- How old was Yaakov when he came down to Egypt? How long did he live in Egypt?
130; 17 years
- Describe the events of Yaakov's blessing of Manasseh and Ephraim. Why did he bless Ephraim first?
Joseph put Yaacov' s right hand toward Manasseh's forehead and his left
hand toward Ephraim's. When Yaacov switched his hands, placing his right
hand which should be for the eldest on the youngest, Joseph protested
but Yaacov explained that the younger would be greater and his seed
would become a multitutde of nations.
- Name at least 5 other instances where the younger brother is
preferred to the elder.
Abel (Cain), Yitzhak (Ishmael), Yaacov (Esau), Moshe (Aaron), Joseph
(Re'uven).
- What are two possible meanings of the following statement of Yaakov
to Yosef: "And now thy two sons, who were born unto thee in the land of
Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine."
(1) "And so Joseph brought them out from between his knees" (Yaacov's)
This was the symbol of adoption. Yaacov adopted the two boys and they
each received an equal portion of Yaacov's estate and (2) they are sons
of Canaan like Yaacov, not sons of Egypt.
- What effect on the family do you think this blessing would have? What
does it remind you of in an earlier parasha; how is it similar and how
different?
Yitzhak was blind when he gave his sons the blessings and Yaacov was
almost blind, but without question there was no trickery involved in the
encounter between Yaacov and his son and grandsons, as there had been
between Yitzhak, Yaacov, and Esau.
- When Yaacov gave prophecy to his sons, he said that Re'uven was
unstable as water and would not excel. Why did Yaacov say this?
Because Re'uven went to his father's bed with Bilhah and defiled it.
- How did Yaacov describe Shimon and Levi and why?
As weapons of
violence, because they slaughtered Sechem who had raped Dinah, plus all
of the men of his tribe.
- Describe the relationship between Zevulun and Issachar.
Zevulun was a
seaman and merchant and Issachar was a student. Zevulun financed Issachar's Torah
study and both benefited thereby.
- What was Yaacov's prophecy for Dan?
That he would judge (and defend) his people as one of the tribes of
Israel.
- Which brothers are compared to animals and which animals?
Yehuda = lion; Issachar = large-boned ass; Dan = snake; Naphtali = hind;
Benyamin = wolf
- Yaacov asks to be buried in the cave in the field of Machpelah? Who
is already buried there? Who is not buried there and where is that
person buried?
Abraham, Sarah, Yitzhak, Rebecca, and Leah. Rachel is buried near Bet
Lechem.
- After Yaacov died, what lie did Yosef's brothers tell?
They said that Yaacov had commanded Yosef to forgive his brothers for
their transgressions and the evil they had done him.
- What was Yosef's response to this lie?
He told them not to be afraid; that while they meant evil against him,
Hashem meant it for good, to save many lives.
- How old was Yosef when he died and what was his last request?
110; that his bones be buried in Canaan
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