Parshas Vayeishev - pasukim aleph - zayin Flashcards
Where do we come in?
Yaakov had 4 wives = 1) rochel 2) Leah 3) Zilpah 4) Bilhah
He had 12 sons in total = shevatim
his fav wife = Rochel = fav child = Yosef
how do we view tzadikim and their mistakes in the torah?
since tzadikim r on such a high level - their mistakes are taken much more seriously/deeply
(rashi) וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב Why is it focusing of yaakovs descents and no Aesavs ?
what is the parable?
Yaakovs decedents did more meaningful things vs assay
just like a man is searching through sand to find a jewel - he keeps the jewel and throws out the sand
jewel = Yaakov
sand = esav
Rashis second explanation./ second parable
Abt why we mention Yaakovs descendants and not eisav
a blacksmith sees a wheat dealer carrying wheat - he asks who will deal w/ all of this
the man answered one spark of ur fires will destroy this in moments
SO TO - Yaakov saw the generations of esav and got worried = this is hashes response to the spark that’s consuming esiav
Rashi אֵ֣לֶּה | תֹּֽלְד֣וֹת יַֽעֲקֹ֗ב
why does it only mention yosef
what abt the other brothers
it says אֵ֣לֶּה | תֹּֽלְד֣וֹת יַֽעֲקֹ֗ב יוֹסֵ֞ף for several reasons
1) Yaakov worked hard for rochel = yosefs mother
2) yosefs face was identical to Yaakov
3) Yaakov and yosef went through the same things (both were hated, both brothers tried to kill them)
Rashi: וְה֣וּא נַ֗עַר
what does it mean by נַ֗עַר? it already mentioned he was 17
(who is this talking abt)
1) his actions were childish - did his hair, touched up his eyes so he could be good looking
2) Yosef
Rashi: אֶת־דִּבָּתָ֥ם
What were the bad reports?
whenever he saw his brothers doing wrong - he would tell on them to his father 1) eating live animals 2) calling maidservants sons "slaves" 3) were behaving immorally b/c of this midday kneeled middah happened 1) his coat was dipped in animal blood 2) became a slave for potifar 3) rotifers wife tried to seduce him
Ramban: והוא נער את בני בלהה
Rashi seems to think that yosef was friends w/ the sons of bilhah and zilch, but why didn’t they prevent him from being sold?
Ramban says Yosef was telling on the sons of bilhah and zilpa (just on a lower level)
the sons of Leah didn’t like yosef because of yaakovs favoritism towards him
Rashi: בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים (son of old age)
what does it mean by that?
(3 explanations)
also who is the son of old age?
1) had him @ a old age
2) another explanation: he was a wise son to him - everything Yaakov learnt in yeshivah Shem and ever he taught to yosef
3) his facial features were similar to yaakovs
Ramban:
Q: Yosef is only a few years younger than his brothers, why is he the only בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים
(2 answers)
1) It was custom for an elder to pick a younger kid to care for them in their old age - yaakove picked Yosef
2) Yaakov felt yosef was more wiser and mature
Sefarno:
Q: what is the כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים
(what is the torah teaching us)
Yaakov gave yosef a coast to signify to him and the brothers = that he will be a leader (royal robes)
The torah is noting that ur clothes represent ur status/way you’re perceived
Chizkuni
Q1: Why yosef and not binyamin?
Q2: why the coat?
A1: binyamin was an active reminder of Rochel’s death
2) פַּסִּֽים - compensation
Yaakov felt the need to compensate yosef for being an orphan so he gave him a fancy coat
Rashi: וְלֹ֥א יָֽכְל֖וּ דַּבְּר֥וֹ לְשָׁלֹֽם
Q: what can we learn from the words “couldn’t speak peacefully?”
We can infer something good of them
they didn’t say one thing w/ their mouths and another w/ their hearts
2 sides: don’t be fake but also be nice/respectful
Sforno: וְלֹ֥א יָֽכְל֖וּ דַּבְּר֥וֹ לְשָׁלֹֽם
what is the torah saying
This was a mistake on yosefs part - that he allowed his internal feelings pf favoritism show to his other sons
The torah isn’t saying he was wrong to feel this, only to act on these feelings
Q: yosef must’ve known his dream would anger the brothers why would he tell them?
Genuinely
he was young & immature = genuinely didn’t realize it would upset them
Q: yosef must’ve known his dream would anger the brothers why would he tell them?
Hatred
he thought that if he could show his brothers that him being leader was divinely decreed, they would stop hating him
Q: yosef must’ve known his dream would anger the brothers why would he tell them?
(Dependence)
He hoped to show that they would be dependent on him one day, so it was unwise to hate him
Sforno: שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֕א
Q: The word נָ֕א is extra, what is it coming to show us?
not only did he say it in passing (brought it up w/ no context) - he invited them to listen - which angers them even. more (went out of his way)
