Posts in category: Genesis

We are about to finish reading the book of the Beginning: Genesis. Being already in the last moments of his life, Jacob gave clear instructions to his sons regarding his burial. His body was to be taken to Canaan to be placed in the cave of Machpelah that his grandfather Avraham had acquired years before.

The Scriptures record three properties that the Israelites acquired for money from the Canaanites: the first, the burial cave purchased by Abraham from Ephron the Hittite; the second, that acquired by Jacob from Hamor; and the third one acquired by King David, the threshing floor of Araunah as recorded in 2Samuel 24. 24; these three places testify to the legal ownership of the land by the people of Israel and their right to possess it, although it is much more conclusive that it was Yehovah who promised it to them as an inheritance.

From the earliest childhood Yosef, son of Ya’akov, was considered a special person. Having been born of the one who was “the woman he loved”, and occurring in his old age, Ya’akov considered him as a leader from his youth. All this was confirmed by the revelatory dreams that were given to Yosef, which led to his enmity with his brothers.

Prophetically, in his own lifetime, Yosef saw the fulfillment of those omens, but what neither he, nor anyone of his generation knew, was that he would become a prophetic archetype, upon which exiles and returns to the Promised Land would be declared hundreds of years later. Yosef became the leader of Egypt during his own lifetime, but he would continue to be the leader of his people until the end of days.

After being sold into slavery, Joseph proved to be a faithful and competent servant. However, he faced several trials when he was accused of a crime he did not commit and was imprisoned. Despite this, Joseph demonstrated a unique gift for interpreting dreams. With this ability and with Yehovah’s help, he was appointed governor of Egypt, becoming second after Pharaoh. His story is a testimony to divine provision and God’s ability to transform adverse situations into instruments for good.

As we delve into this portion, we embark on one of the most captivating stories, showcasing how Yehovah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, exercises absolute control over every detail of human life. It also provides us with an intimate view of the profound transformation in the character of those who choose to remain faithful to Him and demonstrate integrity in fulfilling their responsibilities.

The account of Judah’s life appears as a parenthesis within the larger narrative of Joseph, yet these two stories are intricately parallel. While Joseph was being prepared to ascend as governor—a journey spanning 13 years—and another 8 years passed before his first encounter with his brothers, making a total of 21 years, everything recounted about Judah unfolded during this same period. This parallel narrative reveals the interconnectedness of their paths and the divine orchestration behind their stories.

The name Israel appears for the first time in this section of the Torah. Jacob is named after the mysterious being with whom he wrestled until dawn on his way back to the land of Canaan.

What Jacob did not know at the time is that this name, through his descendants, would become the emblem of a great nation that would endure through the centuries and millennia.

The name Israel was used from the most remote times in which the tribes settled in the Land under the leadership of Joshua, until the present times in which a completely secular movement such as Zionism, chose for the ancestral Land the same name that Jacob received on that distant night.

This parashah narrates significant events, including marriages, births and family tensions, all of which play a crucial role in the development of the history of the people of Israel. The parashah also highlights some spiritual and ethical lessons that emerge from the patriarch Jacob’s experiences, providing a source of reflection on life, faith and connection to Yehovah, God of Israel.