ספר בראשית

Genesis 42,6. “and Joseph was the effective ruler of the ‎land; he was the one in charge of grain sales to the whole ‎nation.” The expression ‎עם הארץ‎ in this verse is meant to ‎contrast with ‎עם ה'‏‎, “the Lord’s people.” The latter, whenever ‎used in the Bible, refers to the pious people, the righteous people. ‎The former are the ones whose entire orientation in life revolves ‎around earthly concerns, an attitude that ought to be drastically ‎changed, broken down. This is why Joseph is described as ‎possessing the attribute, i.e. ‎משביר‎, that is capable of bringing ‎about a re-orientation in the average Egyptian’s order of ‎priorities. If the provision of ‎שבר‎, “life-sustaining rations” is ‎understood in this sense, then one can understand that the ‎Egyptians thanks to Joseph’s selfless concern with the welfare of ‎the whole nation could produce a religious reorientation of the ‎whole population. ‎[It is difficult for people living in a democracy where ‎the so called ruler is not given more than a maximum of 8 years ‎of continuous rule, that Joseph who did not once have to worry ‎about being re-elected in a rule spanning 80 uninterrupted years, ‎could concentrate all his talents on the task of improving the ‎population’s well being. Ed.]