Read Genesis 46:28-47:27 at Bible Gateway
the teaching tools of scripture
Hebrew paragraph divisions
Previously in my notes and online, I have the paragraph as:
Gen 46:28-47:27 {p} Joseph the provider
Tony Robinson of Restoration of Torah lists a {p} paragraph marker at the end of Gen 47:27. The Hebrew Bible in English lists no paragraph marker at the end of verse 27, instead listing the next marker as a {p} at the end of 47:31. Likewise, both the Chumash and the Biblia Hebraica list no paragraph marker at the end of verse 27, but the next marker as a {p} at the end of 47:31, so that the paragraph would be:
Gen 46:28-47:31 {p} Joseph the provider/ Jacob came down + his request to be brought back up
The paragraph then carries into the next parashah, annual parashah Vayechi (Gen 47:28-50:26), and triennial parashah Vayechi (Gen 47:28-48:22). While the triennial Torah portion does sometimes end where there is no paragraph marker, the annual Torah portions never do. The Chumash says,
“In the entire Torah scroll, Vayechi is unique in that there is no extra space between it and the preceding parashah, in contrast to the general rule that a sidrah begins on a new line [following a {p} division] or that it is separated from the previous one by at least a nine-letter space [following an {s} division]. … The Sages in Toras Kohanim teach that the spaces in the Torah (the Hebrew paragraph divisions) indicate that God paused in order to allow Moses—and later students, as well—to reflect upon the preceding verses.”
The Stone Edition Chumash: Mesorah Publications, Ltd, 2000; pg. 268.
To me, this is Torah’s way of showing us that Vayigash and Vayechi are linked together, and that Yehudah shalach and Vayechi are linked together.
Gen 46:28-47:27 chiastic structure
1a) Gen 46:28-47:12 Israel + his household came into Goshen/ Joseph gave them a possession in Egypt + sustained them;
1b) Gen 47:13-20 So that they do not perish, the Egyptians propose to become Pharaoh’s bondmen;
1a) Gen 47:13 There was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore;
1b) Gen 47:14-17 Joseph gathered up all the money + cattle in Egypt for grain;
1c) Gen 47:18-19a Egyptians to Joseph: We have nothing left/ Why should we die?
1d) Gen 47:19b Buy us and our land for bread;
central axis) Gen 47:19c And we and our land will be bondmen to Pharaoh;
2d) Gen 47:19d And give us seed;
2c) Gen 47:19e That we may live, and not die, and that the land be not desolate;
2b) Gen 47:20a Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh;
2a) Gen 47:20b Because the famine was sore upon them; and the land became Pharaoh’s;
central axis) Gen 47:21 And as for the people, he removed them city by city [he moved them into the cities], from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end;
2b) Gen 47:22-26 In exchange for their lives, the Egyptians became Pharaoh’s bondmen;
1a) Gen 47:22 The land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh;
1b) gen 47:23-24 Joseph: I have bought you this day/ Here is seed + at the harvest you shall return a fifth to Pharaoh;
central axis) Gen 47:25 And they said, “You have saved our lives. Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s bondmen;”
2b) Gen 47:26a Joseph made it a statute to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth;
2a) Gen 47:26b Only the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh’s;
2a) Gen 47:27 {p} Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Goshen; and they acquired possessions in it, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly.
Theme of the parashah
Joseph the provider
Finding Messiah in Torah
Joseph as overseer and provider is prophesying of Messiah in His second coming. When He returns to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, and He has revealed Himself to His brothers and father, they come into His kingdom to dwell. He provides for them, and they are blessed under His authority and care.
Additional readings for this parashah
Psa 39 | 1 Kin 2 | Rev 21
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