The final third of Sefer Bereishit – from the story of the sale of Yosef until Yaakov's parting words to his sons – recounts what happens from the time that the brothers rid themselves of Yosef until they are reunited in Egypt.
These are the generations of Yaakov: Yosef was seventeen years old when feeding the flock with his brothers, and the lad was with the sons of Bilha and with the sons of Zilpa, his father’s wives. And Yosef brought an evil report of them to their father. And Yisrael loved Yosef more than all his children, for he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat with long sleeves. (Bereishit 37:2-3)
Yaakov manages to survive various external threats - Lavan, Esav and Shekhem. But instead of a serene and tranquil life, his entire family is shaken to its very foundations by a series of dramatic and tragic events.
On his journey from the pit to the position of second-in-command to Pharaoh, Yosef passes through two stations: the house of Potifar and the prison. In both places, he is recognized by the most senior character, who places his full confidence in him. In both instances, his faith in God is tested and he withstands the test. In both cases, despite passing the test, he suffers some further punishment. What is the significance of these two stages?
In this shiur, we will examine the story of the descent of Yosef to Egypt, focusing on how the events of his life reflect the parallel paths of man's free will and God's direction of world events.
What can Yosef's journey to find his brothers - and Chazal's commentary on this journey - teach us about the intricate interpersonal relationships at play in this episode?
