Yaakov's Blessing of Yosef/2
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Yaakov's Blessing of Yosef
Exegetical Approaches
Individual Blessing for the Present
Yaakov's blessing was aimed at Yosef the individual and related to events that transpired in his lifetime. The sources disagree regarding which incidents are alluded to and form the focus of the blessing:
Conflict with the Brothers
Yaakov told Yosef that despite his brothers' enmity, he had prevailed and managed to rise above them.
Sources:Ibn Ezra
בֵּן פֹּרָת יוֹסֵף בֵּן פֹּרָת עֲלֵי עָיִן – Ibn Ezra understands "בֵּן פֹּרָת" to mean a "fruitful branch", with "פֹּרָת" being a poetic form of the word "פורה".1 The doubling is simply Tanakh's way to express continuity or permanence.
בָּנוֹת צָעֲדָה עֲלֵי שׁוּר – This phrase expands on the first blessing of progeny, and means that Yosef's branches will further bear fruit and climb like a vine over the walls. The word "שׁוּר" might be related to the Aramaic "שורא" which means wall.2
"...וַיְמָרְרֻהוּ וָרֹבּו" – This verse describes the brothers plot to sell Yosef. The The siblings are described metaphorically as archers who set Yosef's gallbladder (מְרֵרָה) as a target to shoot (רבה) at.
וַתֵּשֶׁב בְּאֵיתָן קַשְׁתּוֹ וַיָּפֹזּוּ זְרֹעֵי יָדָיו
מִידֵי אֲבִיר יַעֲקֹב מִשָּׁם רֹעֶה אֶבֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל
Mrs. Potiphar's Attempted Seduction
Sources:Rashbam
