TORAH: Genesis 37:1-40:23
HAFTARAH: Amos 2:6-3:8
GOSPEL: Matthew 1:18-25
Portion Summary
The ninth reading from the book of Genesis is named Vayeshev (וישב), which means “and he dwelt.” The title comes from the first verse of the reading, which says, “Now Jacob [dwelt] in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan” (Genesis 37:1). Despite the portion’s name and first verse, the story is actually about Jacob’s son Joseph and how he was removed from the land of Canaan and dwelt in Egypt. The narrative follows Joseph from Canaan to Egypt to prison. In addition, this week’s reading contains the story of Judah and Tamar.
Portion Outline:
Torah
Genesis 37:1 | Joseph Dreams of Greatness
Genesis 37:12 | Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers
Genesis 38:1 | Judah and Tamar
Genesis 39:1 | Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife
Genesis 40:1 | The Dreams of Two Prisoners
Prophets
Amo 2:6 | Judgment on Israel
Amo 3:1 | Israel’s Guilt and Punishment
Portion Commentary:
Leaping Joseph
Joseph did not waste time trying to reason with his evil inclination. When temptation rose before him, he leapt out the window to escape.
Subtlety was a concept lost on Potiphar’s wife. Wasting no time with pleasantries, she cuts right to the chase. “Lie with me,” she says to Joseph. The Torah paints the picture of Joseph being harried by this one-line-woman day after day until at last she corners him alone in the house and again demands, “Lie with me.” When Joseph flees from her, she catches his cloak and keeps it in hand as evidence that he has tried to rape her.
Joseph’s leap from the adulteress’ grasp should ever be on our minds. He does not stay to try to reason with her. When he realizes that he is alone with her in the house, he leaps away from her, even losing his garment in the process. It is not a passive resistance to sexual temptation that brings him through the test, nor is it by means of rigid determination he is able to resist temptation. Rather, he flees from the possibility of sin. The battle with sexual temptation is a losing battle. It is a battle best not waged.
Judaism has learned from Joseph’s example. Jewish law forbids an unmarried (and unrelated) man and woman to be alone together. Even if no impropriety transpires between them, the mere fact that they were secluded together in a place where the potential for impropriety exists is non-kosher and regarded as adulterous. Similarly, among devout traditional Jews, any physical contact between an unmarried (and unrelated) man and woman is expressly forbidden.
Modern societal norms regard such scruples as prudish and unrealistic. Today’s disdain for modesty results from our assimilation of the hedonistic world around us.
However, to suppose that nothing untoward could actually happen is to flirt with temptation and misunderstand the intensity of the sexual drive. If we are to be Torah people like Joseph the Pure, we must learn to leap away from temptation. We must take Paul’s advice to Timothy and flee from it.
Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the LORD from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
In the Talmudic telling, the dramatic tension of the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife is heightened. Joseph is almost ready to succumb to her when he sees the image of his father warning him to stand fast. So too we must keep the image of our heavenly father before our eyes if we are to resist the enticements of the flesh. As He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Read complete commentary at First Fruits of Zion.
