Mikeitz.24: Joseph and His Brothers Part Two:The Tables Turned

Joseph and His Brothers: Part Two

The Tables Turned: Mikeitz

By Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman

December 25, 2024

In this week’s Torah portion (Mikeitz, Genesis 41:1—44:17) Joseph finally has his dreams of glory come true. Pharaoh has had a couple of disturbing dreams that no one—not even his wisest magicians!—can interpret. Luckily, the Chief Cupbearer (whose own dream Joseph had divined correctly two years earlier) finally remembers Joseph. Joseph is rushed to the court, where (of course) he tells Pharaoh the meaning of the two dreams: seven years of plenty will be overtaken by seven years of terrible famine. Unasked for advice, Joseph nonetheless has some to offer: “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt… [to prepare] the Land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years” (Gen. 41:33-34). Naturally Joseph is selected for this important job, and is presented—along with Pharaoh’s signet ring—with a new set of clothing signifying his power and authority (the “clothes” motif appearing once again in our story—not the last time).

Famine overtakes the known world. When Joseph’s brothers show up to purchase food, they do not recognize Joseph—but he certainly recognizes them (the “recognition” motif playing itself out). Joseph decides to test his brothers. He takes Shimon hostage while demanding that Benjamin be brought down to him. 

When the brothers relate these events to Jacob, Jacob allows his grief and anger to show: “You are bereaving me of my sons! Joseph is gone, Simeon is gone, and now you would take Benjamin away?!” (Gen. 42:36). Nonetheless, when the food they had procured is gone, the brothers insist on returning to Egypt to replenish the supplies. As a sign of goodwill, Jacob has the brothers take gifts to “the man” in charge. However, these aren’t the usual gold, silver or jewels. Instead, Jacob has them take “A little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds” (Gen. 43:11, NKJV). Jacob understands the power of food—after all he managed to get both the birthright and its blessings using food. Now could he be sending a signal to “the man?” Remembering Joseph’s dreams of glory, Jacob might be harboring some hope deep within his heart. Could this “man” be Joseph? Would this powerful individual who insisted on knowing the family history and who specifically asked about their father and younger brother, recognize these foods and remember his earlier years, before he disappeared? We can only guess at the turmoil in Jacob’s heart at this moment. 

Yet before Jacob allows the brothers to take Benjamin, he requires guarantees for the boy’s safe return. Reuben, in his own characteristically naïve way, offers his own two children as surety: “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” The sheer senselessness of this offer is striking, and Jacob dismisses it out of hand. Judah, on the other hand, has another offer: He, Judah, will personally protect Benjamin at the cost of bearing unspeakable guilt to the end of his days if he fails to return the child to his father. Broken-hearted and resigned to his fate (“As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved”—Gen. 43:14), Jacob accepts Judah’s promise and permits Benjamin to join his brothers on this journey.

Back in Egypt, Joseph increases the pressure on his brothers, mounting one accusation on top of another. The portion finally ends with Joseph insisting that Benjamin is to remain in Egypt as his slave. All hope seems to be lost as Joseph’s brothers now must face the worst of all. Earlier in the story they threw Joseph into a pit. Now the tables have turned: It is they who are in the pit, with Joseph holding absolute power over them and their fate.

To be continued.

© 2024 by Boaz D. Heilman