PREFACE
In this post we are going to track Yehuda (Judah). Yehudah is born in Genesis 29:35 and his name derives from “Giving Thanks”. It should be noted that the concept of giving thanks predates Yehuda and even Esav’s wife’s name was Yehudit before Yehudah was even born. Yehudah was the fourth son of Yaakov and Leah after Reuven, Shimon, and Levi.
BACK TO THE POINT WHERE YOSEPH FINDS HIS BROTHER AND THEY WANT TO KILL HIM
We are now in Genesis (Breishit) 37:26. At this point some of the brothers want to kill Joseph and Reuven as the first born feels responsibility and want to save him. Yehuda has a strategy to at least save Joseph’s life by selling him to the Ishmaelites. Yehudah continues to say that “Joseph is our flesh and blood” and the brother listen to him. In short Judah is a compelling problem solver whom people listen to their advice.
But before they can execute the plan Midianites come and pull Joseph out of the pit and they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites for 20 silvers and the Ishmaelite take Joseph to Egypt and resell him.
WE NOW DIGRESS TO THE STORY OF JUDAH’S WIFE AND CHILDREN
We are now in Genesis (Breishit) 38:1 and Judah leaves his brothers and goes takse the daughter of Shua a Canaanite and sleeps with her., They never say his wife’s name. She get pregnant and gives birth to Er. She gets pregnant again and gives birth to Onan. And finally gives birth to Sheyla. Judah then takes a wife for Er called Tamar. But G-d does not like Er and kills him. At that time there was a custom or requirement that if a married brother dies with no children that the closest relative must take her, have children in the name of the deceased brother and carry on the deceased brother’s legacy to keep his name alive. So Onan is mandated to fulfill the requirement and he stops short. G-d then decides to kill him also. So now Sheyla is the next candidate but he is just a little kid. So Judah tells Tamar to put on widow clothing and wait for Sheyla to grow up because at this point he was afraid he would lose his last son.
A considerable time passes and Tamar is tired of waiting. In the meantime Judah’s wife also dies. But then she hears that Judah is going to be passing by a certain location very soon. By this point Sheyla has grown up and Judah did not fulfill his end of the bargain.
Tamar goes to the location, takes off her widow’s clothing, and puts on a scarf to hide her face, pitches her tent, and puts out a red lantern and sign saying “OPEN FOR BUSINESS“. She sits in the doorway waiting. Judah sees her and thinks she is a prostitute because her face is covered. They negotiate the price but Judah explains that he left his wallet and credit cards at home. She then demands some form of collateral. He leaves his special staff and signet ring and cord and they get on with the business and ultimately part ways. She removed her scarf, packs up, and leaves. Judah immediately send his friend with the agreed upon payment but when he shows up no one is there. And people in the surroundings say that there never was a prostitute (the Bible uses a nice euphemism for prostitute) there. Judah does not know what to do. Three months pass by and Judah hears that Tamar is pregnant and the account uses some very strong language. Judah says she should be taken out and burnt alive for her whoring around. They find her and essentially take her before the authorities to execute the punishment. But before they can she stands up and says “Excuse me doesn’t the law also demand you do the same to the bastard that got me pregnant?” Judah responds “You better believe it! Tell us who it is.” Tamar responds “I don’t exactly know but here is his unique staff, cord, and signet ring”. Judah recognizes the collateral he left and responds “Never mind” and turns aside and says “She is right and boy did she get me”. In the end Judah never gave her to Sheyla nor did he ever have relations with her again. She ends up having twins. From here the Bible goes back to the original story line.
WE NOW RETURN TO THE MAIN STORY OF JOSEPH
We are now in Genesis (Breishit) 39:1 and Joseph has been taken to Egypt where Potipha has bought him as discussed earlier. In brief Joseph is success at everything and quickly finds favor until his encounter with Potiphar’s wife. Since we already covered this we will move forward. But in Brteishit 39:17 Potiphar’s wife says that the “Hebrew SLave” came on to her. We note that the language connecting Joseph to the Hebrews and Hebrew language is very close to what we saw associated with Abraham. In verse 20 Joseph is thrown into prison and the use of “prison” in three different ways implies that this was a very bad place. But once again Joseph rises to the occasion with his enormous skills and he essential rises to manage the prison functions much like what he did in Potiphar’s house. And the chapter concludes giving credit to G-d for making Joseph succeed. In chapter 40 we read about the butlet and the baker in prison and their dreams which Joseph correctly interprets. This segment concludes with the hanging of the baker and the return of the butler to his station with Joseph asking him to remember Joseph and try to help secure his release from Pharaoh. And in three day the proof came as the baker was hung and the butler returned to his post and subsequently forgot his promise to Joseph.
We continue to chapter 41 and Joseph has spent a full two years in prison. Pharaoh has his dreams of 7 fat cows and 7 lean cows followed by another drema with 7 plump sheaths followed by 7 lean sheaths. No one can interpret the dream and the butler remembers Joseph referring to him as a “Hebrew lad“. They hurriedly pull Joseph from the pit, clean, shave him, and give him new clothes. Pharaoh tells Joseph the two dreams and is enormously impressed with Joseph’s proper interpretation and they follow Joseph’s advice to the letter. In verse 38 they state that the spirit of G-d is in Joseph. Pharaoh tells Joseph in line 39 that there is no one more correct or as smart as Joseph. And Joseph is appointed to be the viceroy – second in command in Egypt just below Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh gives Joseph amazing jewelry and clothing. In verses 43-44 Pharaoh continues to extoll Joseph but most importantly promises Joseph that “No one in all of the lands of Egypt will ever harm him”. This show amazing insight considering Joseph’s past history with his family, Potiphar’s wife, and his prison experience. As we move forward I would also note that I believe that prison is a tranformational experience where someone is compelled to learn survival skills or die. So after prison Joseph is no longer the naive child he was once saying anything and everything on his mind.
In verse 45 Pharaoh gives Joseph is new name Tzofnat Pareach as we discussed earlier and his wife Osnat the daughter of Potiphera . Joseph was just 30 years old and he begins to go out and seriously take up a mountainous challenge and meet if full force head on. Next Joseph has two sons and for the next 7 years works to build the food storage and distribution system. And 7 years pass a the famine was very bad but Joseph has saved everyone.
WE NOW RETURN TO JACOB AND THE IMPACT OF THE FAMINE IN ISRAEL
We are now in Genesis (Breishit) 42:1 and the famine is very bad. He fears that they will die but hears that there is food in Egypt. Jacob send 10 brothers of Joseph to Egypt to try to secure food. But he did not send Benjamin fearing that something might happen to him. We must note that even though approximately a decade has passed with Joseph in prison for at least 2 years, the 7 years of drought, the time in Potiphar’s house, and other events but Joseph remain the central reference point for the family and is anything but forgotten over time. The Bible continues to tell how Joseph is extremely active in everything associated with the famine and food distribution and the 10 brothers come before Joseph in verse 6. In verse 7 Joseph immediately recognizes them and launches an massive verbal attack against them accusing them of being spies and threatening Egypt. And the Torah again says that Joseph recognized the brothers but they did not recognize him. When the Torah says something twice this is a literary technique stating that this is very important. Pay close attention. And now the important thread. The Torah reminds us of the dreams as the central thread connecting everything. Then Joseph accuses them of being spies looking for strategic weaknesses in Egypt to exploit. Joseph’s attack ios brilliant and puts the brothers on the defensive where they reveal their story of their father and 12 children implying that Benjamin is the missing brother giving Joseph an opening. Joseph seizes on this and demand that they bring Benjamin to Egypt. Meanwhile Joseph puts the brothers in prison for three days. Remember that the Biblical technique of using 3 to show proof just as in the story of the Butler and the Baker and later at Mount Sinai. And Joseph strongly tells them “This is what you will do per the G-d that I fear” leaving no doubt as to their current crisis. Joseph continues to say that one brother must remain in prison and the rest can go to retrieve Benjamin.
Verse 21 begins an amazing watershed moment where the brothers all speak with each other admitting that they are responsible for bring this upon themselves. “We saw the distress of his [Joseph’s] soul as he begged us and we did not listen and this is the reason that this crisis have befallen us.” Note that this is not just one brother or another but all the brothers in unison.
Then individuals chime in as Reuven the first born says “I told you not to harm him and you didn’t listen”. The brothers did not know that Joseph was listening (and possibly they spoke in Hebrew and they did not expect anyone would understand but Joseph knew Hebrew). And Joseph seeing their remorse and acceptance of guilt turns and cries.
Joseph turns back and takes Shimon (Simon) before their eyes to prison. Joseph gives thems sacks of food that they load on their donkeys. And one of the brothers opens his sack at the hotel to feed the donkey and sees that their money for the food in the mouth of the sack that was returned and put in their sacks. His heart sinks as he thinks about being accused of stealing the money and does not know what else can possibly happen. He tells the other brother and they shake in thin fear. Joseph has orchestrated everything with sheer brilliance. They return to Jacob and explain the situation. Reuven tells Jacob that he will assume full responsibility for Benjamin and if anything happens to Benjamin Jacob can kill Reuven’s two sons. Jacob repeats (note the second repetition literary technique) that one son is dead and if something happens to Benjamin you will kill me.
We now begin chapter 43 and the famine is worse. They have finished all the food that they brought from Egypt Jacob asks them to return to Egypt to bring more food.
And now Yehudah steps up to take charge and says using the double technique that “The man warned warned us that we will not see his face without our little brother”. Yehudah continues “If you send our little brother will us we will go. But if you don’t send him we will not go”. And Yehuda again repeats “The man said that we will not see his face without our little brother”. Now the scripture switches names and uses his other name Yisrael (Israel) saying “How could you do such evil to me by telling the man that you have another brother?”. Yehudah replies “The Man asked (in the strong double format) about our birth place and if our father is still alive, do you have a little brother? According to his words how could we know (double form again for emphasis) that he would demand that we bring you brother”. And now we see how compelling Yehudah is in clarity, presentation, and emotional argumentation. He has clearly showed that he is a formidable force. And perfect symetry Yehudah answers Yisrael (Israel) powerfully following the Torah’s lead “Send the boy and we will go and we will live and not die (double through positive followed by double negative), us, and you and our children”. Yehuda continues to say the he will be the guarantor immediately and if I fail I will have sinned before you forever. At this point Yisrael has been persuaded and changes his tone completely. He recommends bringing Joseph gifts of the best the land has to offer: honey, spices, almonds and so forth. And take double the price of the food and the money they returned in your sacks and maybe even double that too. And Yisrael finishes with “Take you little brother and go, get up, and return to the man”. The response is now following the direction set by Judah with his compelling plea comes and equally compelling response which is completed with a triple form of telling them to go and do it. Yehudah has proven his abilities. Now comes the time for execution. Now Jacob closes the exchange “G-d Almighty will give you mercy before The Man will send you your other brother and Benjamin and if I will be bereaved I will be bereaved (using the emphatic double literary technique)”, And the brothers do exactly what has been outlined.
In verse 16 they come before Yoseph and he in elation sees his little brother. Joseph then tells the man in charge of his house to bring the people to his house, slaughter the animals, and prepare a great meal and Joseph was going to have lunch with these people. The man takes the brothers to Joseph’s house and under the weight of guilt the brothers tell him about the money they found in their sacks. And to their total shock the man responds “Peace upon you. Do not fear for your G-d and the G-d of your ancestors has given you a treasure in your sacks – your money. Come with me and we will release your brother Shimon (Simon)”. And the man brings them to Joseph’s house He gave them water, washed their feet (major good deed in ancient Middle East), and fed their donkeys. The brothers prepare the gifts for Joseph because they were going to eat lunch with him and have bread. (Please see my post on “Bread”). Joseph comes home and the brothers give him their gifts and they bow down to him. Joseph asks how they are doing (The Bible uses the power word Shalom or peace) and asks about their father the old man again with Shalom in the question with all its impact. Is he still alive? The brothers respond in kind saying Shalom and that they and their father are fine and he is still alive. And they bend and bow before him.
The tone and nature of this entire exchange is a dramatic departure from the previous formal exchanges in a hostile interrogation in a very formal setting.
Then Joseph lifts his eyes and sees his little brother, the other son of his beloved mother, and he asks if this is their little brother. May G-d be gracious upon you my son. And Joseph hastened because he felt such compassion for his little brother that he just wanted to cry. So Joseph went into the other room and overcome by emotion began to cry there. Then Joseph washed away his tears, left, gathered himself together, and asked that the bread be brought. The bread was brought and served separately for Joseph and separately for the brothers since it was considered an abomination for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews. Next they seated all of the brother in perfect chronological order and the brothers were astounded. How could they know that? Eleven brothers from 4 different mothers. Some short, some tall, some fat, and some skinny. There is no way a stranger could have accurately seated them in perfect chronological order. Then the brothers were each served their portions and Benjamin received a portion five times the size of everyone else’s portion. They drank and were merry with Joseph. (The term is in the active form meaning “were merry” but if it were in the reflexive it would have meant “got drunk”).
At this point we conclude chapter 43 in total awe at the impact of Yehudah and amazing personal response of Joseph in the nature of the conversation and the whole demeanor of this lunch in Joseph’s home.
We now begin Breishit (Genesis) chapter 44 and approach the climax of the story.
Joseph orders the people in his house to fill the sacks of the brothers and put their money in the sacks as well.. And my goblet, silver goblet (note the doubling) put into the sack of the little one. The people did as Joseph commanded and they sent the people and their donkeys on their way. They had not gone far and Joseph ordered his people to pursue and catch the brothers and check their sacks. Joseph’s man asks them why they returned evil in place of the goodness that they received. The brothers are in total shock and don’t know what to do. They ask the man why after the wonderful time they had at Joseph’s house they address them in such a rude fashion since they could never do something like what they are accused of. We returned the money to you that was in our sacks. How could we steal from the house of the master silver or gold?
They took down the sacks and searched for the goblet and found it in Benjamin’s sack. The the brothers tore their garments in mourning as they understood their predicament, climbed on their donkeys, and returned to the city. Yehudah and the brothers returned to Joseph’s house and Joseph was still there. They fell on their faces before him. Joseph then challenges them “How could you do something like this? A person like me cannot be fooled and will figure this out.”
Now under enormous pressure in an impossible fabricated situation does not lie or conjecture. He says “What can I say to my master? What can I say? (Note the doubling. This is extremely important). How can we justify ourselves? The G-d will find the sins of your servants. We are servants of my G-d. We also as the goblet was found in his possession. (eg Benjamin). Joseph responds that the person found with the goblet will remain in Joseph’s possession as a slave. And the rest of you can go on your way (The text again uses the powerful Hebrew word Shalom) to your father.”
CLIMAX
We now are at Breishit (Genesis) chapter 44:18 and approach the climax of the story.
Yehuda is in an impossible contrived situation and approaches Joseph “May I have a word with my master in private? Please do not be angry with your servant because you are as great as Pharaoh. You asked us whether we had a father or brother. And we said that we have a father who is old. And a young son conceived in old age, and a dead brother. And he was left alone with his mother and father who love him. You commanded us to take him down to you and that you would see him. And I told my master that we can’t because he cannot leave his father. If he leaves his father, his father will die. You responded saying if the little brother does not come down here that we will never see you again. And when we went to my father and told him my master’s words my father said to return and bring food. I replied that I cannot go down to you unless we bring our little brother because you will not receive us without our little brother. And our father your servant said you know that my wife bore me two children. One went out and was torn apart by a wild animal and I have not seen any sight of him until since. And if you take this one and something happens to him I will die. So now if I go to my father your servant and he is not with me his soul (eg the boy’s) is bound with his (my father’s). When he sees that the boy is missing my father will die in despair and anguish forever. Because you servant offered to be the guarantor of the child for my father saying that if I do not return my little brother to my father I will have sinned against my father forever!. So now take me in place of the lad and he should return with his brothers. Because how can I return to my father without the boy and witness the torment and anguish that will befall him”
CONCLUSION: Genesis Chapter 45 בְּרֵאשִׁית
Joseph could no longer contain himself before all of those stand in front of him. Joseph calls out to everyone there to leave as he is about to begin his GREAT CONFESSION. Joseph raises his voice crying. And Egypt and the House of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said to his brothers: ” I AM JOSEPH!! IS MY FATHER ALIVE? – AND THE BROTHERS WERE IN SHOCK AND COULD NOT ANSWER HIM. AND JOSEPH SAID TO HIS BROTHERS ‘APPROACH ME!” AND THEY APPROACHED. I AM JOSEPH YOUR BROTHER THAT YOU SOLD ME TO EGYPT. AND NOW DO NOT BE SAD AND YOUR EYES SHOULD NOT BE ANGRY WITH YOURSELVES THAT YOU SOLD ME HERE TO EGYPT. BECAUSE G-D SENT ME HERE TO SAVE LIVES BEFORE YOU. BECAUSE WE ARE NOW TWO YEARS IN THE MIDST OF FAMINE WITHIN THE LAND AND WE STILL HAVE FIVE YEARS LEFT WITHOUT CROPS. G-D SENT ME BEFORE YOU TO PROVIDE THE REMNANTS OF THE LAND AND TO SUSTAIN YOU WITH A GREAT DELIVERANCE. AND NOW YOU DID NOT SEND ME HERE BUT HE PLACED ME AS A FATHER TO PHARAOH AND A MASTER FOR ALL HIS HOUSEHOLD AND A RULER FOR ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT. HURRY AND GO TO MY FATHER AND TELL HIM THUS SAID YOUR SON JOSEPH G-D PLACED ME AS A LORD FOR ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT. COME DOWN TO ME. DON’T TARRY.
SUMMARY
We now concluded a major story in the Holy Scriptures with two great characters in a complex situation. Each character, brothers no less, possibly in both meanings of the term brother (siblings and great friends after all is said and done) and the confrontation clearly brings out the greatness of each of them in their own ways. We saw the strategic skills and artistry of how Joseph handles himself and guide the brother to repentance to learn from their sins. He also is nurturing and does not exploit the situation. On the other hand Yehudah in an extremely difficult situation does not lie, posture, or abdicate responsibility. When put to the test he show his character and asks to take Benjamin’s place to free Benjamin and save their father.
So now comes the big question. Why was Yehuda the only person who could give his amazing compelling speech and no one else? Ironically the answer lies in the strange interceding story about Tamar. In that story we learn that two of Yehudah’s three son were killed and that Yehuda was a bereaved father of two when he pleaded before Joseph to save Jacob from the same anguish that he suffered. No one knows the anguish of a bereaved father like a real bereaved father. And one can see the emotion and anguish in his pleas before Joseph for his father’s life. And the irony is that in the end it turns out that Jacob is really not a bereaved father as he ultimately regains Joseph but beyond this gets two grandchildren to enjoy in his remaining years.