Genesis 38 Wrong Turns
In our discussion, we will delve into mystical textual revelations and interpretations along with some Gematria that hopefully will help broaden our understanding of Scripture. We begin with the Hebrew spelling of Judah’s Name. Notice the fifth Hebrew word in Genesis 38.1. It is יְהוּדָה Yeh Hoo Dawh – Judah. There are five Letters in Judah’s name that are incredibly unique. What is special about Yeh Hoo Dawh’s name? Look at the four red Letters. יהודה They spell the Holy Name of the Lord. The fifth Letter changes The Holy Name of the Lord to the name Judah. The fourth Letter in Judah’s name is the ד Dalet. יהודה The Dalet is a mystical door.
Each morning when we wrap ourselves in the tzitzit, we say that we are about to unify the Holy Name. We are about to join the Yud Hey with the ו Vav ה Hey. We are about to join the four corners of the tzitzits together. We unify the Letters י Yod and ה Hey, which represent the strict attribute of God’s Justice, with the Letters ו Vav ה Hey, which represent the attribute of God’s Mercy. Why? Humankind cannot survive the strict attribute of God’s Justice. Therefore we gather the four corners of our tallit, i,e., tzitzit together before we pray. That act is symbolic of blending the attributes of the Lord so we can enter through the ד Dalet, i.e., the door safely.
וַיְהִי בָּעֵת הַהִוא וַיֵּרֶד יְהוּדָה מֵאֵת אֶחָיו וַיֵּט עַד־אִישׁ עֲדֻלָּמִי וּשְׁמוֹ חִירָה: ס
Genesis 38.1
And it came to pass in time that he, Judah, went down and away from his brothers and turned to an Adullamite named Hirah.
Why does Genesis 38.1 begin with The Word, וַיְהִי Vah Yih Hee – meaning, ‘And it came to pass at that time?’
The First Letter of the first Word וַיְהִי Vah Yih Hee in Genesis 38.1 is a ו Vav. The Letter וVav serves a vital role in interpreting and understanding Scripture. How is that? The First Letter in a Word has the responsibility to stop or continue a theme or story from the previous verse, phrase chapter or book. In Genesis 38.1 the ו Vav connects Genesis 38 to Genesis 37.27 – 36 with the tragic events that happened to Joseph in Genesis 37.
Genesis 37.26 is placing a break between Verse 27 and Verse 25.
Genesis 37.26 is placing a break between Verse 27 and Verse 25. There is no וVav.
לְכוּ וְנִמְכְּרֶנּוּ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים וְיָדֵנוּ אַל־תְּהִי־בוֹ כִּי־אָחִינוּ בְשָׂרֵנוּ הוּא וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶחָיו: ס
Genesis 37.27 – 36
כח וַיַּעַבְרוּ אֲנָשִׁים מִדְיָנִים סֹחֲרִים וַיִּמְשְׁכוּ וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף מִן־הַבּוֹר וַיִּמְכְּרוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים בְּעֶשְׂרִים כָּסֶף וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף מִצְרָיְמָה: כט וַיָּשָׁב רְאוּבֵן אֶל־הַבּוֹר וְהִנֵּה אֵין־יוֹסֵף בַּבּוֹר וַיִּקְרַע אֶת־בְּגָדָיו: ל וַיָּשָׁב אֶל־אֶחָיו וַיֹּאמַר הַיֶּלֶד אֵינֶנּוּ וַאֲנִי אָנָה אֲנִי־בָא: לא וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־כְּתֹנֶת יוֹסֵף וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ שְׂעִיר עִזִּים וַיִּטְבְּלוּ אֶת־הַכֻּתֹּנֶת בַּדָּם: לב וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ אֶת־כְּתֹנֶת הַפַּסִּים וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶל־אֲבִיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ זֹאת מָצָאנוּ הַכֶּר־נָא הַכְּתֹנֶת בִּנְךָ הִוא אִם־לֹא: לג וַיַּכִּירָהּ וַיֹּאמֶר כְּתֹנֶת בְּנִי חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ טָרֹף טֹרַף יוֹסֵף: לד וַיִּקְרַע יַעֲקֹב שִׂמְלֹתָיו וַיָּשֶׂם שַׂק בְּמָתְנָיו וַיִּתְאַבֵּל עַל־בְּנוֹ יָמִים רַבִּים: לה וַיָּקֻמוּ כָל־בָּנָיו וְכָל־בְּנֹתָיו לְנַחֲמוֹ וַיְמָאֵן לְהִתְנַחֵם וַיֹּאמֶר כִּי־אֵרֵד אֶל־בְּנִי אָבֵל שְׁאֹלָה וַיֵּבְךְּ אֹתוֹ אָבִיו: לו וְהַמְּדָנִים מָכְרוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל־מִצְרָיִם לְפוֹטִיפַר סְרִיס פַּרְעֹה שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים: פ
Ha Torah is informing us that Judah went down and away from his brothers after
- they drew Joseph up out from the pit
- they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver
- they brought Joseph to Egypt
- Reuben returned to the pit
- Joseph was not in the pit
- he tore his clothes
- Reuben returned to his brothers
- Reuben said The child is not here with you
- Reuben said, where shall I go to find Joseph?
Reuben was the first ‘Firstborn.’ He was supposed to be in charge, BUT Judah usurped Reuben’s authority. Reuben intended to release Joseph after his brothers had vented their anger and hatred and had time to cool. Instead, Judah struck quickly before his brothers had transparent thought processes. He took advantage of the situation to rid them of Joseph.
- They murdered an innocent little kid
- They dipped Joseph’s coat in the kid’s blood
- They gave Jacob, their father, a false impression
- They lied to Jacob about finding Joseph’ coat
- They pretended not to recognize Joseph’s coat
- They deceived their father
- Jacob mourned 22 years for Joseph
- Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard
- They did not search for or attempt to find Joseph
After it was evident that Jacob refused to be comforted for the loss of Joseph, the brothers became VERY angry with Judah. They blamed the above events on Judah. After the above events came to pass, Judah went down and away from his brothers and turned to an Adullamite named Hirah.
That is the message the Letter Vav represents.
Isaac, Jacob, Israel, Joseph, and Judah begin with the Letter י Yod, representing great strength.
When we consider the name Judah
May we each enjoy good health, happiness, healing, restoration, and the Blessing of studying and Observing the Torah. Trust in The Lord.
Good Sabbath!
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
