VAY‟YESHEV (And He Dwelt) GENESIS (B‟RESHIYT 37:1 – 40:23) INTRODUCTION: 1. After Jacob‟s ordeal and a brief mention of Esau‟s family, the text now back to Jacob‟s family. a. Primarily Joseph, who is destined to be leader of the family. 2. Mentions that Jacob “settled” or “dwelt” in the land of his father‟s sojournings. a. yashev means to “settle down,” to “dwell in peace” – related to “sitting.” b. This implies permanency as opposed to sojourning, which implies wandering. c. Is this to say, Jacob had intentions to “settle down” permanently in Canaan? 3. From his perspective he had: Fathered the twelve tribes. Survived the exile in Syria. Survived confrontation with Esau. Had fulfilled his vow at Bethel. 4. Rabbinical commentary argues this was not possible because his purpose was not complete. a. God‟s people are not purposed to sit quietly and idly by – they are to be light. b. Light must go where the darkness is. c. Joseph would lead the way, but all of Israel would follow, including Jacob. 5. The exile of Joseph into Egypt had to happen; foretold to Abraham at Covenant of the Pieces. a. But why at the hand of his own brothers? b. Perhaps this has something to do with what would transpire with the Messiah. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” – John 1:11 6. Even though his brothers despised him and did not consider him their “king” – he would be a king anyway – even if among the Gentiles. a. Wherever he went, he ruled: Potiphar‟s house, the prison, Egypt. b. This is what we see in Messiah. “He said therefore, „A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.… But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, We do not want this man to reign over us.‟ ” – Luke 19:12, 14 “Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, „Behold your King!‟ They cried out, „Away with him, away with him, crucify him!‟ Pilate said to them, „Shall I crucify your King?‟ The chief priests answered, „We have no king but Caesar.‟ ” – John 19:14 7. Like the cruel actions of the brothers, these actions played a role in God‟s purposes. a. In Joseph‟s case, he was in Egypt that he could be Israel‟s savior in a time of famine. b. Furthermore, this would lay groundwork for Exodus and journey to Sinai. 8. Likewise, rejection of Y‟shua by His brethren laid groundwork for God‟s greater purpose. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” – Psalm 18:22 9. In the torah portion, Judah “descends” literally and figuratively after Joseph is “rejected” and sent away into Egypt; is entangled in the affair with Tamar. a. Two principals in Jacob‟s family are Judah and Joseph. b. Judah is leader and ancestor of King David and Messiah; Joseph has the birthright. c. In Torah portion, a contrast is given between Judah‟s failure and Joseph‟s virtue. d. Both were tempted; Joseph resisted temptation, Judah did not. 10. In rejecting Y‟shua (Joseph), Judah “descended” into a time of trouble. a. Even while Joseph “descended” into Egypt and is regarded as King among the nations. b. A time of trouble will bring them both together. c. Through Judah‟s noble acts (then and in future) the two will be restored. d. The King will reveal His true identity to His brothers – those who rejected Him. CHAPTER 37: JOSEPH‟S DREAMS 1. V 1: “And Jacob settled (Heb.vayeshev) in the land of his father‟s sojournings.” a. Jacob chose to live as his father lived – in a land promised to them and their seed. b. They did this as aliens in partial fulfillment of the prophecy given to Abraham. “Then the LORD said to Abram, „Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.” – Genesis 15:13 2. V 2: “These are the generations of Jacob” – although only Joseph is mentioned by name. a. He is to be at the center of the events described for the remainder of Genesis. 3. V 2: “Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, still a lad.” a. Tradition states that Jacob was 108 at the time; Isaac was 168, living 12 more years. b. This is said to have occurred nine years after Jacob arrived back in the land. 4. The word “feeding” suggests “supervising” thus mentioning he was still a lad. a. The word ro’eh comes from root ra’ah that means “to tend, to shepherd, to rule.” b. Thus, the alternate translation: “Joseph, being seventeen years old, used to supervise – although only a lad – his brethren, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah when they were with the sheep.” 5. Suggesting that he may have been placed in charge, only, of the sons of the handmaids, although they are regarded as “his father‟s wives.” a. By this time, Rachel and Leah have died. 6. V 2: “Joseph brought an evil report of them unto their father.” a. That he was a lad also suggests that he was immature and lacked discretion. b. The word “report” means “to weaken” – implies slander, defaming someone. c. The word “evil” - ra’ah - is spelled identically to word for “feeding.” 7. Suggests his youthful immaturity and indiscretion led him to belittle them at great expense. 8. V 3: “Israel loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age.” a. Benjamin was still a toddler; later, after Joseph exiled, Benjamin would take this place. b. This provoked jealousy and hatred among the other brothers. 9. Was this love also because of the perceived spiritual superiority over the brothers? a. God chose Israel over Esau; Abraham preferred Isaac. b. The favored ones were, in fact, the true protector of the covenant. c. The fact Jacob is referred to as Israel here hints at this possibility. 10. Might also suggest that Joseph has been favored with the knowledge that Jacob has obtained. a. Joseph endured his exile (22 yrs.) without succumbing to temptation and despair. b. Jacob was also able to endure his exile (22 yrs.) and emerge blessed rather than beaten. 11. V 3: “He made him a coat of many colors” – alt. “a fine woolen tunic.” a. “Many colors” translation is based on the LXX and the Targum of Jonathan. b. In other Semitic cultures, multi-colored coats signified rulership; for example. “And she had a garment of divers colors upon her; for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins appareled.” – 2 Samuel 13:18 12. A coat given by Jacob would signal that Joseph would rule the family upon Jacob‟s death. a. It elevated him to the status of “firstborn.” 13. The coat, the evil reports and his vanity in reciting the dreams fueled the brother‟s contempt. a. V 4: “They hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.” “And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, „Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves came round about, and bowed down to my sheaf.” – Genesis 37:5-7 14. These were no typical dreams; obviously Heaven validating that Joseph would rule. a. Yet, his youth and immaturity would not allow him to be silent. b. Footnote: many in Messianic movement have not learned this lesson. 15. The sheaves in dream hint that they would bow because of their need for grain. a. That his remained standing indicated that he would rule for a long time. b. Joseph believed to have been viceroy in Egypt for 80 years. c. Yet, this ultimately alludes to Y‟shua who will reign forever. “And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” – Luke 1:33 16. That they will “bow down” also reminds of two other Scriptures: a. One pertaining to the Messiah; the other to Philadelphia. “Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Y‟shua every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Y'shua is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:9-11 “Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” – Revelation 3:9 17. Philadelphia is similar to Joseph in that they: Had little strength – had been through trials. Had not denied His name – been faithful to His commands. 18. V 8: “Shall you reign over us or shall you have dominion over us? They hated him more.” a. To “reign over us” signifies as a king with the consent of the governed. b. To “have dominion” indicates ruling over them against their will.