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<h1>Yosef – Overview</h1>
<div><b><center><span class="highlighted-notice">This topic has not yet undergone editorial review</span></center></b></div>
<div class="overview">
<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>The Yosef narratives extend from Bereshit 37 through the end of the book, providing the reader with significantly more details about Yosef's life, personality, and interactions than any of the other tribes.&#160; His life progresses on a roller coaster of ups and downs, as his position as favored child morphs into that of degraded slave, then back to head of household, only to revert once more to forgotten prisoner.&#160; He finally emerges as second in command to Paroh, paving the way for the family's descent to Egypt.</p>
<p>Throughout, Yosef is a composite of opposites.&#160; He is both &#160;loved and hated, admired and disdained.&#160; He is a dreamer, but capable of facing harsh reality. He is an outsider who makes it in. He is a man who can control Egypt, but cannot hold in his tears. The various aspects of Yosef's character have invited multiple interpretations throughout centuries of exegesis, often resulting in contrasting portraits of the fascinating figure.</p></div>

<category>Family Life
	<subcategory name="Sibling Relations">
Relationship to Brothers
<p>Bereshit 37 discusses both the brother's sale of Yosef, and the jealousy and hatred which led to it. The chapter declares "וַיִּשְׂנְאוּ אֹתוֹ", implying that all the brothers hated Yosef equally.&#160; However, not all commentators agree, as several verses might suggest otherwise:</p><ul>
<li><b>"וְהוּא נַעַר אֶת בְּנֵי בִלְהָה וְאֶת בְּנֵי זִלְפָּה" </b>– Commentators debate the meaning of this phrase and what it connotes about Yosef's relationship with the sons of the maidservants.<b><br/></b></li>
</ul><ul>
<ul>
<li>Positive relationship&#160;– Yosef spent his time with the sons of the maidservants – <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit37-2" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit37-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink></li>
<li>Negative relationship – Either the sons of the maidservants served Yosef – <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, or Yosef served the sons of the maidservants – <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary37" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary37" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 37</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>.&#160; Either way, this soured their relationship.</li>
</ul>
</ul><ul>
<li><b>"וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶת דִּבָּתָם רָעָה אֶל אֲבִיהֶם" </b>– Commentators dispute whether Yosef slandered all of the brothers, or only some of them. This, too, might bear on his individual relationships with each sibling:<fn>Regarding the nature and evaluation of his slandering, see below.</fn></li>
</ul><ul>
<ul>
<li>Slandered All – <multilink><a href="RadakBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>,</li>
<li>Slandered the sons of Leah – R. Yehuda in <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah84-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah 84:7</a><a href="BereshitRabbah84-7" data-aht="source">84:7</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>,<multilink><a href="RashiBereshit37-2" data-aht="source"> Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit37-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2</a><a href="RashiBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:3</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="ShadalBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink></li>
<li>Slandered the sons of the maidservants –<multilink><a href="RYosefKaraBereshit37-2" data-aht="source"> R. Yosef Kara</a><a href="RYosefKaraBereshit37-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2</a><a href="R. Yosef Kara" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Kara</a></multilink>,<fn>He nonetheless maintains that all hated Yosef somewhat equally.&#160; Even though the sons of Leah were not slandered, it was they who were most bothered by Yosef's dreams.</fn>&#160;<multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="NetzivBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Netziv</a><a href="NetzivBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin</a></multilink></li>
</ul>
</ul><ul>
<li><b>"וַיַּחֲלֹם יוֹסֵף חֲלוֹם וַיַּגֵּד לְאֶחָיו"</b>&#160;– Were all the brother equally upset by Yosef's sharing of his dreams of grandeur?</li>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Yes, all the brothers were bothered –</li>
<li>Only the sons of Leah, who had what to lose, were upset – <multilink><a href="RYosefKaraBereshit37-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Kara</a><a href="RYosefKaraBereshit37-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2</a><a href="R. Yosef Kara" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Kara</a></multilink></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul><ul>
<li><b>The Sale of Yosef</b>– Did all the brothers participate in the sale? For analysis and the motivations for each reading, see <a href="Who Sold Yosef" data-aht="page">Who Sold Yosef?</a></li>
</ul><ul>
<ul>
<li>All of the brothers (except Reuven) – Most commentators</li>
<li>None of the brothers – Rashbam</li>
<li>Half of the brothers – R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</li>
</ul>
</ul>
	</subcategory>
	<subcategory name="Father's Favoritism">
Relationship to Yaakov
<ul>
<li><b>כִּי בֶן זְקֻנִים הוּא לוֹ</b>&#160;–&#160; What does this term mean and what does it suggest about why Yaakov loved Yosef?</li>
</ul><ul>
<ul>
<li>Similar to father&#160;–&#160;<multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah84-8" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah</a><a href="BereshitRabbah84-8" data-aht="source">84:8</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TanchumaVayeshev2" data-aht="source">Tanchuma</a><a href="TanchumaVayeshev2" data-aht="source">Vayeshev 2</a><a href="Tanchuma" data-aht="parshan">About the Tanchuma</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TargumPseudo-JonathanBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a><a href="TargumPseudo-JonathanBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:3</a><a href="Targum Pseudo-Jonathan" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan</a></multilink>,</li>
<li>Wise – <multilink><a href="JosephusAntiquitiesoftheJews22-1" data-aht="source">Josephus</a><a href="JosephusAntiquitiesoftheJews22-1" data-aht="source">2 2:1</a><a href="Josephus Antiquities of the Jews" data-aht="parshan">About Josephus Antiquities of the Jews</a></multilink>,&#160;<multilink><a href="TargumOnkelosBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Targum Onkelos</a><a href="TargumOnkelosBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:3</a><a href="Targum Onkelos" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Onkelos</a></multilink>,&#160; <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary37" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary37" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 37</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RadakBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink></li>
<li>Served father&#160;– <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink></li>
<li>Youngest<fn>Shadal explains that though Binyamin was born after him, since several years passed until his birth, Yosef was treated as the favored youngest son in the meantime, and with the birth of Binyamin, this status did not change.</fn>&#160; – <multilink><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahambHaRambamBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="ShadalBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink></li>
<li>Born after despairing of having a child by Rachel<fn>Ralbag suggests that Yosef was similar to a child born in old age, since in both cases the parent has despaired of having another child.</fn> – <multilink><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah37-3" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah37-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 37:3</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink></li>
</ul>
<li><b>"עָשָׂה לוֹ כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים"</b> – What did Yaakov mean to signify in giving Yosef the cloak?&#160; Was he simply showing parental favoritism, or did he have other intentions? According to each possibility, how did the gift contribute to the brother's feelings of jealousy?</li>
<ul>
<li>Show of love – <multilink><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah37-3" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah37-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 37:3</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink></li>
<li>Sign of leadership/ chosen status – This reading might suggest that the story is not one of common sibling rivalry, but a competition as to who was to&#160; be the "chosen son" and merit to continue the line of Avraham.<fn>Though the reader knows that in the end all of the sons of Yaakov were chosen, it is very possible that the brothers, and maybe even Yaakov himself, did not know this.</fn>&#160; <multilink><a href="SefornoBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:3</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>,&#160; <multilink><a href="HaKetavVeHaKabbalahBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">HaKetav VeHaKabbalah</a><a href="HaKetavVeHaKabbalahBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:3</a><a href="R. Yaakov Mecklenburg (HaKetav VeHaKabbalah)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RSRHirschBereshit37-1-3" data-aht="source">R. Hirsch</a><a href="RSRHirschBereshit37-1-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:1-3</a><a href="R. Samson Raphael Hirsch" data-aht="parshan">About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch</a></multilink></li>
</ul>
</ul>
	</subcategory>
	<subcategory name="Relationship in Egypt">
Relationship to Family When in Egypt
<p>When in Egypt It is difficult to understand what motivates the various actions taken by Yosef upon becoming second-in-command and seeing his brothers in Egypt.&#160;</p><ul>
<li>Why does he not contact his beloved father after so many years apart?</li>
<li>Why does he treat his brothers, and especially Binyamin, whom he had no reason to hate, so harshly?</li>
<li>Why does he, simultaneously, put on a show of good will to his siblings, returning their money and giving them presents? Is he still angry or has time allowed him to forgive and forget?</li>
<li>For a full discussion of these issues and relevant sources, see <a href="Yosef's Treatment of his Family" data-aht="page">Yosef's Treatment of his Family</a> and <a href="Why Did Yosef Frame Binyamin" data-aht="page">Why Did Yosef Frame Binyamin</a>.</li>
</ul>
	</subcategory>
	<subcategory>Marriage and Children
<p><b>"וַיִּתֶּן לוֹ אֶת אָסְנַת בַּת פּוֹטִי פֶרַע כֹּהֵן אֹן לְאִשָּׁה"</b> –Did Yosef marry a daughter of an idolatrous priest?<fn>See the similar question regarding Moshe's marriage to Zipporah, the daughter of "כֹהֵן מִדְיָן" at <a href="Moshe's Family Life" data-aht="page">Moshe's Family Life</a>, <a href="Yitro – Religious Identity" data-aht="page">Yitro – Religious Identity</a>, and <a href="Zipporah" data-aht="page">Zipporah</a>.</fn></p><ul>
<li>No – Several commentators reread the verse to mitigate the issue:</li>
<ul>
<li>"כֹּהֵן" means an officer - <multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit41-45" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit41-45" data-aht="source">Bereshit 41:45</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit41-45" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit41-45" data-aht="source">Bereshit 41:45</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink></li>
<li>Potiphera might have been a monotheistic priest – <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary41-45" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary41-45" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 41:45</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink> #1</li>
<li>Osnat was the daughter of Dina – <multilink><a href="PirkeiDeRabbiEliezer36" data-aht="source">Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer</a><a href="PirkeiDeRabbiEliezer36" data-aht="source">36</a><a href="Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer" data-aht="parshan">About Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="YalkutShimoniTorahBereshit29-31" data-aht="source">Yalkut Shimoni</a><a href="YalkutShimoniTorahBereshit29-31" data-aht="source">Torah Bereshit 29:31</a><a href="Yalkut Shimoni" data-aht="parshan">About Yalkut Shimoni</a></multilink></li>
</ul>
<li>Yes – <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary41-45" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary41-45" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 41:45</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink> #2, <multilink><a href="ShadalBereshit41-45" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalBereshit41-45" data-aht="source">Bereshit 41:45</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>·</li>
</ul>
	</subcategory>
</category>
<category>Unique Traits
	<subcategory>Administrative Skills
	</subcategory>
	<subcategory>Dream Interpretation
	</subcategory>
</category>
<category>Possible Flaws
	<subcategory>Tale-bearing
<p>Bereshit 37:3 tell that Yosef spoke ill of his brothers to his father. Commentators debate both whether Yosef told the truth (ie. whether the brothers were guilty of the actions reported), and how his tale-bearing should be evaluated regardless:</p>
<ul>
<li>Both sides did wrong - bereshit rabbah and Rashi imply that Yosef told teh truth, but that nonetheless it was wrong to speak o fhis brothers.</li>
<li>Only Yosef did wrong –</li>
<li>Neither side did wrong–</li>
</ul>
	</subcategory>
	<subcategory>Vanity and Haughtiness
<p>Should Yosef bear some of the blame for his brothers' treatment of him? Did his father's preferential treatment lead him to think highly of himself and act arrogantly towards his siblings? Is such a trait apparent in any of the later Yosef stories?</p>
<ul>
<li><b>"וְהוּא נַעַר"</b> – Several sources read into this phrase the possibility that Yosef was somewhat vain, constantly curling his hair and the like. See <multilink><a href="BereshitRabbah84-7" data-aht="source">Bereshit Rabbah 84:7</a><a href="BereshitRabbah84-7" data-aht="source">84:7</a><a href="Bereshit Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Bereshit Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit37-2" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit37-2" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink></li>
<li><b>The Dreams</b> – What motivated Yosef to share his dreams of kingship with his brothers; was that not somewhat arrogant?</li>
<ul>
<li>Yosef at fault&#160;– <multilink><a href="RadakBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="RadakBereshit37-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:5</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TurLongCommentaryBereshit37-5" data-aht="source">Tur</a><a href="TurLongCommentaryBereshit37-5" data-aht="source">Long Commentary Bereshit 37:5</a><a href="R. Yaakov b. Asher (Tur)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yaakov b. Asher</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah37-3" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagBereshitBeurHaParashah37-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit Beur HaParashah 37:3</a><a href="RalbagBereshitToalot37-5-11" data-aht="source">Bereshit Toalot 37:5-11</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="NetzivBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Netziv</a><a href="NetzivBereshit37-2-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:2-3</a><a href="NetzivBereshit37-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:5</a><a href="R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin</a></multilink></li>
<li>Mitigate Yosef's fault –&#160;<multilink><a href="SefornoBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoBereshit37-3" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:3</a><a href="SefornoBereshit37-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:5</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink> suggests that Yosef's actions came from the inexperience of youth.</li>
<li>Defend Yosef – <multilink><a href="MoshavZekeinimBereshit37-5" data-aht="source">Moshav Zekeinim</a><a href="MoshavZekeinimBereshit37-5" data-aht="source">Bereshit 37:5</a><a href="Moshav Zekeinim" data-aht="parshan">About Moshav Zekeinim</a></multilink> defends Ysoef by suggesting that he was aware that his dreams were prophetic, and one is not allowed to keep a prophecy to one'e self (הכובש נבואתו במיתה).</li>
</ul>
<li><b>In Potiphar's House&#160;</b>– What led to Yosef's fall from grace in Potiphar's house?&#160;<multilink><a href="TanchumaVayeshev8" data-aht="source">Tanchuma</a><a href="TanchumaVayeshev8" data-aht="source">Vayeshev 8</a><a href="Tanchuma" data-aht="parshan">About the Tanchuma</a></multilink> suggests that his success went to his head, leading to vanity and Yosef's forgetting that his accomplishments were not due to himself but to Hashem's help.<fn><multilink><a href="TanchumaVayeshev9" data-aht="source">Tanchuma</a><a href="TanchumaVayeshev9" data-aht="source">Vayeshev 9</a><a href="Tanchuma" data-aht="parshan">About the Tanchuma</a></multilink>&#160;similarly suggests that the Butler forgot Yosef because Yosef put his trust in him rather than in Hashem.</fn></li>
</ul>
	</subcategory>
</category>
<category>Religious Identity
</category>

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