion based on commentaries from the Talmudic to medieval period, and their understanding of the function of Goshen.