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| Study Guide to Vayeshev By Daniel Rendelman Weekly Reading - Genesis 37:1-40:23
- Amos 2:6-3:8
- Matthew 1:1-6, 16-25
The Torah Portion at a Glance Jacob settles in Hebron with his twelve sons. His favorite is 17-year-old Joseph/Yosef, whose brothers are jealous of the preferential treatment he receives from his father, such as a precious many colored coat that Jacob makes for Joseph. Joseph relates to his brothers two dreams he has which foretell that he is destined to rule over them, increasing their envy and hatred towards him. Simeon and Lewi plot to kill him, but Reuven suggests that they throw him into a pit instead, intending to come back later and save him. While Joseph is in the pit, Yah'hudah/Judah has him sold to a band of passing Ishmaelites. The brothers dip Joseph's special coat in the blood of a goat and show it to their father, leading him to believe that his most beloved son was devoured by a wild beast. Judah marries and has three children. The eldest, Er, dies young and childless, and his wife Tamar is given in levirate marriage to the second son, Onan. Onan sins by spilling his seed and he, too, meets an early death. Judah is reluctant to have his third son marry her. Determined to have a child from Judah's family, Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute and seduces Judah himself. Judah hears that his daughter-in-law has become pregnant and orders her executed for harlotry, but when Tamar produces some personal effects he left with her as a pledge for payment, he publicly admits that he is the father. Tamar gives birth to twin sons, Peretz (an ancestor of King David and Messiah Y'shua) and Zerach. Joseph is taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, the minister in charge of Pharaoh's slaughterhouses. YHWH blesses everything he does, and soon he is made overseer of all his master's property. Potiphar's wife desires the handsome and charismatic lad; when Joseph rejects her advances, she tells her husband that the Hebrew slave tried to force himself on her and has him thrown in prison. Joseph gains the trust and admiration of his jailers, who appoint him to a position of authority in the prison administration. In prison, Joseph meets Pharaoh's chief butler and chief baker, both incarcerated for offending their royal master. Both have disturbing dreams, which Joseph interprets; in three days, he tells them, the butler will be released and the baker hanged. Joseph asks the butler to intercede on his behalf with Pharaoh. Joseph's predictions are fulfilled, but the butler forgets all about Joseph and does nothing for him.
(adapted from chabad.org)
The Messiah in the Torah Portion A study of the Torah is a study of the Messiah Y'shua. Once again we can clearly see how characters in the Torah picture our Master Y'shua. This week's reading, which introduces us to Yosef is another clear foreshadow of Moshiach. Yosef was the favored son. Yosef is the recipient of his brother's jealousy. His brothers mock him, forsake him, and then eventually sell him off. Yosef does not fight back. Yosef is cast into a pit and later comes out alive. The sons of Jacob then dipped his garment into blood and presented the blood-stained garment to their father. Y'shua goes through the same events as Yosef. He was placed into the pit tomb of the grave and was resurrected. Y'shua's garments were ripped from him and were covered in blood as well. Revelation 19:13, ""And he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the Word of YHWH." Below is a chart for further study on the similarities between Joseph and the Messiah. Read through these verses and experience the magnificence of the Torah to vividly portray Y'shua's life, death, and resurrection.
| Yosef the Dreamer | Y'shua the Messiah |
| Genesis 37:1 | John 10:1-18 |
| Genesis 37:3-4 | Matthew 3:17 & 17:5 |
| Genesis 37:6-10 | Matthew 26:64 |
| Genesis 37:11 | John 12:18-19 |
| Genesis 37:14 | Matthew 15:24 |
| Genesis 37:15-17 | Luke 19:10 |
| Genesis 37:18 | Matthew 12:44 |
| Genesis 37:24 | Matthew 27:60 |
| Genesis 37:28 | Luke 24:1-20 |
| Genesis 37:29 | John 20:2 |
| Genesis 39:1 | Philippians 2:6-7 |
| Genesis 39:3-4 | Matthew 3:17 & 12:18 |
| Genesis 39:16-18 | Hebrews 4:15 |
| Genesis 39:7-12 | Hebrews 4:15 |
| Genesis 39:21-23 | Luke 23:47 |
| Genesis 40:2 | Matthew 24:38 |
| Genesis 40:14 | Psalm 16:10 |
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Applying the Portion to Life Today It is not easy to be like Yoseph. Following his example is difficult while living in a society of self-gratification and sensual entertainment. It is very challenging to stay pure...to be undefiled...to turn away...to control the mind...to close the eyes. Yosef was presented with a solicitation to sin sexually with Potiphar's wife yet he refused. "Lie with me," she said to him. Does this sound familiar to you? This is the same message, the exactly identical enticement that solicitates today. Yet now it is not Potiphar's wife that brings the invitation, rather it is web sites, magazines, emails, television channels, and music. Day after day the onslaught of the sexual bombards man. To be like Yosef and stop the roaming eyes and thoughts of the mind; to say "no" is every man's battle. There are lingerie commercials that expose too much and even advertisements for shampoo contain the risqué. What would be considered profane in the 1950's is proudly appealing and stylish today. The attack is everywhere - billboards, commercials, and all around the supermarket and mall. A person cannot even stand in line at the gas station without seeing magazine covers and magazines that just should not be printed. Potiphar's wife wanted to be intimate with the handsome Yosef. She tempted him and pursued him. "She sits at the door of her house or on a seat at the heights of the city, calling to those who pass by," says Mishlei (Proverbs) 19:14. This call of seduction sounds loudly even to this modern age... "This isn't hurting anyone" "Just one look won't bother anything" "No one will ever know" Yosef heard the same words, yet Yosef remained pure. Yosef refused to surrender to his lusts. Surely he had the desires but he conquered those desires. "And as much as she coaxed Yosef day after day, he did not yield to her request to lie with her or even be with her," Beresheet (Genesis) 39:10. While working as a slave, Yosef determined that he would not be a slave to his lusts. He would not give himself over to his flesh, to his yetzer hara. To help himself with the battle he would not even give himself the opportunity to yield to her temptation. Remember that it says, "he did not yield to her request... or even be with her." Yosef was smart. He knew that if he wanted to stay out of trouble then he needed to stay away from trouble. He could not give his evil inclination a foothold. Yet, one day Yosef messed up. Yosef came into the house to do his work and there was Potiphar's wife awaiting him. There she was. And they were alone. None of the household was inside except the two that didn't need to be. It was Yosef and the tempter. Traditional Jewish writings say that he came "to engage in the Torah and obey its commands." Yosef had good intentions yet he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Or was he? Was Yosef put in a place of compromise or victory? The Torah teaches that she called out to him again and this time she grabbed him. Now Yosef was face to face with his tempter. Her breath was touching his face and he could smell her aroma. At this moment in time Yosef had to make a decision, a choice. He had to run. But run which way? He could run to Potiphar's wife or he could run away from her. He could give in to the desire and temptation. Who would ever know? Or, Yosef could use this experience to prove that he was a person of character and integrity. Yosef was a set apart Hebrew wasn't he? "What is the difference between the righteous and the wicked? The wicked are under control of their heart while the righteous have their heart under their control," says the Talmud. Traditional Judaism says that Yosef came to the house "to engage in the Torah and obey its commands." And he did just that. Yosef acted upon the teachings of the Torah..."You shall not commit adultery," Shemot (Exodus) 20:14. His obedience is a powerful example on how to go through your day-to-day life without giving in lust. Just run away. Avoid it. Close your eyes to it. A recent study shows that the average male has one sexual though every seven seconds. Either these thoughts are allowed to flourish or they are stamped out. What is done with the idea, with the sexual thought is the heart of the issue at hand. "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his hear" said the Messiah Y'shua. The Redeemer was not saying that it is wrong to have a thought about intimacy. To do so is only natural, as mankind was created with a desire to reproduce. It is not the desire that is sinful. It is what is done with this desire that leads to the sins. When the Messiah said, "anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery" He was drawing people to the original intention of the Torah command found in Exodus 20:14. If you don't look with lust then you won't commit lusts like adultery. Sin starts in the mind; in the hearts; in the eyes; in the yetzer hara. "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire (or yetzer hara), he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death," James 1:14-16. Here are a few things we can learn from Yoseph's experiences. Honestly, it is extremely difficult to remain pure in a world of the profane but it can be done. Yosef did it and so can you. Know that you are not alone in the struggle. "Now Yosef was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Yosef and said, "Come to bed with me," Beresheet 39:6-7. Understand that you are hurting more than just yourself. "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against Elohim?" Beresheet 39:9 Refuse the daily assault of the sensual. "And though she spoke to Yosef day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her," Beresheet 39:10 Run away from temptation. "One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house," Beresheet 39:11-12 When you are by yourself be very careful. "One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house," Beresheet 39:11-12 -
The Hebrew name for this portion is "Vayeshev." What does this mean?
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Read Amos 2:6-3:8. How does this relate to the story of Genesis this week?
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Consider the words found in Matthew 1:1-6 and verse 16-25. What did you learn from studying this passage?
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How is Messiah Y'shua pictured in this Torah portion?
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Explain how you can apply this week's study to your life?
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Joseph brought an "evil report" about his brothers to his father. Was he speaking evil speech / lashon hara? Should he have said these things?
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Explain the coat of many colors. What was this prophetic of? How did it speak of Jacob's love for Joseph?
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What was the reaction of Yosef's brothers regarding his dream of the sheaves? How was this dream prophetic?
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Why did Jacob rebuke Joseph regarding his dreams?
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Was Yosef a shepherd like his brothers or did he spend his time elsewhere?
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What happened to Yosef when he went to Shechem?
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What was Reuven's plan to rescue Joseph?
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What type of people purchased Yosef as their slave? How much did they pay?
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Reuven had plans to rescue Joseph but his brother interfered. Is the road to hell paved with good intentions?
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How did Ya'acov react at the news of Joseph's death?
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Who purchased Joseph from the Ishmaelites?
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Compare Yosef's two dreams (see 37:5-10) to Yitzchak's blessing of Yaakov in 27:28-29. In what manner are they similar? In what manner are they different?
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In your opinion, when the brothers sit down to eat (37:25), do they sit down nearby (or in sight of) Yosef's pit, or much farther away? Is Reuven sitting down to eat with them, or did he go away? If he did go away, where did he go to and why?
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In Genesis 38, Judah's first born son "Er" was "wicked in the sight of YHWH" and "YHWH killed him." Why would YHWH kill Er and not Ishmael, Esav, or Nimrod?
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Onan's actions led to his death as well. What did he do that was so bad?
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Judah told Tamar to remain a widow. Was this acceptable? Why or why not?
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Judah had relations with a harlot but was not struck dead. How is this fair?
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Judah left his staff with Tamar. What does a staff mean in Eastern culture? How does this relate to Ezekiel 37 and the two sticks or "two staffs?"
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Tamar conceived from Judah. Were her actions righteous?
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Judah was going to execute capital punishment upon Tamar for her promiscuous relations. Wasn't such judgment by Judah hypocrisy? Wasn't he guilty of the same?
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When Judah acknowledges his fling with Tamar, what did he do? Explain what this means?
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Tamar gave birth to twins named Peretz and Zerach. Study and explain the meaning of their names. How are these names prophetic of the Messiah?
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Who is the true first born of Tamar? Why is this recognition important?
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Joseph was "brought down to Egypt." What does it mean to "go down to Egypt" and "up to Jerusalem?"
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Did Yosef allow the fact that he was rejected by his family stop him from serving YHWH and serving others? Explain.
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How did Yosef take a stand for holiness with Potipher's wife? Does this suggest that it is better for a man and woman not to be alone together?
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What anti-Semitic statement did Potipher's wife use to accuse Joseph?
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Did Potipher hear the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses regarding his wife's complaint? Did this stop him from making a righteous judgment?
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Jacob used clothes as he pretended to be Esav. Joseph's brother used his coat to pretend that Yosef had died. Did Jacob reap what he sowed? How does clothing play a part in Genesis 39:10-18.
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How was YHWH with Yosef in the prison?
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Whose dreams did Yosef interpret while in prison?
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Did Yosef interpret the dreams after or before prayer?
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During Pharaoh's birthday party, the chief baker was put to death and the butler was spared. What happened at a birthday party in Matthew 14:6-8?
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Did the butler remember Joseph as he promised?
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Read Genesis 40:12-15. In your opinion, was Yosef correct in asking the butler to intervene on his behalf to free him from prison?
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How does this Torah portion speak of the Messiah Y'shua?
The Open Bible is a teaching series written by Daniel Rendelman of Emet Ministries. Daniel Rendelman is the found and leader of Emet Ministries and the author of the book "Finding the Truth." He, his wife, and five children live in Newberry, South Carolina. He can be reached at emetministries@gmail.com. Find more teachings, audio messages, videos, and music at www.emetministries.com |
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