Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
Then Joseph dreamed another dream, how the sun, the moon, and eleven
stars bowed down before him, and Jacob, to whom he told it first, was
rejoiced over it, for he understood its meaning properly.[14] He knew
that he himself was designated by the sun, the name by which God had
called him when he lodged overnight on the holy site of the Temple. He
had heard God say to the angels at that time, "The sun has come."[15]
The moon stood for Joseph's mother, and the stars for his brethren, for
the righteous are as the stars.[16] Jacob was so convinced of the truth
of the dream that he was encouraged to believe that he would live to
see the resurrection of the dead, for Rachel was dead, and her return
to earth was clearly indicated by the dream. He went astray there, for
not Joseph's own mother was referred to, but his foster-mother Bilhah,
who had raised him.
Jacob wrote the dream in a book, recording all the circumstances, the
day, the hour, and the place, for the holy spirit cautioned him, "Take
heed, these things will surely come to pass."[17] But when Joseph
repeated his dream to his brethren, in the presence of his father,
Jacob rebuked him, saying, "I and thy brethren, that has some sense,
but I and thy mother, that is inconceivable, for thy mother is
dead."[18] These words of Jacob called forth a reproof from God. He
said, "Thus thy descendants will in time to come seek to hinder
Jeremiah in delivering his prophecies."[19] Jacob may be excused, he
had spoken in this way only in order to avert the envy and hate of his
brethren from Joseph, but they envied and hated him because they knew
that the interpretation put upon the dream by Jacob would be
realized.[20]
JOSEPH CAST INTO THE PIT
Once the brethren of Joseph led their father's flocks to the pastures
of Shechem, and they intended to take their ease and pleasure
there.[21] They stayed away a long time, and no tidings of them were
heard. Jacob began to be anxious about the fate of his sons. He feared
that a war had broken out between them and the people of Shechem, and
he resolved to send Joseph to them and have him bring word again,
whether it was well with his brethren.[22] Jacob desired to know also
about the flocks, for it is a duty to concern oneself about the welfare
of anything from which one derives profit. Though he knew that the
hatred of his brethren might bring on unpleasant adventures, yet
Joseph, in filial reverence, declared himself ready to go on his
father's errand. Later, whenever Jacob remembered his dear son's
willing spirit, the recollection stabbed him to the heart. He would say
to himself, "Thou didst know the hatred of thy brethren, and yet thou
didst say, Here am I."[23]
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