(1) Another explanation is that it refers to murder, as (2 Samuel 2:14) “Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and make sport (וישחקו) before us” (where they fought with and killed one another) From Sarah’s reply — “for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son״ — you may infer that he (Ishmael) was quarrelling with Isaac about the inheritance, saying, “I am the first-born and will, therefore, take a double portion”. They went into the field and he (Ishmael) took his bow and shot arrows at him (Isaac), just as you say (Proverbs 26:18-19) “As a madman who casteth firebrands, [arrows and death] and says: I am only מצחק mocking” (Genesis Rabbah 53:11).
(18) They (the brothers) saw him (Joseph) from afar, and before he came close to them they conspired to kill him.
- Sefer Bereshit in a superb manual in how to create a dysnfuctional family!
- Sarah and Gd cause Hagar and Ishmael to be sent away
- Isaac loves Esav, Rivka loves Yaakov
- Yaakov loves Joseph
How can Joseph break the bitter cycle of murder?
Through making sure the brothers repent - do Teshuvah
Lord Rabbi Sacks - "Not in God's Name" (2015)
Step 1: Role Reversal
Brothers suspected Joseph of ambition - they learn what it is to be under suspicion
They sold him as a slave - they are facing enslavement
They made Yaakov go through the pain of losing a child - they must witness the grief again, through no fault of their own
They treated their brother like a stranger - now, they are strangers in Egypt
Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah)
Repentence
1) Sinner abandons his sin
2) He removes sin from his thoughts
3) He resolves in his heart not to repeat the sin
Teshuvah Gemurah - "What is perfect repentence? When the opportunity for sin presents itself for repeating an offence once committed and the offender,, while able to commit the offence, nevertheless refrains from doing so because he is penitent and not out of fear or failure of strength"
Joseph takes brothers through process of Teshuvah -
Step 1 - remorse and confession:
(21) They said to one another, “Alas, we are being punished on account of our brother, because we looked on at his anguish, yet paid no heed as he pleaded with us. That is why this distress has come upon us.”
Step 2 Engineering the situation
They sold their brother into slavery - would they act differently if placed in the same situation again? He creates a situation where they can purchase their freedom if one brother is left as a slave
He made them jealous of Benjamin, the other son of his father's favourite wife, Rachel
Step 3 - Forgiveness
Joseph revealing himself to his brothers indicates that he has forgiven them
Joseph forgives his brothers a second time in this week's parsha
(15) When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrong that we did him!”
(16) So they sent this message to Joseph, “Before his death your father left this instruction:
(17) So shall you say to Joseph, ‘Forgive, I urge you, the offense and guilt of your brothers who treated you so harshly.’ Therefore, please forgive the offense of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph was in tears as they spoke to him.
(18) His brothers went to him themselves, flung themselves before him, and said, “We are prepared to be your slaves.”
(19) But Joseph said to them, “Have no fear! Am I a substitute for God?
(20) Besides, although you intended me harm, God intended it for good, so as to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.
(21) And so, fear not. I will sustain you and your children.” Thus he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Conclusion
The only way for the nation of Israel to enter Egypt - and the next phase of their journey - was to bring closure to the dysfunctionality that has existed to that point, otherwise, they would have never reached the next stage.
The proof for this is the closeness between Moshe, Aharon and Miriam - it was because of this that they merited to leave Egypt and eventually reach the land of Israel (Canaan)