Literary Devices – Bereshit 40/0

Literary Devices – Bereshit 40

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Binary Structure

In his commentary on Bereshit,¹ Robert Alter points out that Yosef’s story is structured as a series of doublets (as was Yaakov’s story; see Literary Devices – Bereshit 23). Yosef and Paroh both have double dreams, the baker and butler present their dreams together, Yosef is thrown into a pit and then into prison, the brothers make two trips to Egypt, and their descent to Egypt parallels Yosef’s descent.

Key Words

"פקד"

• Though the root "פקד" appears onlyםמבק in the chapter, see the concordance that, with one exception, all appearances of the root (and the related noun פקיד) in Sefer Bereshit are found in the Yosef narratives,² suggesting that the word might play an important role.
• Secondary Literature – Professor Yonatan Grossman, in his article Leitwort (III) discusses the repetition of the root, noting that it takes various forms with different meanings: “פקד” (to take account or remember), “הפקיד” (appoint), and “פקיד” (agent) . The various usages and different contexts³ underscore the theme of dual causality that is central to the story of Yosef, playing with the question: “Who is the ruler? Who is the agent?” (God or man?)

Character Titles

¹ See R. Alter, Genesis: Translation and Commentary, (New York, 1996): 210.

² Together they appear ten times

³ The root first appears in Bereshit 39:4-5, when Yosef is appointed to a position of authority in Potiphar’s house, and in the following chapter when Yosef is appointed to serve the butler and baker in jail (Bereshit 40:4). Later, it is used in the context of other people who will be given authority to collect grain and administer a plan for Egypt’s welfare (41:33-34). Finally, it describes Hashem’s taking account of the Children of Israel in the future (50:24-25). This mirrors the process by which Yosef comes to realize that Hashem is the One who takes account and Who directs the course of human experience.