Then Joseph, Viceroy of Egypt, complicated matters further, by framing Benjamin, making it look like he had stolen from Joseph. That's how the previous parsha ended. Now, this Shabbat we read the continuation, Vayigash. The brothers cringed before him until Yehuda stepped up. And Yehuda spoke, and then Yosef broke down and told his brothers who his true identity.
It's all very emotional and very dramatic.
I have a question. Was this Yosef's plan?
- Did he expect Yehuda or any of his other brothers to make this sort of speech?
- Did he think that Benjamin would stand up and deny that he stole from Yosef?
- Did he think that the brothers would leave Benjamin in his hands and go back to Yaakov?
- Did he have another plan for revealing his identity?
24 comments:
No, I think God had a plan. I think Yosef's experiences with his brothers and the consequences of their actions led him in this direction. The manipulation gives the brothers a chance to consider their actions, repent and do the תשובה necessary to bring the family together and form the link between the Ya'akov and his sons and their families as individuals and what will become the "Children of Israel" the unified but diverse Jewish people.
Thanks, Risa, you're back I see.
When did yosef plan on revealing himself, or did he just "plan on" winging it?
Follow this general question throughout Parshat Miketz and Vayigash:
How is it that none of the brothers recognized Yosef? Not even Binyamin!
The answer will resolve most of your questions.
Shy, did he expect to be recognized and cried because he wasn't?
Yep. There's much more.
What was the brothers' main goal in going down to Egypt in the first place? It wasn't for food. See Rashi 42:3.
The Torah says that when they first came before Yosef, they did not recognize him because Yosef had since grown a beard. See Rashi 42:8.
Who did the bearded Yosef look like, without and certainly with a beard? See Rashi 37:3.
Yosef thereafter throws them one hint after another as to whom he is. Try finding them. Many are blatant.
What's wrong with this picture?
One of the things Israeli youth likes to do is for some to disguise themselves while others look for them. My son , his friends and the Bnai Akiva kids did it in the Malcha Mall. They didn't have any problem finding all but one. That one had talked the pizza place into letting him work at the counter for free, until found. I think he had to announce his presence in the end. And he didn't wear a disguise, just the official workers apron.
Batya, did one of the kids order a pizza from him while he was behind the counter and still not recognize him?
I'll have to check with my son.
Batya: I love how Torah is incorporated even into a game of hide and seek in Israel.
Batya, I think that Yosef didn't 'plan on' anything, like Avraham and Yitzhak at the Akeida, he knew that hashem would show him the right moment.
Shy:
Yosef resembled Yakov more than his brothers...so, were the brothers demonstrating that they really didn't know their own father?
(I'm not exactly answering Batya's questions:) When it comes to this Torah stories I can't get beyond two things: Yosef's emotional "Ani Yosef" because I can also imagine Yakov saying ani Yakov to his own flesh and blood sons. An elderly, wise father saying this to his sons is very sad.
And, since Yakov's name was also Israel I think of Israelis saying to Jews in the diaspora, "ani Israel." Don't you recognize us?
Also, Yosef in the pit of scorpions. On "Fear Factor" that was the challenge that tormented ALL of the contestants. Not one contestant was able to complete it. I can still see their hands shaking in that box of scorpions--and that was only for seconds!
Sorry I went off topic again.
Risa, could be; Yosef just kept squeezing until the time was right, or the reaction was right. He could never predict their behavior.
Keli, very interesting ideas. There is so much drama here.
Keli Ata said...
Yosef resembled Yakov more than his brothers...so, were the brothers demonstrating that they really didn't know their own father?
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Close. They really didn't want to see their own brother. They still loathed Yosef. They were not cured at all of their Sin'at Hinam.
Batya, your comment about your son and his friends not recognizing the one behind the counter at the Pizza shop gives the hint. Had they seen Yosef as a slave delivering the wheat bags, they would have spotted him at once. Even if he had been an interpreter, they probably would have realized who he was. It was the fact that he was the viceroy of Egypt that made it impossible to recognize him.
How many times have you seen someone that you know in an unfamiliar setting and not recognized them?
Also consider the implication of his being the ruler and what that says about the dreams that they had originally rejected.
Shy, Sabba, you're both on the same track.
I'm really enjoying the thinking process through all the comments. Thanks to all
Was this Yosef's plan?
*Yes, but what if they did not step forward> that was not an option, see next question
Did he expect Yehuda or any of his other brothers to make this sort of speech?
*Yes, the brothers had already demonstrated so much before Vayigash regarding their father and brothers (Shimon, Binyomin, and as a group)
Did he think that Benjamin would stand up and deny that he stole from Yosef?
*That already happened, Yosef said I am a wizzard....
Did he think that the brothers would leave Benjamin in his hands and go back to Yaakov?
*Never (see above)
Did he have another plan for revealing his identity?
*not sure
My question: What was going through Yehuda's mind?
Was it just an emotional argument that would only work on Yosef?
yc, don't forget that Yehuda was a bereaved father and then grew greatly after Tamar.
Now, are quoting me medrash? "*That already happened, Yosef said I am a wizzard...."
I talk pshat here. Binyamin was more silent than Yitzchak at the akeida.
See Genesis 44:5 & 15
and you are correct Binyamin does not speak, as a group they speak to Yosef's "Chief of Staff", once kos is found and even at Yosef's place only Yehudah speaks
As an emotional argument, Yehuda's plea would only work on Yosef, could read his plea as legal/logical argument against Yosef's reckless behavior
Could Yosef's hurt and anger have been so strong he just wanted to punish and torture them until... he got it out of his system?
Actually that's how it looks from the pshat. And that explains why he didn't send messages to his father. He had no idea until the brothers mentioned it that Yaaqov thought he was dead.
Could Yosef's hurt and anger have been so strong he just wanted to punish and torture them until... he got it out of his system?
Yes, but one does not have to say that. That seems to be the brothers perception (see after Yaakov dies).
Based on what Yosef says in Vayichi (Br 50:19- ), something consistent with what he has been saying his whole life and he learned from his mother/father I would find his motives outside of hurt/anger
Why Yosef didn't send messages to his father is a nice debate between R Y Medan and R Y BinNun.
yc, Could you uplease put a short, very short summary of the debate?
Thanks
The Ramban's question: why did the #2 man in Egypt (at a time when they controlled the roads) not send word to his father that he was ok? How could he torture his father over Shimon?
Rav Yoel BinNun: From Yosef's POV, having not heard from his father, Yosef thought Yaakov was a co-conspirator in the sale
Rav Yaakov Medan: Yosef's actions were getting the brothers to do Teshuva
For a summary of the back and forth http://www.vbm-torah.org/parsha/10miketz.htm
In Rav BinNun's own words:
Problem http://www.vbm-torah.org/parsha.61/11vayiga.htm
Solution http://www.vbm-torah.org/parsha.61/10miketz.htm
(Batya, I hope that was short enough:)
Fine, could have been longer even. Thanks!
It's an amazing story. Nothing beats the Bible.
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