If Jacob went to Egypt to visit his son, why didn't he return to Canaan?
If the brothers went to Egypt to survive the famine, why didn't they return home?
As we shall see, ch.46 is in fact the start of the Exile, predicted in Genesis ch.15 - in the Brit Bein Habetarim.
But why Exile?
How can the stories we tell of our lives reshape our experience of reality? That is the question we will ponder as we read Joseph's explanation of his story, that he is a tool in God's plan. Will this have the ability to reshape the traumas of the past?
The Joseph story reaches its climax when Joseph breaks down and reveals his true identity to his brothers.
But why does he break down at this particular moment?
Today we demonstrate many aspects of the Joseph story that revisit and resurface aspects of the events of the past, and allow the characters to grapple with the moral and emotional implications of the events twenty years earlier.
The brothers come down to Egypt. Joseph identifies them. He starts a series of false accusations, incriminations and manipulations. Why did Yoseph torment and torture his brother (and his father)? Was it pure vindictiveness?
Pharaoh has 2 bafflng dreams. The butler recalls Yoseph. Yoseph is summoned to the palace, he dazzles Pharaoh with his dream interpretation, and is appointed to the highest office in the land.
Today we focus on two points.
1. Joseph's growing God awareness and his perception that his life is guided by God
2. His integration into Egyptian culture. This leaves us with the question - which I think Joseph might have asked himself - will he ever return to his family?
Joseph finds himself in jail - the pit. Again!
And yet again, he is recognized for his tremendous leadership abilities and promoted to supervise the jail.
He encounters the butler and the baker and interprets their dreams. Are their dreams similar or different? Why do we need to hear the details of these dreams? What does this contribute to the central storyline?
The Rabbis call Joseph "Yoseph HaTzaddik" because he resists the seduction of Mrs. Potiphar. What can we learn from this story?
Why is a random story about Yehudah and his daughter-in-law inserted into the Joseph saga?
Why did Yehudah visit a prostitute?
And what did Tamar teach Yehuda that changed the course of the family - and Jewish history?
Would you kill someone because of their dreams?
Why are the brothers so agitated, so aggravated by Joseph's dreams?
Before we leave Esav we list his extensive progeny - children, military generals and kings. Esav would appear to have a kingdom that is fully formed, way before Israel become a nation. And that might be the point!
I referenced this article in the podcast https://www.alexisrael.org/single-post/2019/12/12/vayishlach-insignificant-verses-really
In this chapter
In our podcast today, we weave these episodes into a single story.
Dinah is raped and abducted.
Shimon and Levi rescue her, and murder the people of Shchem.
Were they justified?
Why did Yaakov rebuke them?
In our chapter 33, after a nail-biting tense chapter of worried anticipation, Yaakov and Esav meet. But there is little animosity here. There is a hug, a kiss, tears. Like long lost brothers, Esav asks Yaakov about his family, his wivesand kids; Yaakov offers him gifts, Esav suggests that they travel together, Yaakov politely refuses.
Where did all the tension go?
Jacob is returning to Canaan. He notifies his brother Esau. HE gets a message: Esav is coming to meet you with 400 men.
Yaakov is petrified. He suspects that Esav is coming to massacre him and his household!
But when the brothers meet, Esav simply hugs Yaakov and expresses brotherly love.
Did Yaakov misunderstand Esav?
What is the drama here?
Why did Yaakov need to leave Haran like a thief in the night?
Why did Yaakov need to cheat Lavan by secret "genetic engineering" of his herds?
Who is the cheat - Lavan or Yaakov?
In this podcast we demonstrate Yaakov's stellar moral integrity and Lavan's manipulative treatment of Yaakov and his family.
Our chapter demonstrates the phenomenal tension between Rachel and Leah and the strong emotions that rage in the family. We discuss the characters of these two matriarchs and preset a framework to appreciate their unique strengths.
We shall read chapter 29 as slowly exposing several of the challenges - personal and moral - that Yaakov will face in his sojourn in Haran - the challenges of Exile.
Why does God appear to Yaakov at Beit-El? Why now?
What is the meaning of the dream about the ladder?
And why does Yaakov respond by setting up a stone pillar?
Why did Yaakov steal the blessings?
Was he (and Rivka) correct?
Can a blessing be stolen?
