Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 48/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 48

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Overview

This index is meant to help the reader explore Biblical parallels, be they two accounts of the same event, stories with similar motifs and themes, or units of text which are linguistically similar and perhaps alluding one to the other. The page includes links to tools that aid in comparison, primary sources that touch upon the parallels, and summaries of and links to articles which analyze them in depth.

Blessing Children At End of Life

Tools

• Makbilot Bamikra points out that the narrative of Yaakov blessing Yosef's children in a weakened and visually impaired state, parallels the story of Yitzchak’s blessings to Yaakov and Esav before his death. In both cases, the younger son receives the bigger blessing, but while Yitzchak gives this blessing unwittingly, Yaakov does so with full knowledge.

Articles

• In ויחי יעקב - ויחי יוסף, Prof. Yonatan Grossman suggests that the parallels indicate that despite the price paid for his deceit, Yaakov does not regret his tricking of his father to receive the blessings, for he recognized that due to the prophecy he was meant to receive them. Thus, he has no qualms about similarly blessing the younger Ephraim in place of the elder Menashe.

Promise of Fertility

Tools

• Makbilot Bamikra points out that the blessing of fertility to Ephraim and Menashe parallels other commands to reproduce and promises of fertility that were given to humankind and to the Patriarchs at pivotal moments.
• Concordance – However, by clicking on the word “וידגו” in Bereshit 48:16 and choosing concordance from the drop-down, one can see that this precise image (of teeming like fish) is not found elsewhere in Tanakh, and can be added to the images of the stars of the sky and the dust of the earth as another form of God’s promise of fertility.

Relationships Among Brothers

The blessing of Menashe and Ephraim represents a partial resolution of all of the stories of animosity between brothers in Bereshit.

Articles / Lectures

• in קנאת אחים בספר בראשית, R. 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: מריבת אחים by Rabbanit 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.
• See R. Eliyahu Safran’s article Yaakov’s Blessing: Menashe, Ephraim, and a Lesson for Our Lives for a brief discussion of the qualities expressed in the story of blessing Menashe and Ephraim: loyalty to Judaism even in a hostile environment, harmony between brothers, and respect for religious tradition and authority.   

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.