Vayigash: slave justice

Vayigash: slave justice

Vayigash opens with an act of courage.  Judah dares to approach the viceroy of Egypt with an outlandish offer.  He offers to buy the freedom of the thief (whom he previously said should be killed [a punishment for which no substitution is possible])  with his own freedom; He offers to substitute  as a slave for Benjamin. 

Judah could not have expected that this proposal would be accepted, it is intrinsically unjust. And who wants a courageous slave? (Django)

But the act of absurd hope leads to an amazing consequence: Joseph reveals himself to the brothers.  The entire problem dissolves with this crazy confrontation (possibly because of it).  Who can know where the deliverance will come form? 

When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, He tells them: And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for Gd did send me before you to preserve life.

He excuses their sin on the basis of its favorable consequence.  That is also not proper justice, but it allows for a mending of the breach, something that is often more important than justice.  I think this is a technique that saves many marriages: favor the outcome over the action ( and when it is more convenient, favor the action over the outcome)

Joseph is the father of economic policy.  With the food stores he buys everything, including the land and the people of Egypt.  The price: a flat, across the board ( except clergy), 20% income tax: a solution that would appeal to libertarians and socialists alike. But we also see that taxes are the evidence of  enslavement.  Are we  tax slaves?

All of Egypt is enslaved by Joseph. Joseph, sold into slavery  by his brothers enslaves the known world.  And his Egyptians enslaves his, and his brothers', descendants.

What goes around, comes around.

Approach at your own risk