Parsha of the week
This week and next the Parsha of Vayesheiv is full of the most interesting sex, violence, intrigue and murder stories : including the 3rd Shalshelet that I have been referring to.
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VAYEISHEV
This parsha like the previous one Vayishlach is is full of most interesting stories, which will be touched on briefly here in the hope that the reader will read the full story in the Bible.
Joseph
The first story is about Joseph and his dreams which antagonise his brothers Vayeishev 37:18 and results in him being sold into slavery in Egypt. His father is led to believe that he is being killed by an animal Vayeishev37:31. He becomes Potiphar’s chief and loyal assistant, but Potiphar’s wife has different ideas about him, culminating in her attempt to seduce him Vayeishev 39:7. Although he is successful in resisting her, the sages include a shalshelet Vayeishev 39:8, over the word “vayomayn”, about his resistance (which we spoke about recently). Spurned, she accuses him of rape and he lands up in jail where he interprets other prisoners’ dreams which brings him to the attention of the Pharaoh who is having trouble with his dreams about the fat seven devouring the thin seven. Mikeitz 41:1( next wek’s Parsha). Pharaoh approves of his interpretation and appoints him Viceroy whereby he saves the whole Middle East from famine.
In the middle of the story of Joseph we read about the strange union between Yehuda and Tamara.Vayeishev 38:1
Yehuda had two sons who both died after they married Tamara. The second son’s name was Onan, who displeased God because he spilled his seed rather than give Tamar the chance to have a child, giving rise to the word Onanism. Tamara very skilfully manages to seduce the father of the two deceased boys, Yehuda, and even more skilfully, on the point of death, proves that Yehuda is the father of the child she is pregnant with. An amazing story especially considering that this child is destined to be the ancestor of the Messiah
Vreiliche Chanuka