Torah.org Home Subscribe Services Support Us
 
Print Version

Email this article to a friend

Parshas Vayechi

At the beginning of the Parsha (47:29-31) Yosef alone is instructed briefly by Yaakov to not allow Yaakov to be buried in Egypt and to carry him out of Egypt for burial with his forefathers. Yaakov makes no mention to Yosef of Eretz C'na'an, Efron or Meoras Hamachpelah. Much later, after all the brachos, Yaakov instructs all of the brothers, including Yosef, in great detail that he is to be buried in Meoras Hamachpelah acquired from Efron in Eretz C'na'an. (49:29-32)

It is clear that Yaakov is giving two sets of instructions concerning his burial. The first set is for Yosef only. Yosef, who has the power to do so, is tasked with making sure Yaakov is able to be brought out of Egypt. Once Yosef achieves this goal he has the same instructions as all of the brothers, namely, to bring Yaakov from the Egyptian border to Eretz C'na'an to Meoras Hamachpelah. This is why Yaakov emphasized to Yosef getting him out of Egypt while emphasizing, separately, to the brothers about Meoras Hamachpelah.

This also neatly explains why the psukim separately account for Yosef and the brothers as having followed Yaakov's directions. First Yosef alone deals with getting him out of Egypt (50:4-8; see especially 50:7 "And Yosef went up to bury his father…"). Later, after the events of Goren Ha'atad, all the brothers carry him to Eretz C'na'an and Meoras Hamachpelah (50:12-13; see especially 50:12 " And his sons did for him as he had commanded them to do.").

[This is based on a shiur of HoRav Yochanan Zweig, Shlita.]


Gal Einai, Copyright © 2006 by Gedalia Litke and Torah.org

Please Support TORAH.ORG
Print Version       Email this article to a friend

 

ARTICLES ON BAMIDBAR AND SHAVUOS:

View Complete List

There's No Place Like Home
Rabbi Dovid Green - 5760

The Desert and Beyond
Rabbi Pinchas Winston - 5758

Counted Out
Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky - 5757

> The Material of Spirituality
Rabbi Yehudah Prero - 5766

The Final Countdown
Rabbi Yehudah Prero - 5760

Eat, Drink, and Receive the Torah
Rabbi Yisroel Ciner - 5759

Frumster - Orthodox Jewish Dating

Who Can Guarantee It?
Shlomo Katz - 5768

The Basis of Marriage
Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky - 5759

Walking The Walk
Rabbi Yochanan Zweig - 5770

> When a Rebbe is Equal to a Father
Rabbi Yissocher Frand - 5763

Shavuos
Rabbi Berel Wein - 5765

Where is Your Furniture?
Rabbi Yisroel Ciner - 5757

Love Counts
Shlomo Katz - 5766

My Torah
Rabbi Pinchas Avruch - 5765

Bamidbar Before Shavuos
Shlomo Katz - 5764

Who Loves You!
Rabbi Label Lam - 5765



Project Genesis

Torah.org Home


Torah Portion

Jewish Law

Ethics

Texts

Learn the Basics

Seasons

Features

TORAHAUDIO

Ask The Rabbi

Knowledge Base




Help

About Us

Contact Us



Free Book on Geulah!




Torah.org Home
Torah.org HomeCapalon.com Copyright Information