This is the tenth week of the cycle, so we’re reading Parshah Mikeitz (Gen 41:1-44:17), which is mostly Joseph and his brothers in Egypt. Pharoah dreams, and his butler finally remembers about Joseph, who interprets the dream as foretelling an upcoming famine. Pharoah, spellbound, not only believes this interpretation, but makes Joseph his chief administrator and gives him total power and riches and a well-born wife. Yep. Anyway, the famine comes, and Joseph manages it brilliantly, so that not only does Egypt survive but prospers, selling corn to all and sundry. Jacob then sends his sons to Egypt to buy food, and Joseph dicks with them, and they go home and eat the food, and then they come back and he dicks with them some more. The Parshah ends with the brothers totally confused and broken, Joseph having convinced them of (a) his omniscience, and (b) their total worthlessness and ignorance.
So, what if Joseph hadn’t been such a dick? I mean, seriously, even given that he acts like a jerk all through Parshah Vayeishev, what if his stint in prison had taught him humility rather than more arrogance? Maybe if he hadn’t been so arrogant he wouldn’t have been able to pull off the corn distribution. Still, you have to wonder.
One question from a story-telling perspective is what happens if Judah or Reuven recognizes Joseph. The more he screws with them, the more (it seems) they might have wondered. If Judah, say, had suspected, might he have tried harder to find some other way to get the needed food? The clan still has loads of silver (clearly); could they have waited out the five remaining famine years somewhere else? And would their grandchildren then have been enslaved?
Also, of course, what if they had just opened their damn saddlebags before leaving? I mean, that’s the least plausible thing in this story, isn’t it? Particularly the second time around, when they have a certain thought in mind.
Oh, by the way, does it strike anyone how totally complacent Jacob/Israel is about Simeon’s imprisonment? Or does 42:36 really mean that he thinks Simeon is already dead? Or does it mean that he knows Simeon is with Joseph? Frankly, I find his actions perplexing; I would have expected him to go to Egypt himself, immediately, with Benjamin. But that wouldn’t have worked, would it?
Anyway, Your Humble Blogger has the week off from leading discussion this week, as we will be having a Bar Mitzvah, and not only will that take up loads of time (as everybody and their Aunt Sadie will be called to Torah), but Joshua will have to give his own D’var Torah, just to show he is worthy of the fountain pen.
Thank you,
-Vardibidian.