Shabbat Parashat Vayeishev 5783

Parashat Hashavua: Yosef’s Connection to the Land

Upon hearing the “news” of Yosef’s apparent tragic death, Yaakov entered an extended period of deep mourning (Bereishit 37:33-35). There is a parallel episode relayed in Divrei Hayamim (I, 7:20-24). Ephrayim’s sons, who were tending to their flocks in the Land of Cana’an were killed by the people of Gat, and Ephrayim was in an inconsolable state. We will look further at this event and seek a connection to the upcoming holiday of Chanuka.

Menashe and Ephrayim, had a status in Egypt of princes, being the sons of Yosef, the all-powerful viceroy. This gave them access to Egyptian forces, which were in the practice of taking forays into neighboring areas in the Middle East, especially the Land of Cana’an, which Egypt always saw as a satellite region. Therefore, Ephrayim and his children controlled land there and built cities (Upper and Lower Beit Choron and Uzen She’era) along the path leading from the lowlands to the approaches to Yerushalayim (see ibid. 24). It is interesting that it was a daughter of Ephrayim, She’era, who built these cities. Whoever held this region, controlled the approaches to Yerushalayim from the west.

Control of this region became more challenging when a new group called Plishtim entered the region from the Mediterranean islands. The previous Plishtim, with whom the forefathers interacted, were descendants of Cham, whereas the new ones came from Yefet. The latter also brought with them new technology in the use of metals, which gave them a tremendous military advantage. These new Plishtim lived mainly along the southern coastal region, based in the cities of Aza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gat. This gave them dominion over the main international road into and out of Egypt, along the Mediterranean coast.

Ephrayim’s mourning, described in similar language to that of Yaakov over Yosef, is the result of the defeat of the forces of Ephrayim in an attempt to get to their flock in the Land. Indeed it was a family trait to feel connected to the Land, even when living elsewhere. Yosef, living in Egypt, described himself as kidnapped from the Land of the Hebrews (Bereishit 40:15). Chazal praised him for presenting himself in this way, which did not add stature to people in Egypt, and say that in this merit, he was interred in Eretz Yisrael (Midrash Hagadol, Devarim 31:14). His descendants continued his approach of connection to the Land, even when they were in Egypt. They tried to obtain control of the road to Yerushalayim, and this had an element of “the actions of the fathers are a sign for the sons.”

There have been many battles on the road in question. After these sons of Ephrayim, a later descendent of Ephrayim, Yehoshua Bin Nun, upon entering the Land, defeated the kings of the southern alliance, including the King of Yerushalayim, in Ma’aleh Beit Choron (Yehoshua 10:8-14). Some 1,500 years after that, the forces of Yehuda Hamaccabee defeated the Greek Seleucid army in a battle in that same region, which ensured the spiritual freedom of Yerushalayim.

Yosef’s great love for Eretz Yisrael continued in his direct descendants and throughout the Nation of Israel throughout its history. Unfortunately, not all of the nations have made peace with that fact. We will continue with all fervor to follow the path of Yosef, the sons of Ephrayim, Yehoshua, and the Maccabees.    

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