Parallels to Donald Trump by Mark McGee with input from Brit-Am
This is the blessing Jacob gave to Joseph when he blessed each and every one of the Tribes:
Genesis (NKJV) 49|:
22 “JOSEPH IS A FRUITFUL BOUGH,
A FRUITFUL BOUGH BY A WELL;
HIS BRANCHES RUN OVER THE WALL.
23 THE ARCHERS HAVE BITTERLY GRIEVED HIM,
SHOT AT HIM AND HATED HIM.
24 BUT HIS BOW REMAINED IN STRENGTH,
AND THE ARMS OF HIS HANDS WERE MADE STRONG
BY THE HANDS OF THE MIGHTY GOD OF JACOB
(FROM THERE IS THE SHEPHERD, THE STONE OF ISRAEL),
25 BY THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER WHO WILL HELP YOU,
AND BY THE ALMIGHTY WHO WILL BLESS YOU
WITH BLESSINGS OF HEAVEN ABOVE,
BLESSINGS OF THE DEEP THAT LIES BENEATH,
BLESSINGS OF THE BREASTS AND OF THE WOMB.
26 THE BLESSINGS OF YOUR FATHER
HAVE EXCELLED THE BLESSINGS OF MY ANCESTORS,
UP TO THE UTMOST BOUND OF THE EVERLASTING HILLS.
THEY SHALL BE ON THE HEAD OF JOSEPH,
AND ON THE CROWN OF THE HEAD OF HIM WHO WAS SEPARATE FROM HIS BROTHERS.
The first verse in the Hebrew could be rendered literally in a different fashion. When more than one interpretation is possible it be assumed to be deliberate and so both meanings become applicable each in its own context.
Instead of:
49:22 “JOSEPH IS A FRUITFUL BOUGH,
A FRUITFUL BOUGH BY A WELL;
HIS BRANCHES RUN OVER THE WALL.
23 THE ARCHERS HAVE BITTERLY GRIEVED HIM,
SHOT AT HIM AND HATED HIM.
It could be read,
A CHARMING SON IS JOSEPH, A SON CHARMING TO THE EYE; THE WOMEN STRODE ALONG TO SEE HIM. THEY MADE HIS LIFE BITTER AND THEY QUARRELED WITH HIM; ARCHERS DESPISED HIM.
This is how a Midrash renders it and Rabbi Jacobson in effect quotes from the Midrash.
Mark McGee refers to the generally accepted NKJV rendering and suggests that:
The picture of President Donald Trump praying at the wall hints a possible subconscious association with USA as Joseph. If only a Freudian slip of the illustrator or planned by the author. President trumps obsession over the Southern Border Wall in America could be an easy association for anyone to make when reading Gen 49:22.
The KJV translates the passage in terms associated with warfare.
JOSEPH SHALL BE A FRUITFUL BOUGH, EVEN A FRUITFUL BOUGH BY THE WELL SIDE: THE SMALL BOUGHS SHALL TURN UPON THE WALL: AND THE ARCHERS GRIEVED HIM, AND SHOT AGAINST HIM, AND HATED HIM.
Mark continues and says:
From the perspective of a Brit-am reader I understand that Joseph represents the USA. America has been dealing with migrants along the Southern Border. President Trump framed illegal immigration in terms of an Hostile Invasion organized by foreign and domestic enemies. President Trump built the Border Wall to stop illegal trespass within the USA and was certainly grieved and hated for it.
mark then turns to the rendering by Rashi as quoted by Rabbi Jacobson:
I discovered today that Rashi offers a different interpretation. Rashi on Genesis 49:22:1:
A CHARMING SON IS JOSEPH, A SON CHARMING TO THE EYE; THE WOMEN STRODE ALONG TO SEE HIM. THEY MADE HIS LIFE BITTER AND THEY QUARRELED WITH HIM; ARCHERS DESPISED HIM.
Mark continues:
Again, the parallel between Joseph and President Trump can be seen. As with Potifar's wife, so too President Trump's charm is irresistible and he becomes a hateful obsession to those whom he rebuffs.
One could also read that Joseph as USA suffers from being Too Charming. So charming that the people of Gentile nations can not help themselves but to attempt to climb the Southern Border Wall and enter the US.