Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L
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Yosef Travels. His Brothers Plot.
Joseph’s brothers go to pasture in the fields of Shchem. However they become more interested in “pasturing” themselves, indulging in food and drink, which is what ultimately leads to their downfall.
Jacob (now called Israel), tells Joseph to go to his brothers in Shchem and report back about how they are doing. Joseph readily acquiesces, in spite of the hatred his brothers have towards him.
He leaves Chevron, which although being a mountain, is described as being deep like a “valley” as it was where Avraham was buried there, making it "deep" with counsel. . Joseph leaving Chevron was thus the start of their exile.
A “man”, who was actually the angel Gabriel sees Joseph and approaches him and asks him what he seeks. Joseph said that he is looking for his brothers and asked the angel to tell him where they are.
The angel tells him that he overheard them saying that they intended to go to “Dothan”, which etymologically is related to the word “dat”, meaning “law”. This is alluding to the fact that the brothers had set out to find legal justifications for killing Joseph. The wording of the text also alludes to the brothers moving away from their “brotherhood”.
The brothers conspire to kill Joseph by throwing him into a pit and then claiming that he was devoured by a beast. G-d proclaims from on high “let’s see who’s “dream” comes true - yours (of killing Joseph) or Mine (as expressed in Joseph’s dreams)".
Reuven, being the firstborn and thus feeling that he would be held responsible for whatever happened, protested this plan and said that they should throw Joseph into a pit but not shed his blood. His intention with this was to subsequently go and rescue Joseph from there and bring him back to their father.
