Each of the
weekly Parashot (parashas) presents a narrative that tells a story of
individuals (and later of much larger groups), describing their relationships, fortunes
and misfortunes, travels and battles, struggles and learning situations,
instructions for living (the Torah), and much more. Every one of these stories also
relates to the Elohim of Yisrael. No doubt, there is a great deal to be gleaned
from these accounts, as indeed we do. Yet, an even more careful examination
will reveal facts beyond ‘mere’ object lessons or
annals of the past. These episodes, which occurred so long ago, form the
foundation of a continuum that is part of today's world dynamics! And what's more, they have a bearing on our
very own lives. This thread of continuity, which ties the biblical characters,
their decisions, and responses to YHVH – indeed, their very lives - to ours, is
what makes the Parashot so exciting and important.
With this in mind, we approach Parashat Va'yigash. “Va’yigash” means "and he approached” or “drew near", originating from the root n.g.sh (noon, gimmel, shin).* At the onset of the Parasha we see Yehuda "drawing near" to Yoseph. Although in his blindness Yehuda does not recognize his brother, still his new 'approach' (after having passed his tests described in chapter 38) enables him to draw closer to his sibling, albeit as mentioned, unawares. As we saw at the end of last week's Parasha, Yehuda has been reformed through some reflection and repentance. This, as well as some of his other traits, to be discussed later, should inspire us with hope and anticipation regarding his descendants who are destined to follow in the footsteps of their progenitor. Some day, they too will draw near to their long-lost and ‘hidden’ brother; not only to the brethren from amongst the descendants of Yoseph, but also to their greater and as of yet unrecognized Brother, Yeshua (see Zech. 12:10-13:2).
The words of
this ‘greater Brother’ take on special meaning in the context of the current
story, a story that may be viewed as a prophetic pattern relating to the
collective destiny of Yehuda. Thus, Yeshua’s declaration, "no man can come to [the Son], except
the Father… draw him" (John 6:44 emphasis added), lends an added dimension to the
first 16 verses of the Parasha (see 44:18-34 - Yehuda's monologue), where "father"
is mentioned no less than 14 times.
Yehuda's oft-repeated
"eved - servant” (or literally “slave”), singular and plural
and “adonie” (“my master/lord”), in connection to himself
and his family (ref. 44:18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 27, etc.), is indicative of the
fact that Yoseph's dreams, of his brothers’ submission to him, are being
fulfilled. But it also clearly foreshadows Yehuda's future attitude toward his Master
and Messiah. Following Yoseph's disclosure of his identity, the latter beckons
his brothers to come near to him – “g’shu” - sharing the
same root as va’yigash - and they respond by, again, “drawing near” (“vayigshu”
45:4). Interestingly, the name of the land that Yoseph will designate later on for
his
In recent Parashot, we followed Yehuda's process of learning about redemption. We have looked at the term "arov", which is “guarantee” or “surety”. In his monologue, addressing Yoseph and presenting the case of Binyamin, Yehuda says: "For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, `If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever'" (44:32 emphasis added). Among the many words derived from the root a.r.v (ayin, resh, vet/bet), we also find “pleasant” – “a’rev” - as in: “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me… He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi… then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing – “arva” - to YHVH" (Mal. 3:1, 3, 4, italics added). Similarly, Yehuda's present action/’offering’ also brings great pleasure to the Father’s heart. Yehuda's treatment of his brother Binyamin in our Parasha, and the "eravon" (guarantee) that he is so faithful to keep, speak of a future day when Yehuda’s house will do so corporately. These two terms, “Drawing near” and “pledge” are found in a prophetic scripture penned by Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah). Describing a day when Ya’acov’s tents will be restored and when a Ruler of greater and nobler stature will come forth from the midst of the nation, the prophet says: “He will draw close – “ve’nigash” – to Me, for who is he who would pledge – “ve’arav” – his heart to draw close – “lageshet” – to Me? says YHVH” (30:21 italics added). It is no coincidence that these specific terms are strung together so many centuries later, when reference is made to Yehuda’s greater Son (and brother), thus illustrating that the life of the ancient forefather exemplifies what eventually comes to full manifestation and fruition in his progeny, in this case in Yeshua.
In this second
journey to
Last week we read in 43:30-31 how Yoseph's "heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself". This time, after Yehuda's monologue, Yoseph is unable to restrain himself any longer (ref. 45:1). In both cases the word for “restrain” is "hit'apek" (a.p/f. k - alef, pey/fey, kof) and means, “to hold in, restrain, be strong”. It originates from the root that serves the word "ah'fik” – “riverbed” - which restrains the water coursing through it. On the earlier occasion, Yoseph's inner strength enabled him to withhold his flow of emotions. This time, the ‘dam’ breaks, there is no restraint and the ‘ah'fik’ overflows with tears as he makes himself known to his brothers (45:1).
"Made himself known" is "hitvada",
of the root “yada” (y.d.a, yod, dalet, ayin) – “to know”. “Yada” is a very
common verb. There are many levels of “knowing”, including the knowing of great
intimacy, such as in the physical/sexual relations between husband and wife
(e.g., Gen.4:1). Here it is in the sense of “making one’s self known” - a form
that is not frequently used. One example of such usage is found in Bamidbar
(Numbers) 12:6, when YHVH addresses Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam: "Hear now
My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, YHVH, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a
dream" (italics added).
Yoseph continues to address his brothers: "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for Elohim sent me before you to preserve life" (45:5 emphasis added). We already noted that "sent" is the theme of the story of Yoseph. All the circumstances that have befallen him have been part of YHVH's pre-determined plan to send him for His purposes. Yoseph is a man with a mission, brought to light now by his own words - "to preserve life". To make his point Yoseph repeats these words before his stunned brothers… "And Elohim sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to keep alive before you a great escape" (45:7). Yoseph employs the words "she'erit", which is “remnant”, and "pleta", referring to “escape or refuge”, thereby projecting on to the coming events. Thus, the final outcome of the predicament of the soon-coming famine and forced emigration, and later of forced labor, enslavement, and genocide, although potentially of great threat to the Israelites’ very existence (possibly sustaining a mere “remnant”), will actually culminate in a “great deliverance” in both quality and quantity. It is in their host country that the family of Ya'acov will become a great multitude (ref. 47:27). It seems that this seed, in order to increase greatly, requires foreign soil! In 45:6 Yoseph mentions “plowing and harvest”, terms that no doubt originate from Paroh’s dreams of cows first, and then of sheaves of grain.
Several times in his speech, while trying to plead Binyamin's case, Yehuda makes reference to the death of Binyamin's brother (that is, to Yoseph), to the possible death of Binyamin himself, and to the likely death of his father (44:20, 22, 31). Immediately following Yoseph's disclosure of identity, he asks whether their father is still alive (45:3). As we noted above, Yoseph then declares that the purpose of his mission was "to preserve life", and "to save you alive" (vs. 5, 7 italics added). When the brothers return home, they tell their father that, "Yoseph is still alive" (v. 26 italics added). After the initial shock, it says that "the spirit of Jacob their father revived… and Jacob said, 'Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die'" (v. 27, 28 italics added). Thus death, and the threat thereof, which colors the first part of the Parasha, is offset by life and revival in the 'counter' text. Almost from the start, the story of Yoseph and his mission portends the themes of impending death followed by survival. At the end of the Parasha, we once again encounter this topic, woven neatly into the fabric of the text. In the narrative that deals with Ya'acov and his family's reunion with Yoseph, in chapter 46, we read: "And Israel said to Joseph, 'Now let me die since I have seen your face, that you are still alive’" (v. 30 italics added).
Next, we see Yoseph's interaction with the
hungry Egyptian populace, whose lives are greatly endangered by the famine and
by lack of financial means by which to obtain sustenance. In order to alleviate
impending death, these people pay for their supplies with their land and
labor (as they have already used up their livestock for that purpose, ref. 47:16,
17). Their words express the same vocabulary: "Wherefore should we die before
your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our
We cannot depart from this week’s reading without
pausing to look at the scene of Elohim's last (recorded) appearance to Ya'acov.
On his way down to
* Here one may ask if there
is any relation to “negotiations” (stemming from Latin) in the English
language?
1. Studies in Bereshit,
Nechama Leibowitz, trans. Aryeh Newman. Eliner Library, Department for Torah
Education and Culture in the Diaspora, Hemed Books
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