Why did Joseph tell his family to tell Pharaoh that they were cattlemen?
Joseph instructed his family to identify as cattlemen so Pharaoh would approve their settlement in Goshen. Egyptians considered shepherds an abomination, so mentioning sheep would jeopardize Pharaoh's permission. Calling their trade cattle avoided that offense and secured the land Joseph wanted for them.
Les explains that Joseph was making things ready for Jacob and the other sons to come down into Egypt and dwell in Goshen. Joseph was the second man, not the top, so everything had to be with Pharaoh's blessing. Joseph was preparing the family so they would not goof everything up. He told them to say, "Thy servant's trade hath been about cattle, even from our youth until now, both we and also our fathers," so that they might dwell in the land of Goshen and get Pharaoh's okay. But he warned them not to tell Pharaoh they had sheep, because a shepherd is an abomination in the eyes of an Egyptian. Les compares this to the old West cattlemen or barons who thought cattle were king. He says he loves cattle and does not like sheep, thinking they smell and are dumb, and maybe that is why God uses sheep as such an example in Scripture. Pharaoh thought anybody who tended sheep was an abomination. Les notes this is where Moses ends up, a shepherd with smelly old sheep after forty years in Egypt's pomp and luxury.
That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
More Questions
Why did Joseph tell his family not to tell Pharaoh they had sheep?
Shepherds were an abomination in the eyes of Egyptians, which is why Joseph's family was told not to mention that they had sheep.