Joseph in Eqypt - 7 good & 7 bad years

Below is from a stone tablet from a tomb (discovered in 1850) of a wealthy Yemenite woman who died during the Egyptian famine recorded in Genesis 41. This tablet confirms the biblical account of Joseph's careful management of Egyptian food reserves during the 7 years of famine in Egypt.

"In they name O God, the God of Hamyar,
I Tajah, the daughter of Dzu Shefar, sent my steward to
Joseph,
And he delaying to return to me, I sent my hand maid
With a measure of silver, to bring me back a measure of
flour:
And not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of gold:
And not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of pearls:
And not being able to procure it, I commanded them to be ground:
And finding no profit in them, I am shut up here.
Whosoever may hear of it, let him commiserate me;
And should any woman adorn herself with an ornament
From my ornaments, may she die with no other than my
death."

NOTE: "sent my steward to Joseph," added. Translation by Rev. Charles Forster. Reported in Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie, PL. LIX.


Above found in Grant R. Jeffrey's "The Signature of God"

Marble Tablet with inscription

Marble tablet Inscription-19th century discovery in ancient southern Saudi Arabia (current day Yemen). Ancient inscription translated into English by Rev. Charles Forster:

We dwelt at ease in this castle a long tract of time;
nor had we a desire but for the region-lord of the vineyard.
Hundreds of camels returned to us each day at evening,
their eye pleasant to behold in their resting-places.
And twice the number of our camels were our sheep,
in comeliness like white does, and also the slow moving kine.

We dwelt in this castle seven years of good life
--how difficult for memory its description!
Then came years barren and burnt up:
when one evil year had passed away,
Then came another to succeed it.

And we became as though we had never seen a glimpse of good.
They died and neither foot nor hoof remained.
Thus fares it with him who renders not thanks to God:
His footsteps fail not to be blotted out from his dwelling.

Above found in Grant R. Jeffrey's "The Signature of God"