Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Vayeishev Rishon – Yosef’s relationship with his father and brothers

Bereshit 37 – Questions and Answers

Q1. Why does the Torah speak at length about Yaakov and his descendants after briefly mentioning Esav’s?
A: Because Yaakov and his descendants are precious to Hashem, like a jewel among pebbles. Esav’s lineage is summarized briefly, but Yaakov’s story is detailed because of its importance.

Q2. What is the aggadic explanation of “Yaakov settled”?

A: Yaakov wished to live in peace, but the troubles with Yosef came upon him. Hashem said: “Is it not enough for the righteous to have tranquility in the World to Come that they also seek it in this world?”

Q3. What is the symbolism of the flax dealer and the spark?

A: Yaakov feared Esav’s many chiefs, but Hashem reassured him: Yosef would be the “spark” that would consume Esav, as in “The House of Yaakov will be fire, the House of Yosef a flame.”

Q4. What does “These are the descendants of Yaakov” mean?

A: It introduces the events that led to Yaakov’s family settling in Egypt. The story begins with Yosef at age 17.

Q5. Why is Yosef associated most with Yaakov’s progeny?

A: Because Yaakov worked for Rachel (Yosef’s mother), Yosef resembled Yaakov, and their life experiences were similar—both were hated, both had brothers who sought to kill them.

Q6. Why does the Torah call Yosef “a young lad”?

A: He behaved immaturely, grooming his hair and eyes to look attractive.

Q7. Why did Yosef spend time with Bilhah and Zilpah’s sons?

A: Because his other brothers belittled them, so Yosef befriended them.

Q8. What evil reports did Yosef bring to his father?

A: He accused his brothers of eating flesh from a living animal, calling the maidservants’ sons “slaves,” and associating with immoral women.

Q9. How was Yosef punished measure for measure for these reports?

A: For accusing them of eating live flesh—his coat was dipped in goat’s blood; for calling them slaves—he was sold as a slave; for accusing them of immorality—Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him.

Q10. Why did Yaakov love Yosef more than his other sons?

A: Because Yosef was the son of his old age and, according to Onkelos, Yaakov taught him all the Torah he learned from Shem and Ever. Also, Yosef resembled Yaakov in appearance.

Q11. What was the special coat Yaakov gave Yosef?

A: A “ketonet pasim,” a fine wool garment. Aggadic interpretation: its letters hint to Yosef’s future troubles—sold to Potiphar, merchants (socharim), Ishmaelites, and Midianites.

Q12. Why did Yosef’s brothers hate him?

A: Because Yaakov loved him more than all his brothers, and they could not speak to him peacefully.

Q13. What was Yosef’s first dream?

A: His sheaf stood upright while his brothers’ sheaves bowed down to it.

Q14. How did his brothers interpret the first dream?

A: They said, “Will you really reign over us?” and hated him more for his dreams and words.

Q15. What was Yosef’s second dream?

A: The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed to him.

Q16. Why did Yaakov rebuke Yosef after the second dream?

A: To deflect his brothers’ jealousy, saying, “Will your mother bow?”—since Rachel had died. Yaakov implied the dream could not fully come true, though he kept it in mind.

Q17. Who did “your mother” in the dream refer to?

A: Bilhah, who raised Yosef like a mother.

Q18. What does “his father waited expectantly for the matter” mean?

A: Yaakov anticipated when the dream would be fulfilled.