Biblical Text and Rabbinical Tradition Concerning the 2nd son of Rachel and Full brother of Joseph
PART OF PROJECT BENJAMIN
Note: If you are interested in the Rabbis Quoted short biographical sketches are to be found at:
Rabbis Quoted.
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/sources/rabbisquoted.html
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Contents:
1. Benjamin in Rabbinical Tradition
2. The Story of Joseph
3. Joseph Meets Benjamin and is Reconciled with his Brothers
4. The Psychological Reality
5. Joseph, Benjamin, and the Future Reunion
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1. Benjamin in Rabbinical Tradition
Jacob begat Joseph and Benjamin from Rachel.
The Sages said that Benjamin was born only after Rachel had fasted for a long time hoping to bear another child in addition to Joseph.
Prior to that Rachel had given her maidservant, Bilhah, to Jacob and from her Jacob begat Dan and Naphtali (Genesis 30:3-8). The Sages said, "By virtue of [bringing about the birth of] Dan Rachel became pregnant. By Virtue of Dan came Joseph and Benjamin" (Midrash BaMidbar Rabah 73; 4).
When Benjamin was born, his father Jacob was over over 100 years old. His mother was in her 60s. Benjamin himself was to live 100 years (Midrash Bamidbar Rabah 14:8). Benjamin was the only one of the bothers who was born in the Land of Canaan (Midrash Mekilta Yitro Chodesh 4).
Banjamin looked just like his mother (Zohar 1;202).
Bwenjamin was one of only 4 people in history who never sinned their whole lives through ( Talmud, Shabat 55;b). Benjamin was one of 7 people whose body never decayed after they died (Talmud Babba Batra 17;a). He was buried in jerusalem (Safer haYashar).
Concerning Benjamin the son of Jacob it was said, "He does not slander with his tongue, Nor do evil to his neighbor" (Psalms 15:3). Benjamin knew about his brothers having sold joseph but he dud not reveal it to his father (Midraqsh Shocher Tov 15;6).
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2. The Story of Joseph
Joseph was the elder brother of Benjamin. Joseph became the favorite son of his father. His brothers were jealous of him. Joseph himself however had mistakenly brought a false report about his brothers to their father (Genesis 37:2). They suspected he wished to dispossess them or demote them. They planned to kill him but at the last minute threw him a pit and then sold him to Midianite-Ishmaelites going down to Egypt. When all this took place Benjamin had not been present but was attending on his father. Joseph was sold as a slave in Egypt but eventually became the deputy head and effective rule of the country (Genesis 41:40).
Benjamin became the father of ten sons, after Joseph had disappeared.
Genesis 46:21, Benjamin had ten sons: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
Benjamin however had an intuitive understanding as to what had happened to Joseph. The names he gave his sons are all indicative of the fate of Joseph in Egypt. In our opinion they are also prophetic of the future father of the Tribes of Joseph after they had gone into exile. A separate article will deal with this.
Joseph had predicted seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He had prepared Egypt for it and stored up grain. When the famine came the Land of Canaan was also affected. Jacob sent 10 of his sons to Egypt to buy grain but kept Benjamin with him. Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not realize who he was. He questioned them about their family and pretended to suspect them of being spies and telling lies. He then supplied them with grain and sent them home but detained one of the brothers, Simeon, with him. Simeon may have been the one who had initiated the plot against Joseph. The brothers were told by Joseph not to come back unless they bring their younger brother Benjamin with them. The brothers related what had happened to Jacob. They wanted to return with Benjamin in order to release Simeon. Reuben offered that his two sons be placed as surety for Benjamin but Jacob refused.
Genesis (NASB) 42:
37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, 'You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.'
38 But Jacob said, 'My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should happen to him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.'
After a while the grain came to an end. The brothers explained that they could not go down again to Egypt without taking Benjamin with them. The situation became desperate and Judah offered himself as surety for Benjamin.
Genesis (NASB) 43:
8 So Judah said to his father Israel, 'Send the boy with me and we will arise and go, so that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. 9 I myself will take responsibility for him! You may demand him back from me. If I do not bring him back to you and present him to you, then [e]you can let me take the blame forever. 10 For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.'
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3. Joseph Meets Benjamin and is Reconciled with his Brothers
Jacob agreed. They came to Egypt. Joseph accepted them favorably.
He took them into his house, gave them food, showed special favor to Benjamin, gave them provisions and sent them on their way.
When they had set out Joseph them overtaken and accused them of stealing his special drinking vessel. It was found in the luggage of Benjamin since by orders of Joseph it had been deliberately planted there previously. They were all brought back to face Joseph. Benjamin was deemed guilty of stealing the chalice and joseph said that he would have to remain as a slave while the others could go. Judah pleaded on behale of benjamin . Joseph relented and revealed tot hem that he was their brother whom they had sold into servitude. The brothers were reconciled. Jacob was informed that Joseph was alive and ruler in Egypt. Since the famine was still continuing it was arranged that the whole family numbering about 70 males plus wives and daughters should come down to Egypt where Joseph could look after them.
For More details, see:
Joseph and his Brothers-1
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/genesis/josephbrothers1.html
Joseph and his Brothers-2
Ancient Secrets Revealed. The Bible as you have never heard it! What really Happened?
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/genesis/josephbrothers2.html
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4. The Psychological Reality
Here is some more concerning the Encounter of Judah and Joseph.
Joseph and Judah Encounter Each Other
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/bible/genesis/gen44to47vayigash.html
Extracts:
[Genesis 44:18] THEN JUDAH CAME NEAR UNTO HIM, AND SAID, OH MY LORD, LET THY SERVANT, I PRAY THEE, SPEAK A WORD IN MY LORD'S EARS, AND LET NOT THINE ANGER BURN AGAINST THY SERVANT: FOR THOU ART EVEN AS PHARAOH.
CAME NEAR in Hebrew "VaYigash". Commentators emphasized the traumatic experience this was for Judah. He was prepared to beg, bargain, and threaten all at once. In the case of Joseph he had failed morally and otherwise. He was not going to let it happen again.
Joseph was the son of Rachel the favorite wife of Jacob and the wife for whom he had indentured himself. Joseph was to receive the birthright but the rights of rulership were to be given to, Judah.
"NOW THE SONS OF REUBEN THE FIRSTBORN OF ISRAEL, (FOR HE WAS THE FIRSTBORN; BUT FORASMUCH AS HE DEFILED HIS FATHER'S BED, HIS BIRTHRIGHT WAS GIVEN UNTO THE SONS OF JOSEPH THE SON OF ISRAEL: AND THE GENEALOGY IS NOT TO BE RECKONED AFTER THE BIRTHRIGHT.
"FOR JUDAH PREVAILED ABOVE HIS BRETHREN, AND OF HIM CAME THE CHIEF RULER; BUT THE BIRTHRIGHT WAS JOSEPH'S:) [1-Chronicles 5:1-2].
[Genesis 44:19] MY LORD ASKED HIS SERVANTS, SAYING, HAVE YE A FATHER, OR A BROTHER?
[Genesis 44:20] AND WE SAID UNTO MY LORD, WE HAVE A FATHER, AN OLD MAN, AND A CHILD OF HIS OLD AGE, A LITTLE ONE; AND HIS BROTHER IS DEAD, AND HE ALONE IS LEFT OF HIS MOTHER, AND HIS FATHER LOVETH HIM.
Symbolically Joseph and Judah were struggling over Benjamin. The Tribes of Israel were destined to split: Judah on one side and the Ten Tribes under Joseph on the other. The Ten Tribes at one stage had one of their centers at Beth-el on the border with Benjamin and struggled with Judah over Benjamin who however did remain on the whole with Judah. The present-day Jews are dominated by the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
[Genesis 44:21] AND THOU SAIDST UNTO THY SERVANTS, BRING HIM DOWN UNTO ME, THAT I MAY SET MINE EYES UPON HIM.
There is a game being played here. Notice the psychology.
Joseph is bluffing maybe- but he is putting his brothers under tension, maybe danger. What if one of them reacted violently? They had violent tendencies and were not cowards or weaklings. How much did Joseph really want to reveal his true identity? Was there some hesitation here?
In the subconscious of Judah was there a recognition of who Joseph was?
Was there some degree of real danger from Joseph?
Joseph had been the victim of something that bordered on attempted murder. The original intention had been to kill him for nothing more maybe than fanciful dreams he had spoken about.
For 13 years of his life he had been enslaved in a foreign country because of this. These days some people get less than that for murder.
Joseph had a right in a sense to take vengeance if he wished.
Why did the brothers not recognize him?
Because psychologically they were conditioned not to.
The brothers of Joseph had not seen him for 13 years and the last place they expected him to turn up (assuming he was still alive) was in the person of a Ruling Prince of Egypt!.
[Genesis 44:22] AND WE SAID UNTO MY LORD, THE LAD CANNOT LEAVE HIS FATHER: FOR IF HE SHOULD LEAVE HIS FATHER, HIS FATHER WOULD DIE.
This was true, the life of Jacob had been placed in danger.
[Genesis 44:23] AND THOU SAIDST UNTO THY SERVANTS, EXCEPT YOUR YOUNGEST BROTHER COME DOWN WITH YOU, YE SHALL SEE MY FACE NO MORE.
[Genesis 44:24] AND IT CAME TO PASS WHEN WE CAME UP UNTO THY SERVANT MY FATHER, WE TOLD HIM THE WORDS OF MY LORD.
[Genesis 44:25] AND OUR FATHER SAID, GO AGAIN, AND BUY US A LITTLE FOOD.
[Genesis 44:26] AND WE SAID, WE CANNOT GO DOWN: IF OUR YOUNGEST BROTHER BE WITH US, THEN WILL WE GO DOWN: FOR WE MAY NOT SEE THE MAN'S FACE, EXCEPT OUR YOUNGEST BROTHER BE WITH US.
[Genesis 44:27] AND THY SERVANT MY FATHER SAID UNTO US, YE KNOW THAT MY WIFE BARE ME TWO SONS:
[Genesis 44:28] AND THE ONE WENT OUT FROM ME, AND I SAID, SURELY HE IS TORN IN PIECES; AND I SAW HIM NOT SINCE:
[Genesis 44:29] AND IF YE TAKE THIS ALSO FROM ME, AND MISCHIEF BEFALL HIM, YE SHALL BRING DOWN MY GRAY HAIRS WITH SORROW TO THE GRAVE.
[Genesis 44:30] NOW THEREFORE WHEN I COME TO THY SERVANT MY FATHER, AND THE LAD BE NOT WITH US; SEEING THAT HIS LIFE IS BOUND UP IN THE LAD'S LIFE;
[Genesis 44:31] IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN HE SEETH THAT THE LAD IS NOT WITH US, THAT HE WILL DIE: AND THY SERVANTS SHALL BRING DOWN THE GRAY HAIRS OF THY SERVANT OUR FATHER WITH SORROW TO THE GRAVE.
[Genesis 44:32] FOR THY SERVANT BECAME SURETY FOR THE LAD UNTO MY FATHER, SAYING, IF I BRING HIM NOT UNTO THEE, THEN I SHALL BEAR THE BLAME TO MY FATHER FOR EVER.
[Genesis 44:33] NOW THEREFORE, I PRAY THEE, LET THY SERVANT ABIDE INSTEAD OF THE LAD A BONDMAN TO MY LORD; AND LET THE LAD GO UP WITH HIS BRETHREN.
Genesis 44:34] FOR HOW SHALL I GO UP TO MY FATHER, AND THE LAD BE NOT WITH ME? LEST PERADVENTURE I SEE THE EVIL THAT SHALL COME ON MY FATHER.
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5. Joseph, Benjamin, and the Future Reunion
[Genesis 45:1] THEN JOSEPH COULD NOT REFRAIN HIMSELF BEFORE ALL THEM THAT STOOD BY HIM; AND HE CRIED, CAUSE EVERY MAN TO GO OUT FROM ME. AND THERE STOOD NO MAN WITH HIM, WHILE JOSEPH MADE HIMSELF KNOWN UNTO HIS BRETHREN.
[Genesis 45:2] AND HE WEPT ALOUD: AND THE EGYPTIANS AND THE HOUSE OF PHARAOH HEARD.
[Genesis 45:3] AND JOSEPH SAID UNTO HIS BRETHREN, I AM JOSEPH; DOTH MY FATHER YET LIVE? AND HIS BRETHREN COULD NOT ANSWER HIM; FOR THEY WERE TROUBLED AT HIS PRESENCE.
DOTH MY FATHER YET LIVE? i.e. Am I still your brother?
What had Judah said: FOR THOU ART EVEN AS PHARAOH.
On a spiritual level had Judah used some kind of leverage to threaten Joseph in order to save both Benjamin and Jacob?
[Genesis 45:4] AND JOSEPH SAID UNTO HIS BRETHREN, COME NEAR TO ME, I PRAY YOU. AND THEY CAME NEAR. AND HE SAID, I AM JOSEPH YOUR BROTHER, WHOM YE SOLD INTO EGYPT.
SOLD INTO EGYPT: disowned.
[Genesis 45:5] NOW THEREFORE BE NOT GRIEVED, NOR ANGRY WITH YOURSELVES, THAT YE SOLD ME HITHER: FOR GOD DID SEND ME BEFORE YOU TO PRESERVE LIFE.
Joseph went into exile due to Divine Providence. His task was to use the power and position he received through exile to save and assist the rest of his brothers. This was regardless of what merit or lack of merit the brothers had. Joseph had his Divinely-appointed task to fulfill and he was going to do it.
[Genesis 45:14] AND HE FELL UPON HIS BROTHER BENJAMIN'S NECK, AND WEPT; AND BENJAMIN WEPT UPON HIS NECK.
The Temple was built in an area straddling the territories of Judah and Benjamin even though Jerusalem technically was not apportioned to any tribe. The area of the Temple Mount has been likened to the geographical neck of Benjamin. Why does Joseph weep there? Is that the area through which Joseph and Benjamin of Judah will be reconciled?
CONTINUED.