Genesis’ Ultimate Technicolor Ten Commandments’ Portion: Vayeshev

 

The Torah Portion Vayeshev overflows with Ten Commandments’ moments.  Even Vayeshev’s last sentence echos a moment of Decalogue drama and reflection.  The last line is literary genius.

Short of the Commandments handed down at Mt. Sinai, Yayehev’s tales of Joseph and others touch on an abundance of Decalogue topics. Nine out of the Ten Commandments are addressed.  

This post surveys Vayeshev’s Decalogue moments and raise discussion points. 

Commandments’ Matter #1: 

Vayeshev begins with “Joseph brought a bad report of them [his brothers] to their father.”  Genesis 37:2.

The scripture notes that Joseph was a boy among the other brothers.  This was at a time when the brothers worked in the pasture. 

What was the “bad” being reported?  Was it true?  Was this done because he felt like an outsider?

Commandments’ Matter #2 

“And Israel[Joseph] had loved Joseph the most of all his children because he was a son of old age to him.” Genesis 37:3. 

“And his brothers saw that their father loved him the most of all his brothers.  And they hated him.  And they were not able to speak a greeting to him.”  Genesis 37:4

This section marks a display of epic coveting.  What can coveting lead to? Were other ancient cultures concerned with this emotion to the point that they codified against it?  

Commandments’ Matter # 3

Joseph tells his brothers of his dreams.  One is of a sheaf that is both rising and standing.   The brother’s sheaves surrounded and bowed to Joseph’s sheaf.  Genesis 37:5-7 The second dream involved in which the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing to him.  This one he told to both his brothers and father.  Genesis 37:9-10

Do these dreams constitute some illusion to idolatry?  The sun and the moon in ancient times were connect to various deities. 

Commandments’s Matter #4

“And now, come on and let’s kill him.” Genesis 37:20

The brothers conspired to commit murder Joseph. Again, coveting as a gateway to misconduct and murder as a solution. 

Commandments’ Matter #5

“Let’s not take his life.” Genesis 37:21.  Reuben denounced his brother’s plot.

“What is the profit is there if we kill our brother and cover his blood?…let our hand not be on him, because he’s our brother, our flesh”  Genesis 37:26-27.  This was from Judah. 

Why are there two voices expressing this view?  Does this involve the notion of the Documentary Hypothesis?  Why would both Reuben and Judah both be credited for saving Joseph?  Why should be address moments when individuals display both positive and negative traits? What do these words imply in the grander scheme?

Commandments’ Matter #6

“And they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty weights of silver.” Genesis 37:28

How does this passage relect historically concerning the relationship between slavery and theft? Does this passage connect to history beyond the Hebrew Bible?

Commandments Matter #7

“We found this.  Recognize: is it your son’s coat or not? Genesis 37:32.  The brothers presented Jacob with Joseph’s bloodied coat.  Jacob, upon seeing it, contemplated that Joseph had died.  The brothers let their father mourn.  

Lying to one’s father?  Is deception considered as a lie? Is this type of lie one subject to the Ten Commandments?  Or, was their act simply a blatant violation of honoring one’s parent?

Interlude

The portion Vayeshev pivots to a story about Judah.  This too includes poignant Decalogue matters.  

Commandments Matter #8

“And Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, ‘Live as a widow at your father’s house until my on Shelah grows up.”  Genesis 38:11.   The intent was that she would then marry Shelah.  Judah, however, did not fulfill his promise.  She then disguised as a prostitute got pregnant by Judah.   Judah, discovering the pregnancy, accused Tamar of whoring and sought her punishment.   Tamar then revealed who had impregnated her [Judah].  Judah, in response, responded “She’s more right than I am, because of the fact that I didn’t give her to my son Shelah.”

What was the value of one’s word prior to the commandments?  Were assertions or promises tantamount to evoking the Lord’s name?  Or, was this a breach of an existing law or tradition respect to the treatment of widows?  What is to be made of Judah’s avoidance of allowing Tamar to marry his youngest son? 

Commandments’ Matter #9

“His lord’s [Potiphar] wife raised her eyes to Joseph and said, “Lie with me.”  Genesis 39:7  “And I [Joseph] would sin against God.” Genesis 39:9

What is the nature and extent of adultery? From this passage, it is apparent that adultery was considered as a crime pre-Mt. Sinai.  Thus, what was the presentation of the Decalogue at Mt. Sinai?  Was it a codification of existing laws?  Or, was it an issuance of new laws?  Or, was it a combination of both?

Commandments’ Matter #10

“The Hebrew slave,  [Joseph] whom you brought us, came to me, to fool with me.” Genesis 39:17.

Was Potiphar’s wife untruth a violation of the Ten Commandments?  Should it be in light of the fact that it got Joseph imprisoned?  While the accusation was not testimony, it effectively caused incarceration.  

Commandments’ Matter #11

“So if you’ll remember me with you when it will be good for you, you’ll practice kindness with me, then you’ll bring up the memory of me to Pharaoh, and you’ll bring me out of this house.  Because I was stolen from the land of the Hebrews; and here to.  I haven’t done anything that should have put me in the pit. ” Genesis 40-14-15.

Joseph’s request to the cupbearer again touches on the theme of slavery and bondage.   It touches on the notion that slavery may be unlike being a prisoner. Finally, it reminds the reader of how a Leader commands power to emancipate.  How does this passage relate to the Exodus story?

Commandments’ Matter #12

“And the chief of drink stewards did not remember Joseph. And he forgot him.” Genesis 40:23. 

This passage takes us to Mt.  Sinai.  God, at the Burning Bush, tells Moses “And now, here, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me, and also I’ve seen the oppression that Egypt is causing them.”  Exodus 3:9.  Thus, one must ponder as to what is the relationship between the Lord and the Children of Israel.  What is the Deity’s role?  What was the population’s expectation with respect to the Deity’s taking action? 

Conclusion

The Torah Portion Vayeshev’s topics present as Genesis’ greatest pedagogy for teaching the Ten Commandments and the issues relating to them.  

Be well!!

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