Genesis Mikeitz

Mikeitz
Genesis 41:1−44:17

I. Summary

A. Mikeitz = “At the end of” (two years’ time, Pharaoh had a dream)

B. At suggestion of Pharaoh’s cupbearer (who had dreams interpreted by Joseph when cupbearer was imprisoned with Joseph … to this point, cupbearer “forgot” Joseph – 40:23), Pharaoh asks Joseph (who is still in prison) to interpret Pharaoh's two dreams (seven gaunt cows eat seven fat cows and seven thin ears of grain swallow seven goodly ears). Joseph’s interpretation of dreams = seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. (41:1-32)

C. Per Joseph’s recommendation (presumptuous?) to appoint someone to store food during good times as a reserve for the famine, Pharaoh places Joseph in charge of food collection and distribution (making Joseph very powerful). Pharaoh dresses Joseph in “linen trappings” (successor to multi-colored coat given to Joseph by Jacob?). Pharoah gives Asenath (daughter of Potiphera … not Potiphar) to Joseph as his wife. Joseph marries Asenath and they have two sons, Manasseh (“God has made me forget”) and Ephraim (“God had made me fruitful”). The seven years of plenty is replaced by seven years of famine. Joseph opens the food stores for Egypt. (41:33-57)

D. Jacob sends Joseph's brothers (except Benjamin, Rachel’s son, whom Jacob chooses not to send “lest a deadly mishap befall him”) to Egypt to buy food during famine. Joseph recognizes brothers (but doesn’t say so) while brothers don’t recognize Joseph who accuses them of spying re: Egypt’s military vulnerabilities. (42:1-14)

E. After holding all brothers under guard for three days, Joseph agrees to let all brothers (except Simeon whom Joseph continues to hold in custody) return to Canaan to retrieve Benjamin (as Joseph’s test that brothers are not spies). The brothers tell each other that Joseph’s action is their punishment for their treatment of Joseph. Believing Joseph is dead, Reuben chides his brothers for not listening to him (when he said, at 37:22, they should not kill Joseph). Joseph cries (first of three times). Joseph covertly packs brothers’ silver in their bags (with purchased grain). Brothers leave, discover silver and (“trembling”) believe it is God’s act (God’s punishment of brothers for their treatment of Joseph?). (42:15-28)

F. The brothers return to Jacob in Canaan and recount their experience to him. Brothers empty money bags and feign surprise and fear at finding silver (making Jacob fearful … another payback deceit of Jacob?) Reuben unsuccessfully tries to convince Jacob to let the brothers take Benjamin back to Joseph. (42:29-38)

G. After using up the provisions they brought back from Egypt, Jacob tells his sons to return to Egypt for more food. Judah convinces Jacob to let Benjamin go back to Egypt with brothers (contrast Reuben’s earlier unsuccessful efforts … a reminder that Judah is more effective (worthier?) than Reuben). Jacob tells Judah to take a) choice products as an offering for Joseph, b) a double portion of silver and c) Benjamin. (43:1-14)

H. Joseph again meets his brothers, asks about Jacob, cries (in private) upon seeing his full brother Benjamin, eats separately from Egyptians (Hebrews/shepherds abhorrent to Egyptians?) and gets drunk with brothers (alternative translations - they drank their fill … were merry). Joseph continues the test, this time by planting a silver goblet in Benjamin’s bag. After brothers leave, head of Joseph’s household overtakes them. Brothers (not knowing Joseph planted goblet) offer thief as slave to Joseph (reminiscent of Jacob unknowingly offering up person who stole Laban’s household gods at 31:32). Joseph’s man finds goblet in Benjamin’s bag. Brothers return to Joseph who tells brothers that Benjamin shall be Joseph’s slave while the other brothers may return to their father. (43:15-44:17)

II. Commentary (Plaut, various websites and prior Hevreh discussions)

A. Hunger motif - 1) physical hunger foretold in Joseph’s dreams, 2) Joseph’s hunger for family, 3) Joseph’s brothers’ hunger for Jacob’s love in face of Jacob’s preference for Joseph and redemption from guilt of them throwing Joseph in a pit and then selling Joseph into slavery, 4) Pharoah’s hunger to understand dreams he had been having for two years and to fulfill his responsibilities as the divinely appointed sovereign of Egypt and 5) Jacob’s hunger to get back Joseph’s life (who he initially thinks is dead) and his ability to fulfill his patriarchal imperative.

B. Why Simeon? – Joseph holds Simeon as hostage (42:24); however, Reuben, who is the oldest and bears most responsibility for the brothers' behavior, should have been chosen. Consider two reasons for Joseph choosing Simeon over Reuben: On the basis of midrashim (see earlier verse 37:19 – where it says "one man to his brother" which is interpreted as Simon to Levi, who were referred to as "brothers" when they wiped out the city of Shechem), Simeon was not just another brother but rather an instigator against Joseph. 2) Joseph hears that Reuben did try to save Joseph, but his brothers would not heed his advice. Given that Reuben arguably acquitted himself, Simeon is next in line.

C. Dreams – Why are dreams so prominent in lead-up to and throughout Joseph story (Jacob’s ladder, Joseph’s dreams of grandeur, Joseph’s interpretation of dreams of cupbearer, baker and Pharoah and Pharoah’s two dreams)? What is their significance (vehicle of God’s words/actions/plans? Individual’s own thinking reflecting which may/may not reflect God’s word? Converts human action to divine act? Simple plot advancement?)

D. Trust motif – Pharoah trusting Joseph, Joseph trusting brothers, brothers trusting Joseph (two visits), Jacob trusting sons (at word of Reuben) to protect Benjamin when they take Benjamin back to Joseph ... (trust in another = trust in one’s own judgment).

E. Personal conflict - Joseph’s need for love of his family v. distrust of his family, Joseph’s loyalty to Egypt v. need to hold onto his roots (manifested in names of Joseph’s two sons), brothers’ harmful actions towards Joseph v. their subsequent regrets, Jacob’s protection of Simeon v. sending all other sons back to Egypt a second time.

F. Joseph’s change of clothes – Joseph changes clothes five times (37:3, 37:23, 39:12, 41:14 and 41:42, each change suggesting a change (elevation in stature with Pharaoh’s authority? maturity? recalls Joseph being stripped before being dropped into pit?).

G. Names - The names Joseph chooses for his two sons, Manasseh ("for God has made me forget all my toil and all of my father's house" and Ephraim (“for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction"), reflect his deep ambivalence about his situation as a ger toshav, a “resident alien”. Joseph wants both to forget and to remember. The name Jacob is used for matters pertaining to physical and mundane matters, while the name Israel is used for matters reflecting the spiritual role of the patriarch and his descendants.

H. Ephraim and Manasseh/assimilation - Each week parents bless their sons, expressing the hope that they will be like Ephraim and Manasseh, who, rabbinic tradition teaches, embraced Judaism even in Egypt (v. Joseph, in first diaspora, assimilated though still ate alone since to eat food with the Hebrews (shepherds?) was “an abomination to the Egyptians” … 43:32).

I. Fragility of sibling relationships – Sibling relationships throughout Torah eventually work out (except, of course, Cain & Abel) despite extreme external circumstances that undermine relationships: 1. Cain & Abel. 2. Rachael & Leah - Laban’s deceit of Jacob to marry off younger Leah. 3. Jacob & Esau – theft of Esau’s birthright. 4. Joseph & his brothers – brothers’ sale of Joseph. 5. Moses & Aaron - difficult leadership transition constructed by God.

J. Forgiveness - Joseph arguably acts callously towards his brothers (by continually testing them) and his father (by not previously seeking him out given that his intelligence network presumably gave him knowledge of Jacob’s whereabouts); however, Joseph arguably needs to know his brothers are aware of the pain they inflicted upon him before he can forgive them (recognized today as prerequisite to true forgiveness).

K. Brothers should have realized Joseph immediately recognized them – Text says brothers did not recognize Joseph as their long lost brother (42:8); however, there are clues to suggest Joseph’s actions gave away his identity: 1) Joseph asking brothers about their father and 2) Joseph sitting them by order of their birth when getting ready to eat with them.

(12/19/09)