Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 37/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 37

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Tension Between Brothers

The story of the sale of Yosef is the climax of stories of animosity between brothers in Sefer Bereshit.

Tools

• Makbilot Bamikra points out that the brothers’ plan to kill Yosef in Bereshit 37:19-21 parallels Esav’s expressed intent to kill Yaakov in Bereshit 27:41.
• Tanakh Lab – Compare the linguistic parallels between the two stories in the Tanakh Lab. The parallel language of  "לְאַחֶיךָ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ" / "וְאַחֶיךָ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת לְךָ" might hint to what lies at the heart of the various stories of jealousy throughout the book - struggles over who will be the "chosen" one, to whom others will bow and pay homage.

Articles  / Lectures

• In קנאת אחים בספר בראשית, Shlomo Brin explores the pattern of tensions between brothers in Sefer Bereshit. He suggests that a comparison of the stories of sibling rivalry highlights that there is a progression towards better relationships as the book moves forward.¹ Thus, though Sefer Bereshit opens with jealousy and fratricide, Sefer Shemot opens with a picture of sibling harmony, as Aharon, Moshe and Miryam work together.
• See וישב: מרבית אחים by Dr. Esti Rosenberg and Dr. Yosefa Wruble for a discussion of sibling strife throughout Sefer Bereshit. The Torah presents jealousy and competition as deeply rooted and natural, and calls upon people to overcome it nonetheless. Yosef manages to reverse the cycle when he decides not to take vengeance upon his brothers, and Sefer Shemot thus begins with the first relationship between siblings that is not fraught.

Yosef and Tamar

Yosef and David's daughter Tamar are both victims of violence by their brothers. 

Tools

• Tanakh Lab – The Tanakh Lab² shows that the chapter that is the second most linguistically similar to the story of Yosef's sale is Shemuel II 13, the story of Amnon's rape of Tamar and Avshalom's avenging of the act. See here to compare the two chapters.³

Articles

• See "Amnon and Tamar: A Case Sturdy in Allusions" by R. Robert Klapper, Gavi Posner, and Mordy Freidman in Nahalah I for a comparison of the various stories that might be alluded to in Shemuel I 13, including the rape of Dinah in Bereshit 34, the sale of Yosef in Bereshit 37 and the the story of Yehuda and Tamar in Bereshit 38.
• See Yaakov and David for an exploration of both the plot parallels and linguistic similarities in the stories of these two figures, including their reactions to the tragedies that befall their children.

Yosef and David

There are many parallels between the story of Yosef being sent to check on his brothers in Bereshit 37 and David's being sent to check on his brothers in Shemuel I 17.

Tools

• Use the Tanakh Lab to compare the linguistic parallels between the two stories.

Articles

• In המסרים שבסיפור שליחות יוסף לאחיו בשכם ושליחות דוד אל אחיו אל המחנה, Professor Yonatan Grossman explores the parallels and differences between the stories of Yosef’s and David’s missions to check on their brothers, and how these missions equip Yosef and David for leadership.
• See also R. Amnon Bazak's comparison of the two stories, focusing on the difference in the relationship between the two sets of brothers.  Though both Yosef and David are chosen and are a potential reason for jealousy, David and his brothers manage to overcome this, while Yosef's brothers do not.

¹ Kayin’s story ends in murder for which Kayin exhibits at best halfhearted remorse. In the story of Esav and Yaakov, there seems to be fuller reconciliation at the end of the narrative. Finally, Yosef is saved by one of his brothers (Reuven) and, at the end of his story, puts his trust in his brothers to bury him in Israel. This pattern of improving sibling relations continues with Menashe and Ephraim and culminates in the relationship of Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam.

² In the Tanakh Lab, click on the Torah icon to see a list of linguistically similar chapters to that being displayed.

³ Some of the parallels include:

• Yosef and Tamar both wear a "כתונת פסים".
• Both stories feature violence between siblings.
• Avshalom is not able to speak to Amnon due to his anger just as the brothers cannot speak peaceably to Yosef.
• Tamar’s refusal to sleep with Amnon is similar to Yosef’s refusal to sleep with Potiphar’s wife in Bereshit 39
• Yosef’s statement to clear everyone from the room before he reveals himself to his brothers (Bereshit 45:1) parallels Amnon’s command to clear everyone from around him (Shmuel Bet 13:9)
• Both Yaakov and David are left in mourning over their sons.