Joseph's Sufferings

[Shimon]

“These are the genealogies of Jacob. When Josef was 17 years old (he was a youth), he was shepherding the flocks with his brothers.”

• Genesis 37:2, Treee of Life Version

Beginning here in parashas Vayeishev (and he [Jacob] settled), the Torah calls attention to Jacob’s first born son from Rachel, Yoseph, for whom Jacob (Israel) loved more than his other sons (Genesis 37:3). After Jacob’s exile from the land of Canaan, having spent twenty years working for his Uncle Labaan, and his confrontation with his brother Esau on his way back to Canaan, Jacob is now settled.

It is as if to say that the narrative of the three Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob transitions to a major event with the spotlight being placed on Yosef. He is described as “a shepherd with his brothers to the flock” (Bereishis 37:2, OJB). From these humble origins, he will ascend to become a leader in Egypt; only Pharaoh will be greater than him.

Joseph’s dreams serve as a portent to his future rise to power for the sake of his brethren and father, according to L’RD’s purpose (Genesis 37:7,9). Indeed, all of Egypt, and the surrounding peoples of the world at that time benefited from his calculations to preserve hordes of food during the seven year famine. Primarily, he was able to bestow upon his family the choice land of Goshen, because of his position of royalty in Egypt. His dreams of grandeur were fulfilled when his brothers bowed down in front of him.

Specifically, the narrative recounts that Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him, because the beautiful coat of many colors, given to him by Jacob, served as a designation of his father’s intent to place the responsibilities of the first born upon him. Since, the firstborn son of Leah, Reuben lost his birthright, Jacob”s firstborn of his wife, Rachel was chosen by him to receive the birthright instead. At seventeen years of age, he was given the responsibility by his father, Yaakov to check up on his brothers who were herding the sheep.

When they saw him approaching, they conspired against him. He was thrown into a pit; and, he was sold to traders passing by on their way to Egypt. His own brothers betrayed him; and, they spared his life yet, they ransomed him to non-Israelites, who were only concerned with his value as a slave. Little beknownest to Joseph’s brothers, this was the beginning of the L’RD’s plan, “to deliver their souls from death, and to keep them alive in famine” (Psalm 33:19, TLV).

“This I recall to my heart – therefore I have hope: Because of the mercies of AD’NAI we will not be consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.”

– Lamentations 3:21-23, Tree of Life Version

Great is the L’RD’’s faithfulness towards us; we are blessed every morning with His mercies. We should feel compelled to understand with our own eyes, what the Sages have said: that it is forbidden to despair. Joseph never despaired, despite the most trying of circumstances; because of his emunah (faith) in the L’RD, he succeeded in every challenging situation that he was placed.

As Potiphar’s servant, he was put in charge of the entire household, because of his organizational skills, and L’RD’s benevolence. Even Potiphar’s household was blessed in abundance by the L’RD because of Joseph. Although Potiphar’s wife accused him of indecency, Joseph – wrongly accused – and sent to prison, thrived while there. The warden of the jail put Joseph in charge of everything; he was successful in all of his duties at the prison.

In prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s courtiers. He interpreted correctly; the baker was executed for his negligence, while the cup bearer was restored to his position. Joseph asked the cupbearer to speak to Pharaoh on his behalf. “Yet the chief of the cupbearers did not remember Joseph – indeed, he forgot him”(Genesis 40:23, TLV). He was left in jail; yet, the L’RD’s faithfulness towards Joseph was still at work; two years later, Joseph would be called to Pharaoh’s court. After correctly interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph ascended to second in command of Egypt.

The events of Joseph’s life parallel those in the life of Yeshua: “They hated me without a cause” (John 15:25). “He came to his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11, TLV). “We do not want this man to rule over us” (Luke 19:14, CJB). Regarding Yeshua, the Roman soldiers “stripped the robe off Him,” in like manner that Joseph’s brothers had “stripped Joseph of his tunic” (Genesis 37:23), before throwing him into a pit. Then, “they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver” (Genesis 37:28, TLV). Yeshua, also was sold out by Judas, “And they weighed out thirty shekels of silver for him” (Matthew 26:15, TLV). Yosef was wrongly accused by Potiphar (Genesis 39:20; 40:15). Regarding Yeshua, he was also falsely accused (Matthew 26:59-60). Yosef’s eventual freedom from prison brought him into Pharaoh’s court, where he ascended to rule over the land (Genesis 41:41). Yeshua ascended into Shomayim, and will return to reign as Messiah in Jerusalem.