[Par-reg] VAYESHEV - Questions for self study
Menachem Leibtag
tsc at bezeqint.net
Tue Dec 20 05:19:58 EST 2005
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THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org]
In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag
Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag
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PARSHAT VAYESHEV - Questions for self study
PART I QUESTIONS FOR THE 'SHABBOS TABLE'
THE WANING OF PROPHECY
1. Does God ever speak directly to any of Yaakov's children
(i.e. as He had spoken to Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov)?
If so, where, when, and why?
If not, in your opinion, why doesn't He?
[As above,] does God ever speak directly to Yosef?
Does God ever speak to him [indirectly] through
dreams?
If so, explain how and when.
Does God ever speak to any of Yaakov's children
through events? If so, explain how and when.
Can you explain why this may be significant?
THE RISE OF NEW 'PSHAT' / RASHI & HIS GRANDSON
2. There is a famous Rashbam at the beginning of this week's
Parsha (see 37:2/ 'Eileh toldot...') in which he discusses his
conversation with Rashi (his grandfather) concerning the need
to focus more on the study of 'pshat' when studying Chumash.
I recommend that you take a few minutes to study this
Rashbam, where he mentions an important conversation he had
with his grandfather (Rashi) concerning how to study Chumash.
[From a certain perspective, Rashbam's observations on this
pausk provide the basis for the approach that we employ in our
shiurim.]
YOSEF'S DREAMS & YITZCHAK'S BLESSINGS
3. Compare Yosef's two dreams (see 37:5 10) to Yitzchak's
blessing of Yaakov (s/b Esav) in 27:28 29. In what manner are
they similar? [In what manner are they different?]
How does this similarity help explain the nature of
the brothers' hatred of Yosef? Could this be a source for a
more 'idealistic' (or 'spiritual') reason that would 'justify'
their hatred?
[Compare with the story of Yitzchak & Esav.]
How does this similarity explain Yaakov's reaction to
Yosef's dreams? [Keep this question in mind as you study the
story of Yosef and his brothers, for it can help explain the
reason for its complexity.]
4. Do the brothers have reason to believe that Yaakov is
making a mistake by favoring Yosef? Pretend that you are
'hired' as their lawyer. Attempt to defend their decision to
'remove' Yosef from God's 'chosen family'. Base your
'defense' both on Yosef's behavior and on precedents from
earlier generations. [Relate to what Rivka did to ensure that
Yaakov received the blessing.]
[When you finish, pretend that you are the 'judge' and explain
why that 'defense' is wrong.]
THE BLOOD OF GOAT
5. In the story of 'mechirat Yosef', why do the brothers need
to lie concerning the 'blood stained coat' to trick their
father to believe that Yosef had been devoured by an animal?
Why don't they just keep quiet and pretend as though they
never saw him, and therefore have no idea what happened to
him?
In your opinion, does Yaakov ever suspect that the
brothers may have killed Yosef (or sold him)? In your
opinion, does Yaakov ever find out what 'really' happened? If
so, who do you think told him, or how did he find out? Relate
to Yaakov's blessings to his children in Parshat Vaychi.]
6. Whenever Bnei Yisrael as a nation offer a korban musaf,
the 'chatat' offering is always a 'se'ir izim' [a goat] (e.g.
see Bamidbar chapters 28 29). In your opinion, do you think
that this specific 'chatat' offering of a 'se'ir izim' relates
to the actions of the brothers when they sold Yosef? In your
answer, relate to 37:31!
[See also Ramban on Vayikra 9:2-3 (towards the end) where he
explains why Bnei Yisrael must offer a 'se'ir izim le-chatat'
on the eighth day dedication ceremony. Note how he relates
this to mechirat Yosef and 'chet ha-egel'.]
"HISHTADLUT" OR LACK OF FAITH
7. Review 40:12-15. In your opinion, was Yosef correct in
asking the "sar ha-mashkim" [Pharaoh's butler] ' to intervene
on his behalf to free him from jail, or was Yosef expected to
rely only on God? If Yosef was correct in this regard,
what can we learn from this story?
If Yosef was 'wrong', what do you base your opinion on?
PART II QUESTIONS FOR PREPARATION
(for shiur on 'Who Sold Yosef'?)
1. Before we begin our study, a few questions to think about
(as there are no definite answers to them in the text).
Considering Yosef's dreams, as well as his relationship
with his brothers, attempt to explain the 'spiritual reason'
for the brothers' hatred of Yosef. Relate your answer to the
uncertain nature of the 'bechira' process in Sefer Breishit.
[Relate as well to questions 3, 4, & 5 in Part One above.]
In your opinion, did Yosef's brothers and father agree
that there was something prophetic about Yosef's dreams; or
did his family dismiss them as 'just a dream'. Relate to
37:10-11.
In your opinion, did Yosef tell his family about his
dreams in order to make his brothers jealous, or did he think
that it was his responsibility to make his dreams known?
With this background, we can begin our textual study.
2. Forgetting any previous knowledge you may have of the
story of 'Yosef and his brothers', undertake a careful reading
of 37:12-36, paying attention to the flow of events. . As you
study these psukim, be sure that you follow the logic of
everyone's plan, including:
1) The brothers' original plan to kill Yosef
Be sure you understand how they planned to kill him, and why
they plan to throw his body (afterward) in 'one of pits'.
2) Reuven's plan to save Yosef (and what he tells the
brothers)
Suggest a reason for why specifically Reuven wants to save
Yosef (and bring him back to his father)? Relate to his
position within the family, as well as to earlier events.
Do the brothers know that Reuven plans to save him? If
not, do they assume that Yosef will die a 'natural death' in
the pit? If so, why is this any better than their original
plan?
3) Yehuda's plan to sell Yosef.
Be sure you understand how this new plan will achieve the same
goals as the brothers' original plan (#1 above), but carries
less guilt.
3. After studying these psukim, read them once again, and try
to answer the following questions (which do not have an
explicit answer in the psukim, but can be deduced by logic):
a. When the brothers sit down to eat (in 37:25), do they sit
down nearby, i.e. in sight of the pit that Yosef is in, or do
they sit much farther away, out of sight (and sound) of Yosef?
Considering that this pit is in the "midbar" (see 37:22 &
37:24), would it make sense for them to eat near the pit in
the "midbar" where Yosef is screaming, or back in the Dotan
area where they are grazing their sheep (see 37:17).
b. As they sit down to eat (in 37:25), is Reuven sitting down
to eat with his brothers, or did he go away?
If he did go away, where did he go to and why? [Base
your answer on his original plan to save Yosef?]
Note how your answer to this question must relate to your
answer to question (a) above!
As you attempt to reach your conclusion, be sure to
consider the word "va-yashov" in both 37:29 & 37:20, noting
how it can help explain where Reuven had been in relation to
his brothers, and in relation to the pit!
4. If you have a detailed map of Israel, attempt to locate
Hebron, Shechem, Dotan [i.e. Jennin], and the Gilad mountains
(as well as the highway that connects the Gilad to Egypt via
Emek Yizrael). [If your map includes topographic detail, it
would be helpful to note the elevation of these areas. You can
find one online at www.tanach.org/map3d.pdf .]
Based on what you see on the map, approximately how far is
the journey from Shechem to Hebron?
Considering that the brothers are grazing their sheep,
does it appear as though they came home from Dotan to Hebron
every evening, or only once every month or so?
5. Based on Reuven's (secret) plan to later save Yosef from
the pit, would it have made sense for him to leave the area
near Yosef's pit for any length of time?
Would it make sense for him to have left his brothers
alone with Yosef by the pit?
5. Return once again to your map, or even better, take a look
at the following two maps on line, that show this area:
www.tanach.org/yosefmap1.pdf
www.tanach.org/yosefmap2.pdf
Attempt to relate this 'topographic information' to
your understanding of the details of this story.
For example, when the brothers sit down to eat and 'raise
their eyes' and see a caravan of Yishmaelim (see 37:25), would
it make sense that they are passing nearby, or do they see
them from a distance quite far away?
Similarly, i a caravan carrying goods by camel was
traveling from the Gilad to Egypt, where would it most likely
have crossed Israel - through Emek Yizrael or over the
mountains in the Dotan area?
Based on your answer, would it seem that the Yishaelim are
headed toward the brothers, or that the brothers would need to
travel a short distance to meet the Yishmaelim?
6. Carefully study 37:28, noting the different groups of
people that are mentioned. Be sure that you understand the
difference between the Midyanim who are 'merchants' and the
Yishmaelim who are 'transporting' the goods to Egypt.
By considering your answers to the above question, review
37:28 (in its context) and try to determine who precisely sold
Yosef to the Yishmaelim, the brothers or the Midyanim?
How many possible ways are there to explain this
pasuk?
[In your answer, relate to statements later made by
Yosef in both 40:15 and 45:4.]
If you have time, answer at this time the first five
questions in the Parshanut section below.
7. In your opinion, was Yosef aware of the brothers' original
plan to kill him? Does he understand why they originally
threw him into the pit?
Likewise, are the brothers aware of what really
happened to Yosef? In other words, was Reuven (in 37:29) the
first brother to notice that Yosef was missing, or the last
brother to find out that he was sold?
8. How would your answer to this question affect how we
understand both Yosef's behavior in Egypt in regard to why he
never contacted home, and why the brothers never went to Egypt
to look for him.
PART III PARSHANUT
1. Review your answers to the preparation questions above,
then, before reading the various commentators on 37:28, ask
yourself the following questions:
(A) Are the Midyanim and Yishmaelim the same people?
[Relate to 25:1 4]
(B) Who pulled Yosef out of the pit?
(C) Why is Reuven not there when all of this
transpires?
2. See Rashi 37:28. How does he solve (A)?
See Rashi 37:29 (where he quotes the Midrash that it
was Reuven's turn to go home to learn with his father). How
far is it from Hebron to Dotan? [i.e how many days of travel?]
Does it make any sense that Reuven would leave for
such a long time while Yosef was in the pit? In your opinion,
does this Midrash explain pshat concerning what 'happened' or
does it provide us with insight concerning the brothers
'respect' for their father? [If the latter is true, what the
message of this Midrash concerning the nature of 'sin'at
achim'?]
Next, explain the second possibility raised by Rashi.
3. See Ibn Ezra & Radak on 37:28 and Ramban 37:25.
How do they answer (A)?
How (and why) do their respective commentaries
differ?
4. See Rashbam on 37:28; how does he answer (A), (B), & (C)?
In what manner is his approach totally different from
all of the others? [Why do you think Rashbam concludes with a
'second opinion'?]
5. Finally, see Chizkuni on 37:28. How does he answer A, B,
& C? In what manner is his peirush different from Rashbam?
[Why do you think that Chizkuni also includes a 'second
opinion'? Is this 'second opinion' the same as Rashbam's
'second opinion'?]
========
BEN ZKUNIM
1. In 37:3, we find how Yosef is described as his father's
'ben zkunim' [lit. son of his old age]. How did you
understand this phrase? How much younger is Yosef than his
other brothers? How old is Yaakov at this time? How old is
Binyamin?
Based on these questions, does it make sense that
Yosef should be considered the ben zkunim?
First see Rashi, noting his interpretation and that he
quotes Unkelos. Can you explain the need of Unkelos'
interpretation?
See also Rashbam and Ibn Ezra.
Then, see Ramban on 37:3, noting his questions on the
above interpretations, and how he explains this phrase in a
very different manner!
Finally, see Radak and Chizkuni, noting what is unique
about each of their explanations.
WHEN DID YEHUDA GET MARRIED?
2. In Chapter 38 - the story of Yehuda and his children -
interrupts the narrative that describes the story of Yosef in
Egypt that began in chapter 37 and continues in chapter 39.
Review the story in chapter 38, and consider the
minimum amount of years that have transpired. Consider as
well how many years pass from the time that Yosef is sold (see
37:2) and when he solves Pharaoh's dream (see 41:46), and the
fact that the entire family goes down to Egypt less than a
decade later.
Based on the above, at what age do you think Yehuda
first married Shua's daughter (see 38:1-2)? [i.e. before or
after Yosef was sold?]
Then, see Rashi on 38:1. What is his opinion? Does
he relate to any of the above questions? If so, how?
See also Radak (until the end of his peirush to
38:1!). In what manner is his peirush similar to Rashi, and
how is it different?
Next, see Chizkuni on 38:1. Note how he relates to
the above questions. How does he solve them? See also
Seforno!
Finally, see Ibn Ezra on 38:1. How does he solve the
above questions? How and why is his peirush different than
Chizkuni?
In your opinion, which peirush appears to be most
logical?
3. Re: who Yehuda married, i.e. did he marry a Canaanite? See
how Unkelos translates this word. [Note that there are two
versions.]
What is the problem with translating 'kna'ani' as a
Canaanite?
Then see Rashi on 38:2. See also Rashbam. What does
his explanation add to Rashi's 'translation'? [See also
Radak.]
[See also Rasa"g. What does he mean by 'ki-pshuto'?]
See Ibn Ezra.
Finally, see Ramban. It's quite long, but be sure to
see at least the final few lines of that Ramban (in relation
to David Ha-melech). What is the Ramban's primary point, and
why does he go to such great lengths to support his
interpretation?
How does this topic relate to a primary theme in Sefer
Breishit, in regard to Bnei Yisrael's future inheritance of
Eretz Canaan based on 9:18-27, 10:15-20, and 17:7-8.
SAR HA'TABACHIM
1. Review 37:36, noting how Yosef was sold to Potiphar, the
"sar ha'tabachim". In modern Hebrew - the word "tabach"
refers to a 'chef' or a cook, and "sar" means a government
minister.
In your opinion, what type of ministry was he in charge
of?
Note the tirgum Unkelos ["rav kotolaya"]. Why leads the
tirgum to this conclusion?
See Rashi - noting how he disagrees with the Tirgum. In
your opinion, what leads Rashi to this conclusion.
See Ibn Ezra, noting how he offers two interpretations,
yet prefers the Tirgum. Can you explain why? Then, note how
Ramban supports Ibn Ezra's opinion!
2. Later on, in chapter 39, Yosef is sent to jail. Review
39:20-23.
How does this jail relate to Yosef's previous job as servant
to Potifar? Who else is later sent to the same jail?
Can you relate this to your answer to the above
question?
3. Review 41:45, noting how Yosef is given Osnat bat Potiphera
for a wife. In your opinion, is Potiphar (of chapter 37) the
same person as Potiphera, father of Osnat?
What did you base your conclusion on?
Then, see Rashi! What does he base his conclusion on?
Afterward, see Rashbam. Why does he disagree?
Finally, see Ramban and Chizkuni, noting how they
provide some possible reasons for both Poiphar's change of
'profession', as well as why his daughter is given to Yosef
for a wife!
Enjoy!
be-hatzlacha,
menachem
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