Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Vayeishev Sheiyni – The plot to kill Yosef

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Sheiyni

  1. Yosef travels to visit his brothers in Shechem
    • Yosef is sent to Shechem: The brothers of Yosef went to graze the sheep in Shechem. Yaakov asked Yosef to visit his brothers in Shechem, and see as to their wellbeing, and the wellbeing of the sheep, and report back to him. Yosef was sent from the valley of Chevron and arrived in Shechem.
    • Yosef searches for his brothers: A man found Yosef wondering in the field and asked him as to what he is looking for. Yosef replied that he is looking for his brothers “Please tell me where they are grazing the flock.” The man replied: They traveled from here as I heard them say “Let us go to Doson.” Yosef went searching for his brothers, and found them in Doson.
  1. The plot to kill Yosef:
    • The brothers saw Yosef from a distance, and prior to his arrival, plotted to kill him. They told each other “Look, the dreamer is coming. Let us kill him and throw him in one of the pits. We will tell [our father] that a wild animal ate him.” We will then see what will be with his dreams.
    • Reuvein’s plan to save the lad: Reuvein heard of the plot and disguised a plan to save Yosef, and return him to their father. He told them “Let us not smite his soul and murder him. Instead, place him in the pit that is in the desert, and we will not raise a hand on him.”

Q1: Why does the Torah place dots over the word אֶת in “לִרְעוֹת אֶת־צֹאן” (to pasture the flock)?

A: Rashi explains that the dots indicate a deeper meaning: the brothers went not only to pasture the sheep but also to “pasture themselves,” i.e., to indulge in their own interests.

 

Q2: What does Joseph’s response “הִנֵּנִי” (Here I am) signify?

A: According to Rashi, this phrase expresses humility and eagerness. Joseph was ready to fulfill his father’s command even though he knew his brothers hated him.

 

Q3: Why does the Torah say Joseph went “מֵעֵמֶק חֶבְרוֹן” (from the vale of Hebron) when Hebron is on a mountain?

A: Rashi explains that this refers to the “deep counsel” (עֲמוּקָה) of the righteous man buried in Hebron—Abraham. It alludes to the fulfillment of God’s prophecy to Abraham that his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land.

 

Q4: Why is Shechem mentioned as the place Joseph arrived?

A: Rashi notes that Shechem is a place destined for misfortune: Dinah was violated there, Joseph was sold there, and later the kingdom of David was divided there.

 

Q5: Who was the “man” who found Joseph wandering in the field?

A: Rashi identifies the “man” as the angel Gabriel, based on the verse “and the man Gabriel” (Daniel 9:21).

 

Q6: What is the meaning of “נָֽסְעוּ מִזֶּה” (They have moved on from here)?

A: Rashi interprets this as “They have moved away from brotherhood,” distancing themselves from fraternal feelings.

 

Q7: Why did the brothers say “נֵֽלְכָה דֹּתָיְנָה” (Let us go to Dotan)?

A: Rashi explains that they sought legal pretexts (נִכְלֵי דָּתוֹת) to kill Joseph. On the simple level, Dotan is the name of a place.

 

Q8: What does “וַיִּתְנַכְּלוּ” (They conspired) imply?

A: Rashi notes the reflexive form indicates they filled themselves with cunning and conspiracies.

 

Q9: Who said “וְנִרְאֶה מַה־יִּֽהְיוּ חֲלֹֽמֹתָֽיו” (We will see what becomes of his dreams)?

A: Rashi says this was not the brothers but God’s response: “We will see whose words endure—yours or Mine!”

 

Q10: Why did Reuben suggest throwing Joseph into a pit instead of killing him?

A: Rashi explains that Reuben intended to save Joseph later and return him to Jacob, fearing that as the eldest, blame would fall on him.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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