Yosef's Treatment of his Family/2

Yosef's Treatment of his Family

Exegetical Approaches

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Yosef Concerned over his Brothers

Testing his Brothers

Sources:Jubilees4243:1-30About Jubilees, PhiloOn Joseph XXXIXAbout Philo, JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 2:6:2Antiquities of the Jews 2:6:4Antiquities of the Jews 2:6:7Antiquities of the Jews 2:6:8Antiquities of the Jews 2:6:9About Josephus, R. Shemuel b. Chofni GaonBereshit 41:51Bereshit 42:7Bereshit 42:9-13, 15Bereshit 44:1Bereshit 44:2Bereshit 44:8Bereshit 45:3About R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon, R. Yonah #2Derashot R. Yonah Parashat Vayigash, Sefer HaYashar53:16-23About Sefer HaYashar, Akeidat Yitzchak30, Questions 2-430About R. Yitzchak Arama, Abarbanel #2Bereshit 41Bereshit 41-42, questions 4,6Bereshit 42:7Bereshit 42:25Bereshit 43:33About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, SefornoBereshit 42:9Bereshit 43:16Bereshit 43:34Bereshit 44:1-2Bereshit 44:16About R. Ovadyah Seforno, BiurBereshit 41:51Bereshit 44:2About the Biur (Netivot HaShalom)

Why did Yosef not contact Yaakov immediately?

"כִּי נַשַּׁנִי אֱלֹהִים אֶת כָּל עֲמָלִי וְאֵת כָּל בֵּית אָבִי"

Accusation of espionage

Initial returning of their payment

Favoring Binyamin

Second returning of payment

Framing an innocent person?

"הָאֱלֹהִים מָצָא אֶת עֲוֹן עֲבָדֶיךָ"

Assisting his Brother's Repentance

Yosef inflicted suffering on his brothers in order to help them attain penance for their crimes.

Sources:Seikhel TovBereshit 37:36Bereshit 41:51Bereshit 45:1About R. Menachem b. Shelomo, R. Avraham SabaTzeror HaMor Bereshit 41:51Tzeror HaMor Bereshit 42Tzeror HaMor Bereshit 44About R. Avraham Saba (Tzeror HaMor), Abarbanel #1Bereshit 41Bereshit 41-42, questions 4,6Bereshit 42:7Bereshit 42:25Bereshit 43:33About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, R. Eliezer AshkenaziMa'asei Hashem Ma'asei Avot 38About R. Eliezer Ashkenazi (Ma'asei Hashem), Keli YekarBereshit 42:7Bereshit 42:14Bereshit 42:16About R. Shelomo Ephraim Lunshitz, Or HaChayyimBereshit 42:9Bereshit 44:1-2About R. Chayyim b. Atar

Why did Yosef not contact Yaakov immediately? According to the Keli Yekar, Yosef felt that if Hashem had not revealed his whereabouts to Yaakov, it must be because He wanted Yaakov to suffer. Yaakov deserved punishment for having himself been away from his father for twenty-two years, and thus needed to be punished measure for measure by not seeing Yosef for the same length of time.

"כִּי נַשַּׁנִי אֱלֹהִים אֶת כָּל עֲמָלִי וְאֵת כָּל בֵּית אָבִי" – According to this approach these words of Yosef do not reflect a disattachment to his family.  Rather, as Seikhel Tov, and the Tzeror HaMor explain, Yosef is merely stating that, with his rise to power, he has forgotten the hardships his family had caused him to endure.

Accusation of espionage

Initial returning of their payment

Favoring Binyamin

Second returning of payment

Framing an innocent person?

"הָאֱלֹהִים מָצָא אֶת עֲוֹן עֲבָדֶיךָ"

Yosef's Hands were Tied

Fulfilling Hashem's Prophecy

Carrying out Dreams

Under Oath

Assumed Rejection

Yosef Looked out for Himself

Preserving Egyptian Status

Punishing the Brothers