44 – Puzzling
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בייה Life is full of puzzles. We have some of our favorite puzzles on our computer at home and work. Our cell phones, iPads, and other devices have puzzles and game apps. We are inquisitive people who try to figure things out. We read mystery books and watch mysteries on television and the internet. These are not the puzzles we are going to discuss. Ha Tanach has many puzzles. For example: (Genesis 41.45) says, ‘Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah.’ Yet, in (Genesis 41.55) The Torah says, ‘When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; Do what he says to you.”’ What is the point? Even though Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphnath-Paaneah, he instructed ‘All the Egyptians’ to go to Joseph. Why? All the Egyptians knew Joseph by his Hebrew name. Why is that significant? Joseph’s name was known far and wide by ‘All the Egyptians.’ (Genesis 41.56) says, ‘All countries came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain because the famine was so severe in all lands.’ Midrash – Sefer HaYashar – informs us that Jacob’s sons entered Egypt individually through ten gates. They meet up in the house of harlots seeking their brother, [Joseph]. Jacob’s ten sons were taken [into custody and brought] to Joseph while he was seated on his throne in his temple, robed in garments of white and purple, and upon his head was a large crown of gold, and all the valiant men were around him. And the sons of Jacob saw him, and his beautiful appearance and dignity surprised them, and they once more bowed down before him to the ground, and when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but they did not recognize him because he was too great in their eyes. For he hath been lost from us, and we said: Peradventure he is in this land. And we searched for him in all the land of Egypt, and we came unto the house of the harlots also to seek him there. And Joseph said unto them: Have you searched for him in all the earth, that there is not another place but Egypt to seek him in? ‘You came to spy out the whole land, and, therefore, you entered ten different gates to see the land’s nakedness. Everyone who comes to purchase does so and goes his way, but you have been here now three days in the land. What have you done among the walls of the harlots the past three days? Only spies do such things.’ The point is that they most likely heard about Joseph since all the Egyptians knew Joseph. They were looking for a poor, helpless slave, not an emperor. Perhaps they felt that there was no way Joseph could’ve risen so high in Egypt. Yet, Jacob’s sons began referring to him as ‘The Man.’ There was a degree of mystery about him. (Genesis 42.26-31) Discusses the money that they paid for their grain in their sacks. ‘And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he saw his money; behold, it was in his sack’s mouth. And he said to his brothers, My money is restored; and, lo, it is in my sack; and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, ‘What is this that God has done to us?”’ (Genesis 42.35) says, ‘And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, [another puzzle occurred], behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when both they and [when] their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.’ Later on in their their second journey to Egypt, Benjamin was with them. They were taken to Joseph’s home to dine. (Genesis 43.33) says, ‘And they sat before [Joseph], the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth; [They were seated at the table in the order of their births], and the men looked at one another in amazement.’ This was another puzzle. This brings us to (Genesis 44). Jacob’s sons dine with Joseph at his home. They make merry with Joseph. Some say that this was the first time since Joseph was sold into slavery that he or his brothers had even a sip of wine. Joseph’s silver wine cup was displayed for everyone to see and perhaps desire. Before they departed, Joseph instructed the steward of his house to place his silver wine cup in Benjamin’s grain bag. Then, in the morning, After they left, Joseph sent his Stewart after them. He overtook them. He said, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?’ Then he began searching for the Silver Wine Cup, starting with the oldest to Benjamin the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. ‘If any of your servants is found to have it, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves. And he said, Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and you shall be blameless. Then they speedily took down every man’s sack to the ground and opened every man’s sack. And he searched beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and loaded every man his ass, and returned to the city. And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there, and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said to them, What deed have you done? Do you not know that such a man as I can certainly divine? And Judah said, ‘What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we and he also with whom the cup is found.”’ Why did Joseph have his brothers accused, humiliated, embarrassed, stressed, and embroiled in such a way? What is the point? Only God knows the answers to many puzzling events. We may not be able to solve the puzzle. Okay! Our goal is to do our best to follow The Torah. We seek forgiveness for our transgressions, reverse our course, and offer restitution for our slip ups. We are on the threshold of Rosh Hashanah. Our goal is to begin afresh in 5784. We can help make our world a better place. La Shanah Tova! May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for blessings, health, prosperity, kindness, and peace to ourselves and others. Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk |
