Torah and Jewish Idea > Torah and Jewish Idea
Parasha Vayeishev : Why Joseph Had to be Sold
muman613:
I found this mention of the issue of why the brothers had a reason to throw him in the pit:
http://www.shemayisrael.com/parsha/solomon/archives/vayeishev61.htm
One approach lies in examining details within the narrative, as below.
The text states that Joseph brought an evil report about his brothers to their father Jacob (37:3), which according to Bereishit Rabba (84:7) included elements of fraternal quarrelling, forbidden foods, and lust. The special garment that Jacob made for his son Joseph was, according to the Klei Yakar, a sign of special status among the brothers, despite his not being the firstborn son. The dreams did seem to cause the brothers to fear that Joseph would reach a position of power over the brothers, either by their consent or by force (Ibn Ezra on 37:8).
We therefore see contrasts between Joseph’s personal conduct on one hand, and the strong hints of his future potential as the developer of the tradition of the Avot on the other. In the eyes of the brothers, Joseph’s behavior exposed serious character weaknesses. Reuben, by virtue of his being the firstborn would have been the leader, only he lost the privilege (49:4), which was passed on to Joseph. Joseph displayed his status as the privileged son even when it was not welcome (37:23). People passing on negative information even with the best of intentions are not popular – especially in this case where, according to the Midrash, Joseph misunderstood the brothers’ conduct: A false accusation is as deadly as a sword (Mishlei 25:18). Additionally, his untimely recounting of his dreams to his brothers fuelled their fear that Joseph might indeed obtain power. He could therefore abuse that power – which could have undermined the great spiritual contributions of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Thus the brothers’ joint action in putting Joseph in a pit, and later selling him was in effect casting him into the hands of G-d: a trial by ordeal. In effect they were saying “Let G-d judge. Our job is to put Joseph into His hands…” And this was also a protest against their father’s favor of Joseph. From the point of view of their brothers, if their deception had been wrong, G-d would have used His ways of communicating the truth to Jacob.
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muman613:
Indeed they did sin... As this explains:
The Path of Repentance[1]
by Rav Zvi Shimon
The sin of Joseph's brothers is one of the more serious sins related in the book of Genesis. Both the Torah (Exodus 21:17, 20:13; see Rashi ibid; Deut. 24:7) and the Prophets (Joel 4, Amos 2:6-10 and many others) equate this sin of selling a free man into bondage with the gravest of sins. The penitence of Joseph's brothers is thus a major theme of the narrative. While the process of penitence involves all the brothers it centers primarily on Reuven and Judah.
Reuven and Judah were vying for the family leadership, Jacob having effectively ceased playing the leadership role (see for example 34:5, 34:13-14, 35:22, 43:5). After Shimon and Levi are excluded from the race for leadership, the struggle continues between Reuven and Judah. It finds expression in their argument over Joseph's fate (37:22,26-27), in the recognition of the sin of his sale (42:22 contra 44:16), in the assumption of responsibility for Benjamin in Egypt (42:37 contra 43:8-9) and in additional verses in the Torah.
Reuven and Judah were each engaged in a process of penitence for similar sins: Reuven for having slept with his father's wife, Bilhah, (as appears from the simple textual reading 35:22). and Judah for having slept, albeit unknowingly, with his son's wife (38:16). It would seem clear that their individual repentance is also part of the leadership struggle. At first glance there seems to be no connection between Reuven's sin with his father's wife and the selling of Joseph. This, however is misleading. According to the simple reading of the text, Reuven's intention was to inherit his father's leadership in his lifetime. (compare Absalom who slept with David's concubine, Second book of Samuel 16:22). His attempt to rescue Joseph and his dreams of royalty (37:20) is part of his repentance for his sin with Bilhah. Reuven acknowledges Joseph's right to be the leader.
The process of repentance accompanies the brothers wherever they go. When the Egyptian viceroy commands them to bring Benjamin, the second son of Rachel, the brothers are immediately reminded of the sale of Joseph. Once again the two contenders - Reuven and Judah - respond in character. Reuven sees only the punishment for the crime, an d he does not suggest any means of rectification.
Ephraim Ben Noach:
I don't understand why Tamar tricked Judah. And is there any meaning to the Butler being saved but the Baker is hung?
muman613:
--- Quote from: Nazarene911 on December 17, 2011, 06:54:10 PM ---I don't understand why Tamar tricked Judah. And is there any meaning to the Butler being saved but the Baker is hung?
--- End quote ---
Of course the Jewish sages have explained all these questions... I will attempt to address some of the reasons given for these events later this evening... G-d Willing!
Kahane-Was-Right BT:
--- Quote from: muman613 on December 16, 2011, 02:14:05 AM ---Well there is discussion on whether they were wrong. You know about the concept that they held a beit din and decided that the penalty for trying to usurp the birthright was death.
--- End quote ---
So if I hold a beit din to decide on doing something that is wrong, that makes it ok? They obviously THOUGHT they were right (who doesn't?), but that doesn't make them actually right. Again, the Torah clearly indicates what they did was wrong. If it wasn't wrong, there is no need for teshuvah!
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