| 1Now it came to pass after these incidents that [someone] said to Joseph, "Behold, your father is ill." So he took his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim. |
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אוַיְהִ֗י אַֽחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְיוֹסֵ֔ף הִנֵּ֥ה אָבִ֖יךָ חֹלֶ֑ה וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־שְׁנֵ֤י בָנָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ אֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־אֶפְרָֽיִם: |
| that [someone] said to Joseph. One of the tellers, and this is an elliptical verse. Some say, however, that Ephraim was accustomed to study with Jacob, and when Jacob became ill in the land of Goshen, Ephraim went to his father to Egypt to tell him. |
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וַיֹּאמֶר לְיוֹסֵף.
אֶחָד מִן הַמַּגִּידִים, וַהֲרֵי זֶה מִקְרָא קָצָר; וְיֵשׁ אוֹמָרִים, אֶפְרַיִם הָיָה רָגִיל לִפְנֵי יַעֲקֹב בְּתַלְמוּד, וּכְשֶׁחָלָה יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן, הָלַךְ אֶפְרַיִם אֵצֶל אָבִיו לְמִצְרַיִם לְהַגִּיד לוֹ:
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| so he took his two sons with him. so that Jacob should bless them before his death. |
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וַיִּקַּח אֶת־שְׁנֵי בָנָיו עִמּוֹ.
כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּבָרְכֵם יַעֲקֹב לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ:
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| 2And [someone] told Jacob and said, "Behold, your son Joseph is coming to you." And Israel summoned his strength and sat up on the bed. |
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בוַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה בִּנְךָ֥ יוֹסֵ֖ף בָּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יךָ וַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הַמִּטָּֽה: |
| And [someone] told. The teller [told] Jacob, but [the text] does not specify who [it was], and many [Scriptural] verses are elliptical. |
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וַיַּגֵּד.
הַמַּגִּיד לְיַעֲקֹב, וְלֹא פֵּרֵשׁ מִי; וְהַרְבֵּה מִקְרָאוֹת קִצְרֵי לָשׁוֹן:
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| And Israel summoned his strength. He said, “Although he is my son, he is a king; [therefore,] I will bestow honor upon him” [Midrash Tanchuma Vayechi 6]. From here [we learn] that we must bestow honor upon royalty, as Moses bestowed honor upon royalty, [as it is written, that Moses said to Pharaoh,] “Then all these servants of yours will come down to me” (Exod. 11:8), [rather than “You will come down to me”]. And so Elijah [also bestowed honor upon royalty, as it is written]: “And he girded his loins [and ran before Ahab until coming to Jezreel]” (I Kings 18:46). - [from Mechilta Beshallach Section 13] |
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וַיִּתְחַזֵּק יִשְׂרָאֵל.
אָמַר, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא בְּנִי, מֶלֶךְ הוּא, אֶחֱלֹק לוֹ כָּבוֹד; מִכָּאן שֶׁחוֹלְקִין כָּבוֹד לַמַּלְכוּת, וְכֵן מֹשֶׁה חָלַק כָּבוֹד לַמַּלְכוּת – וְיָרְדוּ כָל עֲבָדֶיךָ אֵלֶּה אֵלַי (שמות י"א); וְכֵן אֵלִיָּהוּ, וַיְשַׁנֵּס מָתְנָיו וְגוֹ' (מלכים א י"ח):
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| 3And Jacob said to Joseph, "Almighty God appeared to me in Luz, in the land of Canaan, and He blessed me. |
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גוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַֽעֲקֹב֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֥ל שַׁדַּ֛י נִרְאָֽה־אֵלַ֥י בְּל֖וּז בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיְבָ֖רֶךְ אֹתִֽי: |
| 4And He said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and cause you to multiply, and I will make you into a congregation of peoples, and I will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting inheritance.' |
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דוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י הִנְנִ֤י מַפְרְךָ֙ וְהִרְבִּיתִ֔ךָ וּנְתַתִּ֖יךָ לִקְהַ֣ל עַמִּ֑ים וְנָ֨תַתִּ֜י אֶת־הָאָ֧רֶץ הַזֹּ֛את לְזַרְעֲךָ֥ אַֽחֲרֶ֖יךָ אֲחֻזַּ֥ת עוֹלָֽם: |
| and I will make you into a congregation of peoples. He announced to me that another congregation of peoples was to be descended from me. Although he said to me, “A nation and a congregation of nations [shall come into existence from you]” (Gen 35:11) [meaning three nations], by “a nation,” He promised me [the birth of] Benjamin. “A congregation of nations” means two in addition to Benjamin, but no other son was born to me. Thus I learned that one of my tribes was destined to be divided [in two]. So now, I am giving you that gift. — [from Pesikta Rabbathi ch. 3] |
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וּנְתַתִּיךָ לִקְהַל עַמִּים.
בִּשְּׂרַנִי שֶׁעֲתִידִים לָצֵאת מִמֶּנִּי עוֹד קָהָל וְעַמִּים, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָמַר לִי גּוֹי וּקְהַל גּוֹיִם, גּוֹי אָמַר לִי עַל בִּנְיָמִין; קְהַל גּוֹיִם – הֲרֵי שְׁנַיִם לְבַד מִבִּנְיָמִין, וְשׁוּב לֹא נוֹלַד לִי בֵּן, לִמְּדַנִי שֶׁעָתִיד אֶחָד מִשְּׁבָטַי לְהֵחָלֵק, וְעַתָּה אוֹתָהּ מַתָּנָה אֲנִי נוֹתֵן לְךָ:
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| 5And now, [as for] your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt, until I came to you, to the land of Egypt they are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine like Reuben and Simeon. |
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הוְעַתָּ֡ה שְׁנֵֽי־בָנֶ֩יךָ֩ הַנּֽוֹלָדִ֨ים לְךָ֜ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֗יִם עַד־בֹּאִ֥י אֵלֶ֛יךָ מִצְרַ֖יְמָה לִי־הֵ֑ם אֶפְרַ֨יִם֙ וּמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה כִּרְאוּבֵ֥ן וְשִׁמְע֖וֹן יִֽהְיוּ־לִֽי: |
| who were born to you…until I came to you. Before I came to you, i.e., those who were born since you left me [and] I came to you. |
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הַנּֽוֹלָדִים לְךָ עַד־בֹּאִי אֵלֶיךָ.
לִפְנֵי בּוֹאִי אֵלֶיךָ, כְּלוֹמַר, שֶׁנּוֹלְדוּ מִשֶּׁפֵּרַשְׁתָּ מִמֶּנִּי עַד שֶׁבָּאתִי אֶצְלְךָ:
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| they are mine. They are counted with the rest of my sons, to take a share in the land, each one exactly as each [of my other sons]. — [from Baba Bathra 122b-123a] |
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לִי־הֵם.
בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן שְׁאָר בָּנַי הֵם, לִטֹּל חֵלֶק בָּאָרֶץ אִישׁ כְּנֶגְדּוֹ:
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| 6But your children, if you beget [any] after them, shall be yours; by their brothers' names they shall be called in their inheritance. |
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ווּמֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֛ אֲשֶׁר־הוֹלַ֥דְתָּ אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם לְךָ֣ יִֽהְי֑וּ עַ֣ל שֵׁ֧ם אֲחֵיהֶ֛ם יִקָּֽרְא֖וּ בְּנַֽחֲלָתָֽם: |
| But your children. If you have any more [children], they will not be counted among my sons, but will be included among the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, and they will not have a [separate] name like [each of] the [other] tribes as regards the inheritance. Now, although the land [of Israel] was divided according to their heads (the population of each tribe), as it is written: “To the large [tribe] you shall increase its inheritance” (Num. 26:54); and each man received an equal share, except for the firstborn. Nevertheless, only these (Ephraim and Manasseh) were called tribes [regarding the ability] [to cast a lot in the land according to the number of names of the tribes and [regarding having] a prince for each tribe, and groups [of tribes in the desert] for this one and for that one]. [Note that the bracketed material does not appear in early editions of Rashi.] |
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וּמֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ וגו'.
אִם תּוֹלִיד עוֹד, לֹא יִהְיוּ בְּמִנְיַן בָּנַי, אֶלָּא בְּתוֹךְ שִׁבְטֵי אֶפְרַיִם וּמְנַשֶּׁה יִהְיוּ נִכְלָלִים, וְלֹא יְהֵא לָהֶם שֵׁם בַּשְּׁבָטִים לְעִנְיַן הַנַּחֲלָה; וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנֶּחְלְקָה הָאָרֶץ לְמִנְיַן גֻּלְגְּלוֹתָם, כְּדִכְתִיב לָרַב תַּרְבֶּה נַחֲלָתוֹ (במדבר כ"ו), וְכָל אִישׁ וְאִישׁ נָטַל בְּשָׁוֶה חוּץ מִן הַבְּכוֹרוֹת, מִכָּל מָקוֹם לֹא נִקְרְאוּ שְׁבָטִים אֶלָּא אֵלּוּ, (לְהַטִּיל גּוֹרַל הָאָרֶץ לְמִנְיַן שְׁמוֹת הַשְּׁבָטִים וְנָשִׂיא לְכָל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט וּדְגָלִים לָזֶה וְלָזֶה):
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| 7As for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died to me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still a stretch of land to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem." |
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זוַֽאֲנִ֣י | בְּבֹאִ֣י מִפַּדָּ֗ן מֵ֩תָה֩ עָלַ֨י רָחֵ֜ל בְּאֶ֤רֶץ כְּנַ֨עַן֙ בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ בְּע֥וֹד כִּבְרַת־אֶ֖רֶץ לָבֹ֣א אֶפְרָ֑תָה וָֽאֶקְבְּרֶ֤הָ שָּׁם֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֶפְרָ֔ת הִ֖וא בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם: |
| As for me, when I came from Padan, etc.. Although I burden you to take me to be buried in the land of Canaan, and I did not do so to your mother, for she died close to Bethlehem. — [from Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel] |
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וַֽאֲנִי בְּבֹאִי מִפַּדָּן וגו'.
וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֲנִי מַטְרִיחַ עָלֶיךָ לְהוֹלִיכֵנִי לְהִקָּבֵר בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן, וְלֹא כָךְ עָשִׂיתִי לְאִמְּךָ, שֶׁהֲרֵי מֵתָה סָמוּךְ לְבֵית לֶחֶם:
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| a stretch of land. Heb. כִּבְרַת-אֶרֶץ, a measure of land, which is two thousand cubits, equivalent to the measure of the Sabbath boundary (the distance a person may walk on the Sabbath), according to the statement of Rabbi Moshe Hadarshan. [The preceding material should be considered parenthetic. The following is Jacob’s explanation of why he did not bury Rachel in the cave of Machpelah.] You should not say that the rains prevented me from transporting her and burying her in Hebron, [for] it was the dry season, when the earth is riddled and full of holes like a sieve (כְּבָרָה) . |
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כִּבְרַת־אֶרֶץ.
מִדַּת אֶרֶץ, וְהֵם אַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה כְּמִדַּת תְּחוּם שַׁבָּת, כְּדִבְרֵי רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן – וְלֹא תֹאמַר שֶׁעִכְּבוּ עָלַי גְּשָׁמִים מִלְּהוֹלִיכָהּ וּלְקָבְרָהּ בְּחֶבְרוֹן, עֵת הַגָּרִיד הָיָה, שֶׁהָאָרֶץ חֲלוּלָה וּמְנֻקֶּבֶת כִּכְבָרָה:
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| and I buried her there. And I did not take her even to Bethlehem to bring her into the Land (i.e., into the inhabited region of the Holy Land- [Sifthei Chachamim]), and I know that you hold it against me; but you should know that I buried her there by divine command, so that she would be of assistance to her children. When Nebuzaradan exiles them (the Israelites), and they pass by there, Rachel will emerge from her grave and weep and beg mercy for them, as it is said: “A voice is heard on high, [lamentation, bitter weeping, Rachel is weeping for her children]” (Jer. 31:14). And the Holy One, blessed be He, answers her, “‘There is reward for your work,’ says the Lord,… ‘and the children shall return to their own border’” (ibid. verses 15, 16) (Pesikta Rabbathi ch. 3). Onkelos, however, renders [כִּבְרַת-אֶרֶץ as] כְּרוּב אַרְעָא, [meaning:] the measure of plowing in a day [Other editions: [a measure of plowing] of land], and I say that they (people in Biblical times) had a measurement called one full furrow, caruede in Old French, [which is] a land measure, plowed land, as we say: “He plows (כָּרִיב) and plows again” (B.M. 107a); “As much as a fox picks up [on its feet] from a plowed field (מִבֵּי כַּרְבָּא)” (Yoma 43b). |
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אקברה שָּׁם.
וְלֹא הוֹלַכְתִּיהָ אֲפִלּוּ לְבֵית לֶחֶם לְהַכְנִיסָהּ לָאָרֶץ, וְיָדַעְתִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּלִבְּךָ עָלַי; אֲבָל דַּע לְךָ שֶׁעַל פִּי הַדִּבּוּר קְבַרְתִּיהָ שָׁם, שֶׁתְּהֵא לְעֶזְרָה לְבָנֶיהָ כְּשֶׁיַּגְלֶה אוֹתָם נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן, וְהָיוּ עוֹבְרִים דֶּרֶךְ שָׁם, יוֹצֵאת רָחֵל עַל קִבְרָהּ וּבוֹכָה וּמְבַקֶּשֶׁת עֲלֵיהֶם רַחֲמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר קוֹל בְּרָמָה נִשְׁמָע וְגוֹ' וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְשִׁיבָהּ יֵשׁ שָׂכָר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ נְאֻם ה' וְשָׁבוּ בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם (ירמיהו ל"א). וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם כְּרוּב אַרְעָא – כְּדֵי שִׁעוּר חֲרִישַׁת יוֹם; וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם קֶצֶב שֶׁהָיוּ קוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ כְּדֵי מַחֲרֵשָׁה אַחַת, קורדיי"א בְּלַעַז, כִּדְאָמְרִינַן כָּרֵיב וְתָנֵי; כְּמָה דְּמַסִּיק תַּעֲלָא מִבֵּי כַּרְבָּא:
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| 8Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and he said, "Who are these?" |
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חוַיַּ֥רְא יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אֵֽלֶּה: |
| Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons. He attempted to bless them, but the Shechinah withdrew from him because of Jeroboam and Ahab, who were destined to be born from Ephraim, and Jehu and his sons, [who were destined to be born] from Manasseh. — [from Tanchuma Vayechi 6] [Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the first king of the Northern Kingdom, and Ahab the son of Omri were notorious idolaters.] |
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וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף.
בִּקֵּשׁ לְבָרְכָם וְנִסְתַּלְּקָה שְׁכִינָה מִמֶּנּוּ, לְפִי שֶׁעָתִיד יָרָבְעָם וְאַחְאָב לָצֵאת מֵאֶפְרַיִם וְיֵהוּא וּבָנָיו מִמְּנַשֶּׁה:
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| and he said, “Who are these?”. Where did these come from [meaning: From whom were they born], that they are unworthy of a blessing?- [from Tanchuma Vayechi 6] |
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וַיֹּאמֶר מִי־אֵֽלֶּה.
מֵהֵיכָן יָצְאוּ אֵלּוּ, שֶׁאֵינָן רְאוּיִין לִבְרָכָה:
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| 9Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God gave me here." So he said, "Now bring them near to me, so that I may bless them." |
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טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹסֵף֙ אֶל־אָבִ֔יו בָּנַ֣י הֵ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־נָֽתַן־לִ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּזֶ֑ה וַיֹּאמַ֕ר קָֽחֶם־נָ֥א אֵלַ֖י וַֽאֲבָֽרֲכֵֽם: |
| here. Heb. בָּזֶה, lit., in this, or with this. He (Joseph) showed him (Jacob) the document of betrothal and the kethubah, and Joseph prayed for mercy concerning the matter, and the Holy Spirit [returned and] rested upon him (Jacob). - [from Kallah Rabbathi 3:19] |
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בָּזֶה.
הֶרְאָה לוֹ שְׁטָר אֵרוּסִין וּשְׁטָר כְּתֻבָּה, וּבִקֵּשׁ יוֹסֵף רַחֲמִים עַל הַדָּבָר, וְנָחָה עָלָיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ:
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| So he said, “Now bring them near to me, so that I may bless them.”. This is what Scripture [is referring to when it] states: “And I (the Holy One) trained it into Ephraim; he took them on his arms” (Hosea 11:3). I trained My spirit into Jacob for Ephraim’s sake, and he took them upon his arms. — [from Tanchuma Vayechi 7] |
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וַיֹּאמֶר קָֽחֶם־נָא אֵלַי וַֽאֲבָֽרֲכֵֽם.
זֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב וְאָנֹכִי תִרְגַּלְתִּי לְאֶפְרַיִם קָחָם עַל זְרוֹעֹתָיו (הושע י"א) – תִּרְגַּלְתִּי רוּחִי בְּיַעֲקֹב בִּשְׁבִיל אֶפְרַיִם עַד שֶׁלְּקָחָן עַל זְרוֹעוֹתָיו:
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| 10Now Israel's eyes had become heavy with age, [to the extent that] he could not see. So he drew them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. |
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יוְעֵינֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כָּֽבְד֣וּ מִזֹּ֔קֶן לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִרְא֑וֹת וַיַּגֵּ֤שׁ אֹתָם֙ אֵלָ֔יו וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק לָהֶ֖ם וַיְחַבֵּ֥ק לָהֶֽם: |
| 11And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not expected to see [even] your face, and behold, God has shown me your children too." |
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יאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף רְאֹ֥ה פָנֶ֖יךָ לֹ֣א פִלָּ֑לְתִּי וְהִנֵּ֨ה הֶרְאָ֥ה אֹתִ֛י אֱלֹהִ֖ים גַּ֥ם אֶת־זַרְעֶֽךָ: |
| I had not expected. Heb. לֹא פִלָלְתִּי. I dared not entertain the thought that I would see your face again. פִלָלְתִּי is a word meaning thought, similar to “Bring counsel, deliberate thought (פְלִילָה)” (Isa. 16:3). |
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לֹא פִלָּלְתִּי.
לֹא מְלָאַנִי לִבִּי לַחֲשֹׁב מַחֲשָׁבָה שֶׁאֶרְאֶה פָנֶיךָ עוֹד. פללתי לְשׁוֹן מַחֲשָׁבָה, כְּמוֹ הָבִיאִי עֵצָה עֲשִׂי פְלִילָה (ישעיהו ט"ז):
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| 12And Joseph took them out from upon his [Jacob's] knees, and he prostrated himself to the ground. |
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יבוַיּוֹצֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֹתָ֖ם מֵעִ֣ם בִּרְכָּ֑יו וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ לְאַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה: |
| And Joseph took them out from upon his [Jacob’s] knees. After he (Jacob) had kissed them, Joseph took them off his (Jacob’s) knees to sit them down, this one to the right and this one to the left, [to make it easier for his father] to lay his hands upon them and bless them. |
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וַיּוֹצֵא יוֹסֵף אֹתָם.
לְאַחַר שֶׁנְּשָׁקָם הוֹצִיאָם יוֹסֵף מֵעִם בִּרְכָּיו, כְּדֵי לְיַשְּׁבָם זֶה לַיָּמִין וְזֶה לַשְּׂמֹאל לִסְמֹךְ יָדָיו עֲלֵיהֶם וּלְבָרְכָם:
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| and he prostrated himself to the ground. when he moved backward from before his father. |
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וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ לְאַפָּיו.
כְּשֶׁחָזַר לַאֲחוֹרָיו מִלִּפְנֵי אָבִיו:
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| 13And Joseph took them both, Ephraim at his right, from Israel's left, and Manasseh at his left, from Israel's right, and he brought [them] near to him. |
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יגוַיִּקַּ֣ח יוֹסֵף֘ אֶת־שְׁנֵיהֶם֒ אֶת־אֶפְרַ֤יִם בִּֽימִינוֹ֙ מִשְּׂמֹ֣אל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹ מִימִ֣ין יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּגֵּ֖שׁ אֵלָֽיו: |
| Ephraim at his right, from Israel’s left. If one comes toward his friend, his right is opposite his friend’s left. Since he (Manasseh) is the firstborn, he should be placed on the right for the blessing. — [from Peskita Rabbathi ch. 3] |
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אֶת־אֶפְרַיִם בִּֽימִינוֹ מִשְּׂמֹאל יִשְׂרָאֵל.
הַבָּא לִקְרַאת חֲבֵרוֹ, יְמִינוֹ כְּנֶגֶד שְׂמֹאל חֲבֵרוֹ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהוּא הַבְּכוֹר, מְיֻמָּן לִבְרָכָה:
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| 14But Israel stretched out his right hand and placed [it] on Ephraim's head, although he was the younger, and his left hand [he placed] on Manasseh's head. He guided his hands deliberately, for Manasseh was the firstborn. |
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ידוַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־יְמִינ֜וֹ וַיָּ֨שֶׁת עַל־רֹ֤אשׁ אֶפְרַ֨יִם֙ וְה֣וּא הַצָּעִ֔יר וְאֶת־שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה שִׂכֵּל֙ אֶת־יָדָ֔יו כִּ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה הַבְּכֽוֹר: |
| He guided his hands deliberately. Heb. שִׂכֵּל. As the Targum renders: אַחְכִּמִינוּן, he put wisdom into them. Deliberately and with wisdom, he guided his hands for that purpose, and with knowledge, for he knew [full well] that Manasseh was the firstborn, but he nevertheless did not place his right hand upon him. |
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שִׂכֵּל אֶת־יָדָיו.
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, אַחְכִּימִינוּן – בְּהַשְׂכֵּל וְחָכְמָה הִשְׂכִּיל אֶת יָדָיו לְכָךְ וּמִדַּעַת, כִּי יוֹדֵעַ הָיָה כִּי מְנַשֶּׁה הַבְּכוֹר וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא שָׁת יְמִינוֹ עָלָיו:
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| 15And he blessed Joseph and said, "God, before Whom my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, walked, God Who sustained me as long as I am alive, until this day, |
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טווַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ הִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ אֲבֹתַ֤י לְפָנָיו֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְיִצְחָ֔ק הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ הָֽרֹעֶ֣ה אֹתִ֔י מֵֽעוֹדִ֖י עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה: |
| 16may the angel who redeemed me from all harm bless the youths, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and may they multiply abundantly like fish, in the midst of the land." |
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טזהַמַּלְאָךְ֩ הַגֹּאֵ֨ל אֹתִ֜י מִכָּל־רָ֗ע יְבָרֵךְ֘ אֶת־הַנְּעָרִים֒ וְיִקָּרֵ֤א בָהֶם֙ שְׁמִ֔י וְשֵׁ֥ם אֲבֹתַ֖י אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְיִצְחָ֑ק וְיִדְגּ֥וּ לָרֹ֖ב בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ: |
| the angel who redeemed me. The angel who was usually sent to me in my distress, as the matter is stated: “And an angel of God said to me in a dream, ‘Jacob!…I am the God of Bethel’ ” (Gen. 31:11-13). - [after Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel] |
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הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגֹּאֵל אֹתִי.
מַלְאָךְ הָרָגִיל לְהִשְׁתַּלֵּחַ אֵלַי בְּצָרָתִי; כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים בַּחֲלוֹם יַעֲקֹב וְגוֹ' אָנֹכִי הָאֵל בֵּית אֵל (בראשית ל"א):
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| bless the youths. Manasseh and Ephraim. |
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יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־הַנְּעָרִים.
מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרַיִם:
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| and may they multiply…like fish. [Just] like fish, which proliferate and multiply, and are unaffected by the evil eye. — [from Onkelos and Gen. Rabbah 97:3] |
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וְיִדְגּוּ.
כַּדָּגִים הַלָּלוּ שֶׁפָּרִים וְרָבִים וְאֵין עַיִן הָרָע שׁוֹלֶטֶת בָּהֶם:
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| 17And Joseph saw that his father was placing his right hand on Ephraim's head, and it displeased him. So he held up his father's hand to remove it from upon Ephraim's head [to place it] on Manasseh's head. |
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יזוַיַּ֣רְא יוֹסֵ֗ף כִּֽי־יָשִׁ֨ית אָבִ֧יו יַד־יְמִינ֛וֹ עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣רַע בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְ יַד־אָבִ֗יו לְהָסִ֥יר אֹתָ֛הּ מֵעַ֥ל רֹֽאשׁ־אֶפְרַ֖יִם עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ מְנַשֶּֽׁה: |
| So he held up his father’s hand. He lifted it off his son’s head and held it up with his [own] hand. |
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וַיִּתְמֹךְ יַד־אָבִיו.
הֵרִימָהּ מֵעַל רֹאשׁ בְּנוֹ וּתְמָכָהּ בְּיָדוֹ:
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| 18And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, Father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." |
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יחוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶל־אָבִ֖יו לֹא־כֵ֣ן אָבִ֑י כִּי־זֶ֣ה הַבְּכֹ֔ר שִׂ֥ים יְמִֽינְךָ֖ עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ: |
| 19But his father refused, and he said, "I know, my son, I know; he too will become a people, and he too will be great. But his younger brother will be greater than he, and his children['s fame] will fill the nations." |
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יטוַיְמָאֵ֣ן אָבִ֗יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ יָדַ֤עְתִּי בְנִי֙ יָדַ֔עְתִּי גַּם־ה֥וּא יִֽהְיֶה־לְעָ֖ם וְגַם־ה֣וּא יִגְדָּ֑ל וְאוּלָ֗ם אָחִ֤יו הַקָּטֹן֙ יִגְדַּ֣ל מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְזַרְע֖וֹ יִֽהְיֶ֥ה מְלֹֽא־הַגּוֹיִֽם: |
| I know, my son, I know. that he is the firstborn. |
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יָדַעְתִּי בְנִי יָדַעְתִּי.
שֶׁהוּא הַבְּכוֹר:
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| he too will become a people, etc.. for Gideon is destined to be descended from him. [Gideon] through whom the Holy One, blessed be He, will perform a miracle. — [from Midrash Tanchuma Vayechi 6] |
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גַּם־הוּא יִֽהְיֶה־לְעָם וְגַם־הוּא יִגְדָּל.
שֶׁעָתִיד גִּדְעוֹן לָצֵאת מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה נֵס עַל יָדוֹ:
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| But his younger brother will be greater than he. for Joshua is destined to be descended from him, [and Joshua is] the one who will distribute the inheritances of the land and teach Torah to Israel. — [from Midrash Tanchuma Vayechi 7] |
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וְאוּלָם אָחִיו הַקָּטֹן יִגְדָּל מִמֶּנּוּ.
שֶׁעָתִיד יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לָצֵאת מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁיַּנְחִיל אֶת הָאָרֶץ וִילַמֵּד תּוֹרָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל:
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| and his children[’s fame] will fill the nations. The whole world will be filled when his fame and his name are spread when he stops the sun in Gibeon and the moon in the Valley of Ajalon. — [from Abodah Zarah 25a] |
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וְזַרְעוֹ יִֽהְיֶה־מְלֹֽא־הַגּוֹיִֽם.
כָּל הָעוֹלָם יִתְמַלֵּא בְּצֵאת שָׁמְעוֹ וּשְׁמוֹ כְּשֶׁיַּעֲמִיד חַמָּה בְּגִבְעוֹן וְיָרֵחַ בְּעֵמֶק אַיָּלוֹן:
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| 20So he blessed them on that day, saying, "With you, Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh,' " and he placed Ephraim before Manasseh. |
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כוַיְבָ֨רֲכֵ֜ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַהוּא֘ לֵאמוֹר֒ בְּךָ֗ יְבָרֵ֤ךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְשִֽׂמְךָ֣ אֱלֹהִ֔ים כְּאֶפְרַ֖יִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־אֶפְרַ֖יִם לִפְנֵ֥י מְנַשֶּֽׁה: |
| With you, Israel will bless. Whoever wishes to bless his sons, will bless them with their blessing (with a blessing related to them), and a man will say to his son, “May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.” - [from Sifrei Nasso 18] |
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בְּךָ יְבָרֵךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל.
הַבָּא לְבָרֵךְ אֶת בָּנָיו יְבָרְכֵם בְּבִרְכָתָם וְיֹאמַר אִישׁ לִבְנוֹ יְשִׂימְךָ אֱלֹהִים כְּאֶפְרַיִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁה:
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| and he placed Ephraim. Before Manasseh in his blessing, to give him precedence in the groupings [of the tribes in the desert] and [also] at the dedication of [the Tabernacle by] the [tribal] princes. — [from Gen. Rabbah 97:5] |
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וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת־אֶפְרַיִם.
בְּבִרְכָתוֹ לִפְנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה, לְהַקְדִּימוֹ בִּדְגָלִים וּבַחֲנֻכַּת הַנְּשִׂיאִים:
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| 21And Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am going to die, and God will be with you, and He will return you to the land of your forefathers. |
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כאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף הִנֵּ֥ה אָֽנֹכִ֖י מֵ֑ת וְהָיָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְהֵשִׁ֣יב אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם: |
| 22And I have given you one portion over your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow." |
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כבוַֽאֲנִ֞י נָתַ֧תִּי לְךָ֛ שְׁכֶ֥ם אַחַ֖ד עַל־אַחֶ֑יךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לָקַ֨חְתִּי֙ מִיַּ֣ד הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י בְּחַרְבִּ֖י וּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי: |
| And I have given you. Since you are taking the trouble to occupy yourself with my burial, I have given you an inheritance where you will be buried. And which is this? This is Shechem, as it is said: “And Joseph’s bones, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried in Shechem” (Josh. 24:32). |
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וַֽאֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ.
לְפִי שֶׁאַתָּה טוֹרֵחַ לְהִתְעַסֵּק בִּקְבוּרָתִי, וְגַם אֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ נַחֲלָה שֶׁתִּקָּבֵר בָּהּ, וְאֵי זוֹ? זוֹ שְׁכֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וְאֶת עַצְמוֹת יוֹסֵף אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם קָבְרוּ בִשְׁכֶם (יהושע כ"ד):
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| one portion over your brothers. Heb. אַחַד עַל אַחֶיךָ שְׁכֶם, the actual [city of] Shechem, which will be for you one share over your brothers. [Accordingly, we render: Shechem, [which is] one [share] over your brothers.]- [from Gen. Rabbah 97:6] |
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שְׁכֶם אַחַד עַל־אַחֶיךָ.
שְׁכֶם מַמָּשׁ, הִיא תִּהְיֶה לְךָ חֵלֶק אֶחָד יְתֵרָה עַל אַחֶיךָ:
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| with my sword and with my bow. When Simeon and Levi slew the men of Shechem, all those [nations] around them (Jacob’s sons) assembled to attack them, and Jacob girded weapons of war against them. — [from Gen. Rabbah 97:6, Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel.] Another explanation: “One portion” refers to the birthright, and indicates that his (Joseph’s) sons should take two shares. שְׁכֶם is a word meaning “a portion,” as the Targum renders. There are many similar instances in Scripture: “For You shall place them as a portion (שְׁכֶם)” (Ps. 21:13), You shall place my enemies before me as portions; “I will divide a portion (שְׁכֶם)” (ibid. 60:8); “…murder on the way, שֶׁכְמָה” (Hos. 6:9), [meaning:] each one his share; “to worship Him of one accord (שְׁכֶם אֶחָד)” (Zeph. 3:9), [meaning: in one group]. |
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בְּחַרְבִּי וּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי.
כְּשֶׁהָרְגוּ שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֵוִי אֶת אַנְשֵׁי שְׁכֶם נִתְכַּנְּסוּ כָּל סְבִיבוֹתֵיהֶם לְהִזְדַּוֵּג לָהֶם, וְחָגַר יַעֲקֹב כְּלֵי מִלְחָמָה כְּנֶגְדָּן; דָּבָר אַחֵר שְׁכֶם אַחַד הוּא הַבְּכוֹרָה, שֶׁיִּטְּלוּ בָנָיו שְׁנֵי חֲלָקִים, וּשְׁכֶם לְשׁוֹן חֵלֶק הוּא, וְהַרְבֵּה יֵשׁ לוֹ דּוֹמִים בַּמִּקְרָא כִּי תְּשִׁיתֵמוֹ שֶׁכֶם (תהילים כ"א) – תָּשִׁית שׂוֹנְאַי לְפָנַי לַחֲלָקִים; אֲחַלְּקָה שְׁכֶם (שם ס'), דֶּרֶךְ יְרַצְּחוּ שֶׁכְמָה (הושע ו') – אִישׁ חֶלְקוֹ; לְעָבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד (צפניה ג'):
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| which I took from the hand of the Amorite. From the hand of Esau, who behaved like an Amorite (Gen. Rabbah 97:6). Another explanation [of why Esau is called אמֹרִי]: who deceived his father with the sayings (אִמְרֵי) of his mouth. |
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אֲשֶׁר לָקַחְתִּי מִיַּד הָֽאֱמֹרִי.
מִיַּד עֵשָׂו, שֶׁעָשָׂה מַעֲשֵׂה אֱמוֹרִי. דָּבָר אַחֵר שֶׁהָיָה צָד אָבִיו בְּאִמְרֵי פִיו:
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| with my sword and with my bow. I.e., his cleverness and his prayer. |
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בְּחַרְבִּי וּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי.
הִיא חָכְמָתוֹ וּתְפִלָּתוֹ:
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