"Now Jacob dwelt
("va’ye'shev") in the land where his father had sojourned, in
the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob: Joseph was seventeen
years of age…." (Gen. 37:1, 2). The root for the verb "to dwell"
is y.sh.v. (yod, shin, bet/vet) and means to “dwell, reside, sit,
remain”. According to the scripture just quoted, Ya'acov lived in his father's
land, but the “account of his generations” ("toldot") is related
through the life of his son - Yoseph. Incidentally, Esav's chronicles
(in chapter 36), as well as Yishma'el's (25:12-18), are simply lists of names,
whereas the Patriarchs' chronicles are narratives presenting increasing
revelations of Elohim and His
involvement in the lives of those who bear His name.1 Additionally, identifying Ya'acov's dwelling
place with "the land where his father had sojourned", and tying up
his annals with the name of his son (Yoseph) serve to illustrate the typical
Hebraic approach to the linkage of the generations. Those living in the present
do not identify solely with their contemporaries; they are no less connected to
their ancestors as well as to their progeny.
In telling the story of
Ya'acov, the narrative highlights the story of Yoseph who was favored by his
father. As a mark of his affections, Ya'acov made his son a special tunic,
"k'tonet passim", a tunic of "passim". Unlike the commonly
held view that this robe, or tunic, was made up of multi-colored stripes, the
word "passim" actually indicates that the robe was extra long
- covering the feet and especially the flat of the hands. The verb
p.s.s (pey, samech, samech,
or p.s.h, pey, samech, hey)
means to “disappear” or “pass on” (e.g. Psalms
12:1), which means that the hand would ‘disappear’ because of the ampleness of
the cloth. It was of a style "such
as the daughters of the king dressed themselves" (in 2nd Sam.
13:18, David's daughter, Tamar, is recorded wearing such a robe). By clothing
Yoseph in a princely garb, Ya'acov communicated to the rest of his sons that he
had ordained him to inherit the birthright. It is no wonder that Ya'acov's
favored son incurred the wrath of his brothers, even before he shared his dreams
with them. When Ya'acov (or Yisrael, as he is called when interacting with this
son) heard Yoseph's second dream, he too became somewhat exasperated with this
spoiled brat. However, the text goes on to tell us that, "his father kept
the saying in his heart" (37:11). Another parent, who on one occasion
"treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart", and who at
another time "hid [the words] in her heart" was Miriam, Yeshua's
mother (Luke 2:19, 51). In
her case, as well as in Ya’acov’s, these “things” were prophetic and had to do
with a grand destiny awaiting the son.
Yoseph’s brothers responsded
to each dream’s account by hating “him even more” (37:5, 8). “Even more” is not
a direct translation of the original, which is “va-yosiphu” – “and they
added”. In other words, more hatred was added to the negative emotions that the
brothers were already harboring toward their sibling. What makes the usage of
this verb here quite intriguing is its root connection - y.s.ph (yod, samech, pey/fey)
- to the name of the one who was the object of this hatred.
The Parasha’s account of the conflict between Yoseph and
his brothers, in particular the sons of Bilha and Zilpa (ref. 37:2), is marked
by an absence of “shalom”: “And his brothers saw that their father loved him
more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably
to him” (v. 4, emphasis added).
But even though the situation was not resolved, when the brothers went
to Shechem to shepherd their father’s flocks, “Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not
your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ So
he said to him, ‘Here I am.’ Then he
said to him, ‘Please go and see if it is well with your brothers [‘see the peace
of…’] and well with the flocks [again ‘see the peace of…’], and bring
back word to me’" (37:13-14 emphases added). Yisrael sought information as to the “peace”
of his sons who were, supposedly, doing their work in Shechem. Some years
earlier, when he returned to the Land after his sojourn in Aram, Shechem was
the first location where he found himself. Last week we noted that, “Jacob came
safely to the city of Shechem” (33:18). That “safely”, as we know, is actually “shalem”
– which is whole, unharmed (and perhaps ‘in one piece’). However, this condition of “shalem” did not lead
to “shalom”. The fallacy of “shalom in Shechem” (or Sh’chem, in Hebrew) was
perpetuated when Hamor and Shechem his son, the “lords of the land”, who were
also involved in the rape of Dina, presented to their compatriots the so-called
peaceable offer of Yaacov’s sons (34:21) . Sure, if flesh and greed are
gratified, there is a semblance of peace! The all-time guarantee for the
ultimate “shalom” in the world is made up of gratifying sexual appetites, material
covetousness, and egoistic ambitions. But when those are not to be had, the
spirits of lust, greed and jealousy prevail, as is so well demonstrated in our Parasha.
Another quick note on the parallel of the Sh’chem episode
to our current one: There it says that “Dina went out to see the daughters of
the land” (34:1), while here her uncle is “wandering in the field” on his way
to find his brothers. Both “field trips”, in the very same area of the country,
ended in harmful and violent circumstances perpetrated upon these two walkers.
Yet the one obvious difference is that Dina, unlike Yoseph, went on her own
volition.
Ya'acov may have been
concerned for his sons' safety in Sh'chem, as that town's residents most likely
remembered them only too well.2 Much
latter, in B’resheet (Genesis) 45:8, the
following words will be declared by Yoseph to his brothers who, in parallel
with his present situation, would also be sent, albeit to Egypt: "So now it was not you that sent me
hither, but Elohim…".3 The
commentator goes on to say that "this verse supplies the key to the
understanding of the whole story, which unfolds a dual level of the mission.
There is the obvious mission which Ya'acov sends his son on, but underlying
this mission lies the hidden (deep) workings of Providence Who is sending the descendants
of Avraham to Egypt". It is this connection to Avraham which brings the
"Valley of Chevron" (see 37:14) into the picture, even though Chevron
was on a mountain and not in the valley. The commentator continues: "Emek
("valley of") Chevron is referring to God's mysterious and deep
prophecy to Avraham, and is a play on the word "emek", literally
"deep place".4 “Valley” may
also be a hint as to what was Yoseph’s first ‘station’ on his way to the awaiting “valley of the shadow of death”. To
that we would add that the episode of the father (Ya'acov) who sends his son to
seek "the remainder of his brethren [who will return]…" (Micha 5:3),
also forms an equivalent picture of the heavenly Father sending His Son to
bring back to Himself His children (the sons of Yisrael/Ya'acov). Let us also
take note of Yoseph’s response to being sent, “here am I” – “hineh’ni”,
being a condensed form of “hineh ani” – “behold here I am”. Although a common idiom, which we have
encountered even up to this point (e.g. Gen. 27:18), what comes to mind is
another ‘send off’. In Yisha’ayahu (Isaiah) 6:8 we read the following: “And I
heard the voice of YHVH, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
Then I said, here am I [hineh’ni]; send me!“ (Italics added).
Ya'acov sent Yoseph from Chevron, which is in Yehuda, to
Sh'chem which is in Shomron (Samaria) and from there Yoseph goes on to Dotan
(Dothan), also in Shomron, and is then taken to Egypt ("the world").
This route becomes a geographical prototype foreshadowing the journey of the
Gospel and its witnesses, from Yehuda to Shomron and to the uttermost parts of
the world (ref. Acts 1:8).
Interestingly, the shepherds did not lead their flocks to
the green and serene pastures of Sh’chem (or at least they did not stay there),
but continued on their way. As for Yoseph, he was directed by “a man” to follow
them northward, to Dotan. Notice that Yoseph’s informant did not require much
information; he already knew who the “brothers” were, and neither was he
ignorant as to their whereabouts. The
reference to the “man” – ish – who Yoseph runs into takes us back to last
week’s Parasha, where his father had a dramatic encounter with an “ish” (Ge.
32:24).
But what awaited Yoseph in Dotan was far from a hearty
reunion. His brothers sought to kill him, and only by Reuven’s intervention was
his life spared, and he was cast into a pit. While Yoseph was naked, having
been stripped off his tunic by his brothers, and no doubt thirsty and hungry, his
brothers sat down to eat bread (37:24-25). “Bread” is "le’chem,"
of the root l.ch.m (lamed, chet, mem) which is also the root for the verb
"to fight", and for the noun "war" ("milchama").
The men ate their bread - lechem - while
in their hearts there was a war-like attitude - milchama - toward their
brother. Proverbs 4:17 says of the wicked: "they eat the bread of
wickedness". The verb for "eat" there is "la'cha'mu", which
normally would be understood as "fight", making this verse applicable
to the wickedness manifested by Yoseph's brothers. Shlomo Ostrovski comments here that Yoseph’s
brothers had no idea that some day they would seek out their victim for the
very substance with which they were now satisfying their hunger 5, while
denying him of it.
And so, even when the various
episodes involve other protagonists, named and unnamed, the Word points to Yoseph’s
central role all the way. His present circumstances being echoed in Yirmiyahu
31:15, where Rachel is described "weeping for her children, refusing to be
comforted because they are no more". However, in
Hebrew it says "because he is no more". Since this does not
make syntaxical sense, we have to ask, 'what does this mean'? Well, back in our
Parasha the bewildered Reuven, upon realizing that Yoseph was no longer in the
pit, cried out: "the lad is no more" (37:30). "He is no
more" will be repeated twice in next week's Parasha, this time by Yehuda while
addressing Yoseph (42:13, 32). Thus, the emphasis regarding Rachel's lost children
is on the "one" - Yoseph (with past, present and future
implications), while the "no more", "eyne'nu", is about to
be replaced by "hineni" -v“here I am” (by those who come to recognize
their ‘Yosephite’ identity) –- just as Yoseph responded to his father when the
latter dispatched him to his brothers (37:13).
Yoseph was brought down to
Egypt - "mitzrayim" - the narrow place of adversity
- but "YHVH was with Joseph, so he became a successful man…" (39:2).
"Successful" takes us back to the word "matzli'ach"
that we studied in Parashat Cha’yey Sarah (in Genesis 24:21), which is where we
noted that it means to “cause to advance". It is quite
evident who caused Yoseph to advance, so much so that even his pagan master,
Potiphar, recognized it (v. 3). According to Studies in B’resheet, Yoseph's "master saw
and heard Yoseph make mention of the name of his God and attribute his success
and abilities not to his powers but to the Almighty".6 this conclusion by
the Sages is not unfounded. In fact, it is borne out by what Yoseph says on
various other occasions. In 39:9, when warding off the advances of Potiphar's
wife, he exclaimed, "How then could I do this great evil and sin against
Elohim?" In 40:8, when asked to interpret dreams while in prison, he
responded: "Do not interpretation belong to Elohim?" Yoseph will
continue to mention the name of his Elohim even when brought before Par'oh
(Pharaoh), in the next Parasha.
But in the meantime, the
opening verse of chapter 39 reiterates the downward spiral that Yoseph was in: “Now
Joseph had been brought down to Egypt” (emphasis added). This event seems to have taken place
simultaneously with Yehuda’s departure from his country, from his family and
from his father’s house (cf. Gen. 12:1). What is the difference between each of
those descends? Yehuda’s guilt and self-condemnation caused him to choose a way
out, which led to his spiritual back sliding, whereas Yoseph was brought
down not of his own volition. There is a very clear distinction in the
respective responses of these two men. The one is said to have “gone down”
(ref. 38:1) and was moving from bad to worse, without looking for a redemptive
opportunity, whereas the other, who was subject to others’ decisions, made good
of every opportunity that came his way. However, in each of those cases there
exists the overriding sovereignty of YHVH, in spite of what may be ‘natural’ inclinations
(see Proverbs 16:9). When Yehuda left his family, he followed his heart’s leaning
– va-yet (meaning “incline”, or “lean” 38:1) and went over to his
Adulamite friend Hirah upon whom he was leaning/relying for help.
Later, when he saw the “harlot”, it says that “he turned – va-yet
- to her” (38:16), once again following his inclinations and desires. On the
other hand, after Yoseph was subject to and resisted someone else’s lust, it
says of him that YHVH “was with Yoseph and [literally] – va-yet -
inclined/turned His mercy/loving kindness/grace [chesed] toward
him” (39:21 emphasis added).
Yehuda’s downward journey was
accompanied by many mishaps, although every now and then there was evidence of an
attempt on his part to do the “right thing”. How typical of guilt, shame, and
self-condemnation to lead us to try and cover them up by “good works”! Thus,
his sons’ names provide a clue as to these feeble attempts. Yehuda named his
firstborn “Er”, meaning “awake”. He was hoping that his depression and
spiritual slumber could be redeemed by having this firstborn. His second son
was called “Onan” – “on” being strength. Rachel named Binyamin, Ben-Oni, “son
of my strength” (and not “sorrow” as commonly thought) as his birth had
depleted all of her strength. As to Yehuda’s third son, the latter was born
under strange circumstances: “He was at Chezib when she bore him” (38:5). Who
was at Chezib? Was it the newborn (and his mother), or was it the father? What
is Chezib? Is it truly a place, or is it a description of a condition? Chezib
means “lie, deception, falsehood”. Is it possible that Shelah was a product of
lying and deception, and was therefore the son of another man, rather than
Yehuda’s? Or was Yehuda away while he
was born, causing his wife great grief? One way or another, Shelah’s birth was
not a cause of great joy, otherwise why would Scripture take the trouble to
record the fact that “he was in chezib” at the birth? The name Shelah could
possibly mean “hers”, reinforcing the possibility that the boy may have not
been Yehuda’s biological son.
When Yehuda’s degeneration
reached its peak, he turned (as we saw above) to a prostitute (after his
wife’s death), with whom he left his most precious possessions: signet, cord
and staff. Like Easv, who for momentary satisfaction was willing to give up his
birthright, Yehuda had given the ‘markers’ of his identity and authority to the
one whom he perceived to be a prostitute. Interestingly, later, when he went looking
for her to retrieve his treasures and to cover up his embarrassment and pride
(and said, "Let her take them – the objects - for herself, lest we
be shamed” 38:23 emphasis added), he used the term “k’desha”, which
is a “temple prostitute”. However, that word shares its root with “kadosh” –
set apart and holy. In verses 21 and 22
of chapter 38 this word appears 3 times. Again, a hint as to the true
nature of this woman, who turned out to be “kdosha”, holy and “righteous”, as
Yehuda himself came to realize (v. 26). Thus, at Yehuda’s lowest point of
spiritual and moral collapse YHVH intervened by using that which appeared to be
the very symbol of lowliness and humiliation (i.e. Tamar’s impersonation of a
prostitute).
Tamar insisted to "raise up the name of the
deceased" (to borrow words from Ruth 4:5). Tamar's real identity and
motive were only discovered when she produced a pledge in the form of a seal,
cord and staff left to her by her father-in-law, upon her demand to be paid for
the “services” she provided him when she masqueraded as a harlot. The pledge
given to Tamar was "era'von", of the root a.r.v, which we
observed in “erev” - “evening” (in Parashat B’resheet in Genesis 1). This
pledge is a guarantee for that which is to come. Indeed, without it Tamar would
have been burnt at the stake (ref. vs. 24, 25). When approached by her incensed father in law, Tamar presented the pledge with the
words: “By the man to whom these belong,
I am with child. And she said, please
determine whose these are” (38:25). “Please determine” – ha’ker na, in Hebrew.
How did Tamar know that those were the very words that Yehuda and his brothers
used many years before, when presenting their father with the bloody tunic of
Yoseph: please examine – haker na - it to see whether it is your son's tunic or not" (38:32)? Next week we will encounter the same
verb with some variation. And so, not only was the life of Tamar spared, her
action guaranteed that YHVH's principle of redemption was implemented; that is,
the bringing forth of life from death (Yehuda having suffered the loss of two
sons gained now another two), while also ensuring the continuity of what was to become the tribe of
Yehuda.
When it was her time to give
birth, Tamar, like Rivka, had twins who, like the former pair, had an innate
'knowledge' of the importance of the birthright. Again, a competition over who
would be born first took place. Ultimately, the “breaker", the
"portetz", gained the upper hand and was therefore named
Peretz (v. 29). Many years later, the prophet Micah will declare, "the
breaker goes up before them. They break out, pass through the gate and go out
by it. So their king goes on before them and YHVH at their head" (2:13). The
subjects of this description are those who will be gathered out of Ya'acov, and
who are the remnant of Yisrael who will be "put together like sheep in the
fold, like a flock in the midst of its pasture they will be noisy with men". Thus, not only will the proverbial “Poretz” –
Breaker-Leader – be a descendent of Peretz, so will some of those who are
destined to follow Him.
That Yoseph is the protagonist of our story is not
difficult to determine, and Scripture continues to underscore this fact, not
only overtly but also by using subtler means. In chapter 37, as we observed above,
and also in 38 the verb y.s.f continues to show up. And so we read in 38:5: “And
she conceived yet again - va’tosef
- and bore a son, and called his name Shelah”. “So Judah came to the
realization and said, ‘She has been more righteous than I, because I did not
give her to Shelah my son’. And he never knew her again – “velo yasaf”
(38:26 ).
Among the many lessons that
Yehuda was taught by Tamar, his daughter in law, he also had to realize that
things are not always what they seem to be, a lesson that he will apply one
more time when many years later he will meet the ‘mighty Egyptian ruler.’
Now back in Egypt, Potiphar's wife, in her attempt to
cover up her own disloyalty and take revenge at the same time, tried to
implicate Yoseph, who ran away from her “leaving” his garment in her hand
(39:12). “Leaving” is mentioned earlier, when we are told that her husband,
Potiphar, “left all that he had in Joseph’s hand” (v. 6). In verses 15 and
Potiphar’s wife, like so many others in the course of
history, subtly enlisted the various members of her household to join her in an
all out attack on her servant. In the process of her "unscrupulous
defaming of Yoseph she makes subtle differentiation between her phrasing of the
account to her slaves and subsequently to her husband. She does not employ the
term "slaves" when addressing the slaves themselves. Yoseph is simply
a Hebrew. To her husband, however, she says, "the Hebrew slave”. In order
to win her slaves over and gain their sympathies she is at pains not to create
any feeling of solidarity among the slaves for Yoseph, as one of them. After
all, it was a common thing for masters to denounce their slaves. They would
naturally side with their fellow sufferer. Therefore, she subtly changed her
tone and stated that he is was not one of them, but a stranger, a Hebrew, the
common enemy of all of them. To strengthen the impression and arouse their
hostility for Yoseph she did not say that the Hebrew slave came to “me”, but
rather: "see, a Hebrew was brought to us, to mock us"
(39:14 italics added). In short, the Hebrew man has not only wronged me but all
of us; he has dishonored the whole Egyptian nation… Potiphar's wife in her effort to gain
sympathy lumps her slaves together with herself, as part of one family. The
common enemy is the Hebrew. The immense gap is forgotten, the enormous class
distinction between slave and master is overlooked in the cause of temporary
self-interest."7
This Parasha’s two women, whose stories are told side by
side, are both involved in sexual promiscuity. However, in spite of the fact
that it was Tamar who actually ‘exercised’ her heart’s intent, while the
second, Potiphar’s unnamed wife did not, it is the first who was declared
righteous (38:26) for having pursued, at all costs, the righteousness of
Elohim, i.e. life from the dead in the form of redemption.
After the episode in his master’s house, Yoseph was put
in prison and just like an echo from his previous experience, we read the
words: "YHVH was with him, and whatever he did YHVH made to prosper
("matzli'ach")" (39:23 italics added). Although our Parasha ends
with Yoseph seemingly being forgotten and once again being repaid evil for the
good he had done (see 40:9-15, 21), this is just the beginning of what is to
become a glorious career.
The nation of
Yisrael-in-the-making is seen learning the principles of redemption, as each of
its figureheads (Yehuda and Yoseph) is exposed to powerful personal experiences
pertaining to YHVH's kingdom principles.
1.
Moses on the Witness Stand, Shlomo Ostrovski, Keren Ahava Meshichit, Jerusalem
1976, 1999.
2.
Ibid
3.
Studies in Bereshit, Toldot 1, Nechama Leibowitz, trans. Aryeh Newman. Eliner
Library, Department for Torah Education and Culture in the Diaspora. Hemed
Books Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.
4.
Ibid
5.
Moses on the Witness Stand, Shlomo Ostrovski, Keren Ahava Meshichit, Jerusalem
1976, 1999.
6.
Studies in Bereshit, Toldot 1, Nechama Leibowitz, trans. Aryeh Newman.
Eliner Library, Department for Torah
Education and Culture in the Diaspora. Hemed Books Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.
7.
Ibid.
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