Vayeshev: profit

Vayeshev: profit 

 

In Vayeshev Joseph is repeatedly betrayed; and in every instance, he does something that leaves him less than blameless.

He is betrayed by his brothers, sold to the Ishamalites.  But he has informed them, through his transparent dreams, that he will be the heir to the legacy, he will rule over the clan, he will be the Yaakov ( and they will be the Esau), He will be the Yitzchok and they will be the Ishmail... so they sell him to the Ishmailites.

 

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Yehudah changes the plot from murder to slave trading.

 

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה, אֶל-אֶחָיו:  מַה-בֶּצַע, כִּי נַהֲרֹג אֶת-אָחִינוּ, וְכִסִּינוּ, אֶת-דָּמוֹ.  כז לְכוּ וְנִמְכְּרֶנּוּ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים, וְיָדֵנוּ אַל-תְּהִי-בוֹ, כִּי-אָחִינוּ בְשָׂרֵנוּ, הוּא; וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ, אֶחָיו  26

And Judah said unto his brethren: 'What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh.' And his brethren hearkened unto him.

 

please notice the use of the word שְׁמְע: the root of Yishmael, meaning listen. What do brothers listen to? Whom does Yishmael listen to?

 

Also compare this passage  with the passage in Psalms (30)

 

:מַה-בֶּצַע בְּדָמִי,    בְּרִדְתִּי אֶל-שָׁחַת:
הֲיוֹדְךָ עָפָר;    הֲיַגִּיד אֲמִתֶּךָ.
יא  שְׁמַע 

 

'What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? {N}
Shall the dust praise Thee? shall it declare Thy truth?

 

Today is Black Friday, the day of profit. 

 

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Joseph is betrayed by the Aisheth Potifar.  But the extraordinary shalsheleth cantillation mark on the word Vayimaen ( he delayed) emphasizes this word and implies Joseph's (natural) ambivalence about the situation.

Joseph is betrayed by the royal wine steward.  The wine steward is acutely aware of palace politics.  Joseph has demonstrated his extraordinary gifts.  Who needs the competition? Ma betza?