Yosef/0

Yosef – Overview

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Overview

The Yosef narratives extend from Bereshit 37 through the end of the book, providing the reader with significantly more details about Yosef's life, personality, and interactions than any of the other tribes.  His life progresses on a roller coaster of ups and downs, as his position as favored child morphs into that of degraded slave, then back to head of household, only to revert once more to forgotten prisoner.  He finally emerges as second in command to Paroh, paving the way for the family's descent to Egypt.

Throughout, Yosef is a composite of opposites.  He is both  loved and hated, admired and disdained.  He is a dreamer, but capable of facing harsh reality. He is an outsider who makes it in. He is a man who can control Egypt, but cannot hold in his tears. The various aspects of Yosef's character have invited multiple interpretations throughout centuries of exegesis, often resulting in contrasting portraits of the fascinating figure.

Family Life

Relationship to Siblings

Bereshit 37 discusses both the brother's sale of Yosef, and the jealousy and hatred which led to it. The chapter declares "וַיִּשְׂנְאוּ אֹתוֹ", implying that all the brothers hated Yosef equally.  However, not all commentators agree, as several verses might suggest otherwise:

• "וְהוּא נַעַר אֶת בְּנֵי בִלְהָה וְאֶת בְּנֵי זִלְפָּה" – Commentators debate the meaning of this phrase and what it connotes about Yosef's relationship with the sons of the maidservants.
  

• Positive relationship
• Spent recreation time with them – RashiBereshit 37:2About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, RashbamBereshit 37:2-3About R. Shemuel b. Meir, R. Avraham b. HaRambamBereshit 37:2-3About R. Avraham Maimonides
• Served together with them: ShadalBereshit 37:2-3About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto
• Negative relationship
• The sons of the maidservants served Yosef – R. Yosef Bekhor ShorBereshit 37:2-3About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RambanBereshit 37:2-3About R. Moshe b. Nachman
• Yosef served the sons of the maidservants – Ibn EzraBereshit First Commentary 37About R. Avraham ibn Ezra
• "וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶת דִּבָּתָם רָעָה אֶל אֲבִיהֶם" – Commentators dispute whether Yosef slandered all of the brothers, or only some of them. This, too, might bear on his individual relationships with each sibling:¹
• Benei Hagevirot – RYehuda in BR 84:7, Rashi, Rashbam, Shadal
• Benei Hashefachot: Rav Yosef Kara [elders hated him cuz of dreams], Rivash [cuz served them], Chzikuni [like R"Y Kara], Ramban, Netiz
• Slandered All – Radak, ?Ralbag

Religious Identity

¹ Regarding the nature and evaluation of his slandering, see below.