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Study Guide
to
Vayeshev
By
Daniel Rendelman
Weekly
Reading
- Genesis 37:1-40:23
- Amos 2:6-3:8
- Matthew 1:1-6, 16-25
The Torah Portion at a
Glance
Jacob settles in Hebron with his twelve sons. His favorite is
17-year-old Joseph/Yosef, whose brothers are jealous of the
preferential treatment he receives from his father, such as a
precious many colored coat that Jacob makes for Joseph. Joseph
relates to his brothers two dreams he has which foretell that he is
destined to rule over them, increasing their envy and hatred
towards him.
Simeon and Lewi plot to kill him, but Reuven suggests that
they throw him into a pit instead, intending to come back later and
save him. While Joseph is in the pit, Yah'hudah/Judah has him sold
to a band of passing Ishmaelites. The brothers dip Joseph's special
coat in the blood of a goat and show it to their father, leading
him to believe that his most beloved son was devoured by a wild
beast.
Judah marries and has three children. The eldest, Er, dies
young and childless, and his wife Tamar is given in levirate
marriage to the second son, Onan. Onan sins by spilling his seed
and he, too, meets an early death. Judah is reluctant to have his
third son marry her. Determined to have a child from Judah's
family, Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute and seduces Judah
himself. Judah hears that his daughter-in-law has become pregnant
and orders her executed for harlotry, but when Tamar produces some
personal effects he left with her as a pledge for payment, he
publicly admits that he is the father. Tamar gives birth to twin
sons, Peretz (an ancestor of King David and Messiah Y'shua) and
Zerach.
Joseph is taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, the minister in
charge of Pharaoh's slaughterhouses. YHWH blesses everything he
does, and soon he is made overseer of all his master's property.
Potiphar's wife desires the handsome and charismatic lad; when
Joseph rejects her advances, she tells her husband that the Hebrew
slave tried to force himself on her and has him thrown in prison.
Joseph gains the trust and admiration of his jailers, who appoint
him to a position of authority in the prison administration.
In prison, Joseph meets Pharaoh's chief butler and chief
baker, both incarcerated for offending their royal master. Both
have disturbing dreams, which Joseph interprets; in three days, he
tells them, the butler will be released and the baker hanged.
Joseph asks the butler to intercede on his behalf with Pharaoh.
Joseph's predictions are fulfilled, but the butler forgets all
about Joseph and does nothing for him.
(adapted from chabad.org)
The Messiah in the Torah
Portion
A study of the
Torah is a study of the Messiah Y'shua.
Once again we can
clearly see how characters in the Torah picture our Master
Y'shua. This week's
reading, which introduces us to Yosef is another clear foreshadow
of Moshiach. Yosef was the
favored son. Yosef is the
recipient of his brother's jealousy. His brothers mock him, forsake
him, and then eventually sell him off. Yosef does not fight back. Yosef is cast into a pit and
later comes out alive. The sons of Jacob then dipped his garment
into blood and presented the blood-stained garment to their
father.
Y'shua
goes through the same events as Yosef. He was placed into the pit tomb
of the grave and was resurrected. Y'shua's garments were ripped
from him and were covered in blood as well. Revelation
19:13,
""And
he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called
the Word of YHWH."
Below
is a chart for further study on the similarities between Joseph and
the Messiah. Read through
these verses and experience the magnificence of the Torah to
vividly portray Y'shua's life, death, and
resurrection.
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Yosef the
Dreamer
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Y'shua the
Messiah
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Genesis
37:1
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John
10:1-18
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Genesis
37:3-4
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Matthew
3:17&
17:5
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Genesis
37:6-10
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Matthew
26:64
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Genesis
37:11
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John
12:18-19
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Genesis
37:14
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Matthew
15:24
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Genesis
37:15-17
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Luke
19:10
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Genesis
37:18
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Matthew
12:44
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Genesis
37:24
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Matthew
27:60
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Genesis
37:28
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Luke
24:1-20
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Genesis
37:29
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John
20:2
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Genesis
39:1
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Philippians
2:6-7
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Genesis
39:3-4
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Matthew
3:17&
12:18
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Genesis
39:16-18
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Hebrews
4:15
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Genesis
39:7-12
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Hebrews
4:15
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Genesis
39:21-23
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Luke
23:47
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Genesis
40:2
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Matthew
24:38
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Genesis
40:14
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Psalm
16:10
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Applying the Portion to Life
Today
It is not easy to be like
Yoseph. Following his
example is difficult while living in a society of
self-gratification and sensual entertainment. It is very challenging to
stay pure...to be undefiled...to turn away...to control the
mind...to close the eyes. Yosef was presented with a solicitation
to sin sexually with Potiphar's wife yet he refused. "Lie with me," she said to
him. Does this sound familiar to you?
This is the same
message, the exactly identical enticement that solicitates
today. Yet now it is
not Potiphar's wife that brings the invitation, rather it is web
sites, magazines, emails, television channels, and music. Day after day the onslaught
of the sexual bombards man. To be like Yosef and stop the
roaming eyes and thoughts of the mind; to say "no" is every man's
battle. There are
lingerie commercials that expose too much and even advertisements
for shampoo contain the risqu�. What would be considered profane in
the 1950's is proudly appealing and stylish today. The attack is everywhere -
billboards, commercials, and all around the supermarket and
mall. A person cannot
even stand in line at the gas station without seeing magazine
covers and magazines that just should not be printed.
Potiphar's wife
wanted to be intimate with the handsome Yosef. She tempted him and pursued
him. "She sits at the
door of her house or on a seat at the heights of the city, calling
to those who pass by," says Mishlei (Proverbs) 19:14. This call of seduction sounds
loudly even to this modern age...
"This isn't hurting
anyone"
"Just one look won't bother
anything"
"No one will ever
know"
Yosef heard the
same words, yet Yosef remained pure. Yosef refused to surrender to
his lusts. Surely he
had the desires but he conquered those desires. "And as much as she coaxed
Yosef day after day, he did not yield to her request to lie with
her or even be with her," Beresheet (Genesis) 39:10.
While working as a
slave, Yosef determined that he would not be a slave to his
lusts. He would not
give himself over to his flesh, to his yetzer hara. To help himself with the
battle he would not even give himself the opportunity to yield to
her temptation. Remember that it says, "he
did not yield to her request... or even be with her." Yosef was smart. He knew that if he wanted to
stay out of trouble then he needed to stay away from trouble. He could not give his evil
inclination a foothold.
Yet, one day Yosef
messed up. Yosef came
into the house to do his work and there was Potiphar's wife
awaiting him. There she
was. And they were
alone. None of the
household was inside except the two that didn't need to be. It was Yosef and the
tempter. Traditional
Jewish writings say that he came "to engage in the Torah and obey
its commands." Yosef
had good intentions yet he was at the wrong place at the wrong
time. Or was he? Was Yosef put in a place of
compromise or victory?
The
Torah teaches that she called out to him again and this time she
grabbed him. Now
Yosef was face to face with his tempter. Her
breath was touching his face and he could smell her
aroma. At
this moment in time Yosef had to make a decision, a
choice. He
had to run. But
run which way? He
could run to Potiphar's wife or he could run away from
her. He
could give in to the desire and temptation. Who would ever
know? Or,
Yosef could use this experience to prove that he was a person of
character and integrity. Yosef
was a set apart Hebrew wasn't he? "What
is the difference between the righteous and the
wicked? The
wicked are under control of their heart while the righteous have
their heart under their control," says the
Talmud.
Traditional
Judaism says that Yosef came to the house "to engage in the Torah
and obey its commands." And he did just that. Yosef
acted upon the teachings of the Torah..."You shall not commit
adultery," Shemot (Exodus) 20:14. His obedience is a powerful
example on how to go through your day-to-day life without giving in
lust. Just run
away. Avoid it. Close your eyes to
it.
A recent study
shows that the average male has one sexual though every seven
seconds. Either these
thoughts are allowed to flourish or they are stamped out. What is done with the idea,
with the sexual thought is the heart of the issue at hand. "But I tell you that anyone
who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with
her in his hear" said the Messiah Y'shua. The Redeemer was not saying
that it is wrong to have a thought about intimacy. To do so is only natural, as
mankind was created with a desire to reproduce. It is not the desire that is
sinful. It is what is
done with this desire that leads to the sins. When the Messiah said,
"anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery" He was drawing people to the original intention of the
Torah command found in Exodus 20:14. If you don't look with lust
then you won't commit lusts like adultery. Sin starts in the mind; in
the hearts; in the eyes; in the yetzer hara. "Each one is tempted when, by
his own evil desire (or yetzer hara), he is dragged away and
enticed. Then, after
desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is
full-grown, gives birth to death," James 1:14-16.
Here are a few
things we can learn from Yoseph's experiences. Honestly, it is extremely
difficult to remain pure in a world of the profane but it can be
done. Yosef did it and so can you.
Know that you are not alone in the
struggle.
"Now Yosef was well-built and
handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Yosef
and said, "Come to bed with me," Beresheet
39:6-7.
Understand that you
are hurting more than just yourself.
"How then could I do such a
wicked thing and sin against Elohim?" Beresheet
39:9
Refuse
the daily assault of the sensual.
"And though she spoke to Yosef
day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with
her," Beresheet 39:10
Run away from
temptation.
"One day he went into the house
to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was
inside. She caught him
by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak
in her hand and ran out of the house," Beresheet
39:11-12
When you are by yourself be very
careful.
"One day he went into the house
to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was
inside. She caught him
by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak
in her hand and ran out of the house," Beresheet
39:11-12
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The Hebrew name for this portion is
"Vayeshev." What does this
mean?
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Read Amos 2:6-3:8. How does this relate to the
story of Genesis this week?
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Consider the words found in Matthew 1:1-6
and verse 16-25. What did
you learn from studying this passage?
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How is Messiah Y'shua pictured in this Torah
portion?
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Explain how you can apply this week's study
to your life?
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Joseph brought an "evil report" about his
brothers to his father. Was
he speaking evil speech / lashon hara? Should he have said these
things?
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Explain the coat of many colors. What was this prophetic of? How did it speak of Jacob's love
for Joseph?
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What was the reaction of Yosef's brothers
regarding his dream of the sheaves? How was this dream
prophetic?
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Why did Jacob rebuke Joseph regarding his
dreams?
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Was Yosef a shepherd like his brothers or
did he spend his time elsewhere?
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What happened to Yosef when he went to
Shechem?
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What was Reuven's plan to rescue
Joseph?
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What type of people purchased Yosef as their
slave? How much did they
pay?
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Reuven had plans to rescue Joseph but his
brother interfered. Is the
road to hell paved with good intentions?
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How did Ya'acov react at the news of
Joseph's death?
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Who purchased
Joseph from the Ishmaelites?
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Compare Yosef's two dreams (see 37:5-10) to
Yitzchak's blessing of Yaakov in 27:28-29. In what manner are they
similar? In what manner are
they different?
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In
your opinion, when the brothers sit down to eat (37:25), do they
sit down nearby (or
in sight of) Yosef's pit, or much farther away? Is Reuven sitting
down to eat with them, or did he go away? If he did go away, where
did he go to and why?
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In Genesis
38, Judah's first born son "Er" was "wicked in the
sight of YHWH" and "YHWH killed him." Why would YHWH kill Er and not
Ishmael, Esav, or Nimrod?
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Onan's actions led to his death as
well. What did he do that
was so bad?
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Judah told Tamar to remain a
widow. Was this
acceptable? Why or why
not?
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Judah had relations with a
harlot but was not struck dead. How is this
fair?
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Judah left his staff with
Tamar. What does a staff
mean in Eastern culture?
How does this relate to Ezekiel 37 and the two sticks or "two
staffs?"
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Tamar conceived
from Judah. Were her actions
righteous?
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Judah was going to execute
capital punishment upon Tamar for her promiscuous relations. Wasn't such judgment by
Judah hypocrisy? Wasn't he guilty of the
same?
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When Judah acknowledges his fling
with Tamar, what did he do?
Explain what this means?
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Tamar gave birth to
twins named Peretz
and Zerach. Study and
explain the meaning of their names. How are these names prophetic of
the Messiah?
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Who is the true first born of Tamar? Why is this recognition
important?
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Joseph was "brought down
to Egypt." What does it mean to "go down
to Egypt" and "up to
Jerusalem?"
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Did Yosef allow the fact that he was
rejected by his family stop him from serving YHWH and serving
others?
Explain.
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How did Yosef take a stand for holiness with
Potipher's wife? Does this
suggest that it is better for a man and woman not to be alone
together?
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What anti-Semitic statement did Potipher's
wife use to accuse Joseph?
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Did Potipher hear the testimony of 2 or 3
witnesses regarding his wife's complaint? Did this stop him from making a
righteous judgment?
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Jacob used clothes as he pretended to be
Esav. Joseph's brother used
his coat to pretend that Yosef had died. Did Jacob reap what he
sowed? How does clothing
play a part in Genesis 39:10-18.
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How was YHWH with Yosef in the
prison?
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Whose dreams did Yosef interpret while in
prison?
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Did Yosef interpret the dreams after or
before prayer?
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During Pharaoh's birthday party, the chief
baker was put to death and the butler was spared. What happened at a birthday
party in Matthew 14:6-8?
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Did the
butler remember Joseph as he promised?
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Read
Genesis 40:12-15. In your opinion, was Yosef correct in asking the
butler to intervene on his behalf to free him from
prison?
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How does this Torah portion speak of the
Messiah Y'shua?
The Open Bible is a teaching series written by Daniel Rendelman of
Emet Ministries. Daniel Rendelman is the found and leader of Emet
Ministries and the author of the book "Finding the Truth." He, his
wife, and five children live in Newberry, South Carolina. He can
be reached at emetministries@gmail.com. Find more teachings,
audio messages, videos, and music at www.emetministries.com
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