Difference between revisions of "Yaakov's Parting Words to Shimon and Levi/2"
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<point><b>"אֲחַלְּקֵם בְּיַעֲקֹב וַאֲפִיצֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל"</b> – R. Yehuda HeChasid asserts that Yaakov is referring to the fact that all the other tribes will desire to hire Shimon and Levi to fight for them.<fn>This interpretation stands in contrast to the accepted understanding that Yaakov is referring to the brothers' inheritance in Canaan, where they will be dispersed among the tribes.</fn>  They will be divided among Israel as they spread out to aid each tribe in their battles.<fn>R. Yehuda HeChasid attempts to bring proof from Yehuda's proposal to Shimon in Shofetim 1:3 "עֲלֵה אִתִּי בְגֹרָלִי וְנִלָּחֲמָה בַּכְּנַעֲנִי", where he asks Shimon to join him in fighting the Canaanites. The prooftext, however, is somewhat weak, since Yehuda's proposal is that each will help the other (וְהָלַכְתִּי גַם אֲנִי אִתְּךָ בְּגוֹרָלֶךָ), and not that Shimon alone will help Yehuda.</fn></point> | <point><b>"אֲחַלְּקֵם בְּיַעֲקֹב וַאֲפִיצֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל"</b> – R. Yehuda HeChasid asserts that Yaakov is referring to the fact that all the other tribes will desire to hire Shimon and Levi to fight for them.<fn>This interpretation stands in contrast to the accepted understanding that Yaakov is referring to the brothers' inheritance in Canaan, where they will be dispersed among the tribes.</fn>  They will be divided among Israel as they spread out to aid each tribe in their battles.<fn>R. Yehuda HeChasid attempts to bring proof from Yehuda's proposal to Shimon in Shofetim 1:3 "עֲלֵה אִתִּי בְגֹרָלִי וְנִלָּחֲמָה בַּכְּנַעֲנִי", where he asks Shimon to join him in fighting the Canaanites. The prooftext, however, is somewhat weak, since Yehuda's proposal is that each will help the other (וְהָלַכְתִּי גַם אֲנִי אִתְּךָ בְּגוֹרָלֶךָ), and not that Shimon alone will help Yehuda.</fn></point> | ||
<point><b>No mention of Shekhem</b> – This approach might assume that the incident in Shekhem was one of the reasons that the brothers had the reputation that they did. If so, in Chapter 34 Yaakov had  not been upset about the extremity of the the brothers' actions, only worried about the prudence of the deed.</point> | <point><b>No mention of Shekhem</b> – This approach might assume that the incident in Shekhem was one of the reasons that the brothers had the reputation that they did. If so, in Chapter 34 Yaakov had  not been upset about the extremity of the the brothers' actions, only worried about the prudence of the deed.</point> | ||
− | <point><b>No mention of sale</b> – According to R. Yehuda HeChasid, though the brothers planned to sell Yosef, they never did so as the Midianites beat them to it. Shadal's cousin goes a step further to suggest that the brothers themselves were unaware of | + | <point><b>No mention of sale</b> – According to <multilink><a href="RYehudaHeChasidBereshit37-28" data-aht="source">R. Yehuda HeChasid</a><a href="RYehudaHeChasidBereshit37-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:28</a><a href="R. Yehuda HeChasid" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yehuda HeChasid</a></multilink>, though the brothers planned to sell Yosef, they never did so as the Midianites beat them to it. <multilink><a href="ShadalBereshit37-28" data-aht="source">Shadal's cousin</a><a href="ShadalBereshit37-28" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:28</a><a href="ShadalBereshit49-5-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit 49:5-7</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink> goes a step further to suggest that the brothers themselves were unaware of this, and upon finding the pit empty, concluded that Yosef had indeed been killed by a wild animal (as they told their father).  If so, it is clear why Yaakov does not rebuke Shimon and Levi for the sale, and very possible that Yaakov never learned of the original plotting either.<fn>Interestingly, Shadal himself in the later printed editions of his commentary, nonetheless contends that Yaakov assumed (incorrectly) that the brothers had been directly responsible for the sale.</fn> [See <a href="Who Sold Yosef" data-aht="page">Who Sold Yosef</a> for elaboration.]</point> |
<point><b>Motivation</b> – R. Yehuda HeChasid's casting of Yaakov's words in a positive light is likely influenced by the events of his own time.<fn>In this he differs from R"Y Kimchi above, whose motivations were textual, the desire to be true to the narrator's statement that all the brothers were blessed.  R. Yehdua heChasid is apparently not bothered by this issue, as he makes no attempt to mitigate the criticism implied in the "blessing" to Reuven.</fn> Living in 12th century Germany, after the Crusaders had decimated full towns, he sees a need for Jews, like Shimon and Levi, who can stand up to and kill their enemies. This was a pervasive attitude throughout Germany of his day.  Perhaps if there were a few more Shimon and Levi's in their own time, such widespread destruction would not have occurred.</point> | <point><b>Motivation</b> – R. Yehuda HeChasid's casting of Yaakov's words in a positive light is likely influenced by the events of his own time.<fn>In this he differs from R"Y Kimchi above, whose motivations were textual, the desire to be true to the narrator's statement that all the brothers were blessed.  R. Yehdua heChasid is apparently not bothered by this issue, as he makes no attempt to mitigate the criticism implied in the "blessing" to Reuven.</fn> Living in 12th century Germany, after the Crusaders had decimated full towns, he sees a need for Jews, like Shimon and Levi, who can stand up to and kill their enemies. This was a pervasive attitude throughout Germany of his day.  Perhaps if there were a few more Shimon and Levi's in their own time, such widespread destruction would not have occurred.</point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> |
Version as of 13:39, 20 December 2018
Yaakov's Parting Words to Shimon and Levi
Exegetical Approaches
The Episode of Shekhem
Yaakov's words to Shimon and Levi reference the story of Shekhem. This position splits regarding whether it assumes that Yaakov is rebuking or praising Shimon and Levi for their actions:
Rebuke
Yaakov chastises the brothers for their role in the slaughter of Shekhem, expressing his anger at the deed.
- According to R. Avraham b. HaRambam and Ramban, Yaakov is saying that the brothers' whole life is rooted in acts of violence (as demonstrated in Shekhem).
- Ibn Ezra and Radak, in contrast, assert that Yaakov tells the brothers that their attack was unjust (חָמָס) specifically because the Shekhemites were living with them in the land (מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם[ב]). In other words, since they had made a covenant with the Shekhemites to live together peacefully and share the land,5 their later slaughter was deceitful and wicked.6
- Past - Most of these sources read this verse as if it were written in the past tense. Yaakov makes clear that he had not been part of either the brothers' secret scheme or its execution.7
- Future - R. Hirsch, in contrast, asserts that Yaakov is saying that due to the extremity of their deeds, Shimon and Levi's plots and gatherings will never represent or determine the will and honor of the nation. [R. Hirsch reads "נַפְשִׁי" and "כְּבֹדִי" to refer to the soul and honor of Israel, the nation, and not Yaakov, the individual.]
- Ox – Yaakov is referring to the oxen which were taken from Shekhem as booty and hamstrung.8
- Wall – The word "שׁוֹר" is understood as if written "שׁוּר", and means wall.9 Yaakov is speaking of the walls of the city which the brothers destroyed.10
- Leader – The word "שׁוֹר" is a metaphor for a strong individual, and thus can refer to either Shekhem or Hamor, whom the brothers killed.11 If so, the two clauses, "כִּי בְאַפָּם הָרְגוּ אִישׁ" and "וּבִרְצֹנָם עִקְּרוּ שׁוֹר", are parallel and refer to the same action.
- R. Avraham b. HaRambam and R. Hirsch stress that Yaakov cursed the brothers' extreme anger and violence, but not the brothers themselves.
- According to Radak and Ibn Ezra, in contrast, Yaakov's words "אָרוּר אַפָּם" constitute a prayer that Shimon and Levi's anger be diminished.12
Praise
Yaakov's words comprise a blessing to the brothers for their zealotry in defending Dinah.
Attempt to Kill Yosef
Yaakov's entire rebuke revolves only around Shimon and Levi's role in the plot to kill and sell Yosef.
Fiery Temperament
Yaakov does not speak of any specific event, but rather about the brothers' fiery temperament and nature. This position subdivides regarding whether it views this trait as worthy of praise or censure:
Worthy of Censure
Yaakov views the brothers' wrath negatively, and points to it as the reason that neither Shimon nor Levi merit kingship.
Worthy of Praise
Yaakov praises the brothers' anger and willingness to kill, recognizing it as a necessary trait for the survival of the nation. The brothers' fiery temperament will ensure that there is always someone who will fight Israel's battles and instill fear in her enemies.
Combination
Yaakov's words to Yosef touch on multiple events, both the past crimes of selling Yosef and slaughtering Shekhem, and the future sins of Zimri and Korach.