“Rule recinded!”

Yosef had hoped that telling Paroh his brothers were shepherds would guarantee them to be kept apart, because, you see, Egyptians hated shepherds. Yet in fact we find Paroh responded “…and if they are masters at their trade I will appoint them shepherds on my own sheep”! What had happened? The Rishonim discuss the matter (They ask if the Egyptians worshipped sheep, how did Paroh hold flocks of sheep? Some explain the Egyptians kept sheep, only they did not eat them, rather they kept them for wool. They only hated shepherds because they suspected them of eating the sheep or hitting them. And Paroh trusted Yosef’s brothers to keep from eating them. Some others explain that the Egyptians considered it sacrilegious for a mortal to keep sheep. Paroh, as a god himself, was able to keep sheep!)

I suggested that such was Paroh’s respect for Yosef that at hearing that Yosef’s family were sheep-dealers he instantly rescinded his prejudice against shepherds. I remember once reading of a top business executive being introduced to a new company. At that initial meeting he lit up a cigar. The head of the company turned to the entire group and said “You are all well aware I do not allow smoking in meetings. As from this minute the rule is rescinded!”