Read Genesis 37:1-40:23 at Bible Gateway.
The paragraph divisions for vayeshev are posted here. Vayeshev forms its own complete chiastic structure, which is posted here. Now, each of the paragraphs in vayeshev also form their own chaistic structures:
Gen 37:1-36 {p} Joseph’s advancement and enslavement (this chiastic structure is posted here …)
Gen 38:1-30 {s} Judah departed from his brothers among the Canaanites (this chiastic structure is posted here …)
Gen 39:1-23 {p} Joseph departed from his brothers among the Egyptians
1a) Gen 39:1-6, Joseph brought low, but YHVH’s favor upon him;
1b) Gen 39:7, Master’s wife seeks to lie with Joseph;
central axis) Gen 39:8-10, Joseph’s refusal;
2b) Gen 39:11-19, Master’s wife lies about Joseph;
2a) Gen 39:20-23, Joseph brought low, but YHVH’s favor upon him.
(The significance of the strong theme from Gen 38:1-39:23, Judah and Joseph …)
Gen 40:1-23 {p} Joseph in prision
1a) Gen 40:1-4, The chief butler + baker offended Pharaoh, so he confined them in the prison house;
1b) Gen 40:5-8, They each dream a dream + Joseph: interpretations belong to God;
1c) Gen 40:9-14, The chief butler’s dream and interpretation;
central axis) Gen 40:14-15, Joseph: Remember me to Pharaoh for I have done nothing deserving of prison;
2c) Gen 40:16-19, The chief baker’s dream and interpretation;
2b) Gen 40:20a, The interpretation came to pass on the third day;
2a) Gen 40:20b-23, Pharaoh lifted butler + baker from prison/ restored one + hanged other, according to the interpretation.
Vayeshev reveals that Joseph was promoted three times: under his father, under Potiphar, and under the keeper of the prison; and he was brought low three times: into the pit, into slavery, and into the prison house. Three times Joseph faced a type of death, and was delivered from death: the first in the pit, the second as a slave (slavery is a type of death in scripture, for the former life is no more) and the third as a prisoner (prison is likewise a type of death in scripture, for the former life is again no more). Passages which are prophetic of Messiah in Torah contain Messianic signs consistently used … three, and deliverance from death, are significant Messianic signs (please see the teaching tools of scripture for more on that). Joseph is being highlighted as a Messianic type. Vayeshev is prophesying of the first coming and ministry of Messiah, which is: though exalted, and though righteous, Messiah will be brought low and suffer, not because of his own sins, but because of the sins of others.
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