Shabbat shalom,  Welcome to Vayeshev (And He Lived), this week’s Torah / bible reading portion.  “Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.”  (Genesis 37:1).  

In last week’s Torah study, Jacob returned from Haran with his entire household to settle in the Land of Canaan.  After all the twists and turns of Jacob’s life, he longed to settle down in the land God had promised.  The original Hebrew uses the word yeshev, which means to settle.  In Israel, a settlement is called a yishuv, and those who settle in Israel, especially within the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria, do so at great risk from Palestinian terrorists who often live nearby.  In this study section, we learn about the trials of Jacob’s favourite son, Joseph, whom God had given the gift of dreams and their interpretation. Many of those dreams revealed Joseph’s future exalted position.  By relating these dreams to his brothers, however, Joseph fuelled their jealousy, which had already been aroused by their father’s favouritism toward Joseph, son of his favoured wife, Rachel.  The foundation of the events is Jacob had Joseph in his old age from one of his wives.  At age 17 Joseph had a dream which he relayed to his father and brothers Gen 37:2-5.  This implied Joseph would rise to rule over them and led the bothers to sell him into slavery, telling Jacob, their father, that Joseph was eaten by a wild animal.

The Favouritism 

“Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colours  (Genesis 37:3).  Jacob made no secret of the fact that he loved Joseph more than any of his other children, and he gave him a special coat.  By giving him this coat, Jacob was proclaiming Joseph’s sovereignty and leadership over all his other sons, since in the Patriarchal age, Semitic chiefs wore coats of many colours as an insignia of rulership. (This practice was also followed in king David’s time where princess Tamar had a similar coat 2Sa 13:18  And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled).   

Favour (or providence) Follows Joseph into the Pit: Yosef (Joseph) had a great destiny upon his life, the twists and turns of which would provide a foundation for the survival of his family and in the fullness of time, a freedom that provides a foundation for Jewish life and salvation.  Jacob’s favoured son is so important that he is allotted more text in the Tanakh (Old Testament) than any other character except Moses.   God positioned him to fulfil that destiny.  When Jacob dispatched Joseph on a mission to check on his brothers, they plotted against him, intending to kill him.  Their plan might have succeeded except for the protests of Reuven, who urged them to instead throw Joseph into a pit (secretly intending to rescue him later).  Reuven never did have the opportunity to save his brother, since the other brothers sold Joseph, at Judah’s suggestion, to an Ishmaelite caravan.   “They sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites.” (Genesis 37:28). 

Once in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian captain of Pharaoh’s guard, who soon discovered the greatness within Joseph.  Potiphar eventually so trusted Joseph that he placed him in charge of all of his affairs.  Meanwhile, Joseph’s brothers returned to their father with his coat of many colours.  In order to deceive their father into thinking that his beloved son had been killed by a wild animal, they dipped it in blood.  There is a curious interruption in the narrative of Joseph’s story here, as the Scriptures turn to the episode of Judah.  Judah, fourth son of Jacob and future ruler of the twelve tribes of Israel, was the one who led the decision to sell Joseph rather than kill him.  “Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What do we gain by killing our brother and covering up his blood?  Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let us not do away with him ourselves.  After all, he is our brother, our own flesh."  (Genesis 37:26–27)

Judah seems to be a complex character, with signs of integrity as well as duplicity. 

Renew your mind or let go to succeed,  As a slave in the house of Potiphar, Joseph should have lived in a state of dejection and bitterness. He had been betrayed by his brothers, kidnapped, exiled and sold. He had gone from the position of a favoured son to that of a lowly slave. But Joseph did not let his circumstances dictate his life. He refused to succumb to depression. Instead, he diligently set his hands to his work and quickly won the confidence of his new owner. 

From where did Joseph find the inner strength to rise above bitterness? Some people cannot seem to let go of past wrongs, real or imagined. They wallow in self-pity and anger, holding on to old resentments. This seems to be a normal human reaction to misfortune and conflict. Someone like Joseph, who could shrug off even the worst of circumstances and make the best of whatever situation in which he finds himself, is exceptional. 

The difference was that Joseph had an unshakable confidence in the goodness and faithfulness of God. He knew the stories of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He knew the promises that he stood to inherit. He did not suppose that God had forgotten or abandoned him. Instead, he humbly submitted himself to God's higher, mysterious purpose. 

Many of us struggle with an artificial sense of entitlement. We assume that we have the right to be happy. We assume that we deserve the good and comfortable circumstances of life. Why? What makes us think we have the right to happiness or that we deserve anything? When things go amiss, we react with shock, bitterness and anger, as if our rights have been violated. 

This can be compared to a situation in which a benevolent and anonymous millionaire decided to send one thousand dollars cash every week to a certain person. The recipient never knew where the money was coming from, or why. Of course he was grateful for the influx of cash, but week after week, month after month, year after year, he began to expect that the cash would be coming in the mail next week. He made investments, purchases and life choices based on the regular thousand-dollar instalments. One day the cash suddenly stopped. As inexplicably as it had begun, it ended. Would the man be justified in being outraged or bitter? Would he have the right to be angry? Of course not. He did not deserve the money in the first place. It was not a right or an entitlement of his. 

Like the man in the parable, we take things like good health, adequate sustenance, food, shelter, relationships and all of life's comforts for granted. Because we experience them day by day, week after week and year after year, we think of them as rights rather than privileges. In reality, they are no more deserved than misfortune or woe. We have no right to be bitter when life's circumstances turn unpleasant. 

Because of Joseph's steadfast confidence in God, he possessed an undying optimism that transformed even the low estate of slavery into success. As the Torah says, he became "a successful man." 

Overcoming Temptation.

Sexual temptation is persistent. Sexual temptation seems to be the most common obstacle to living a life of godliness for many men. Perhaps the average man does not need to worry about being harried by sexually deviant Egyptian women like Joseph was, but men are daily assaulted by all manner of temptation. Yahshua warns that even looking on a woman with lust is an adultery of the heart.  The worst thing about sexual temptation is its pernicious nature. Though a person may conquer it one day, it returns the next day for another round. So, too, Potiphar's wife attempted to seduce Joseph day after day. 

Sometimes a person tells himself, "It's hopeless; I cannot stand against this temptation." When a person has tried, failed, tried again, and failed again, he may feel that he is incapable of walking in purity. The Apostle Paul encourages such a person by saying, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). If we despair in the battle with our flesh, we will surely fail. The trick is to never give up on oneself. 

Joseph faced unrelenting temptation day after day. One of the strategies he employed was distance. Not only did he refuse to lie with Potiphar's wife, he refused to even be with her. Sometimes when a person has prevailed over temptation, he tells himself, "I can withstand it. I don't need to worry about it anymore." The Apostle Paul warns us, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). A person who struggles with sexual temptation should take whatever precautions are necessary to ensure that he will not fall victim.  When Joseph found himself alone in the house with Potiphar's wife, he tried to leap out of the house, but she caught his garment and it slipped from his body. He did not even bother attempting to retrieve it. Instead, he fled from her presence. It was not a passive resistance to sexual temptation or a rigid determination that brought him through the test. Rather, he fled from the possibility of sin. 

Joseph's leap from the adulteress lies behind the Apostle Paul's admonitions to "flee immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18) and to "flee from youthful lusts" (2 Timothy 2:22). In regard to other temptations, Paul tells us to stand firm. In 1 Corinthians 16:13 he says, "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." In regard to sexual temptation, though, he tells us to run for our lives. Like leaping Joseph, our goal should be to get out of any situation where we face sexual temptation as quickly as possible.  If a person falls prey to sexual temptation, he should immediately confess his sin, renounce it and start over. He should say to himself, "I will begin again. In Messiah, I am a new creature. I will start over right now, cleansed of sin, a new creature in Yahshua, who removes my sin." Even if he needs to do this several times a day, a person should never give up the fight. Though you may stumble, never give up the fight: Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12). 

Leap From sinning.

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 Yahweh from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22). 

Keeping Hope Alive through Inheritance:  At this time, Judah had married the daughter of a Canaanite, Shua:  “There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and cohabited with her.”  (Genesis 38:2)  Shua conceived and had a son named Er, who married Tamar, but Er died without giving Tamar a child because he was wicked and Yahweh was displeased with him and prematurely took his life.  Judah then urged his second-born son, Onan, to take Tamar as a wife, since it was the duty of the brother of a man who died without children to marry his widow in order to perpetuate his brother's line.  “Then Judah said to Onan, ‘Join with your brother's wife and do your duty by her as a brother-in-law, and provide offspring for your brother.’”  (Genesis 38:8).  [This is another example of God’s law existing before repeated to Moses.   This kind of family responsibility may seem alien to us, but it was of God, who being the same yesterday, today and forever passed the same instruction on through Moses in Lev 25:25; Deut 25:5-10 and Matt 22:23-28.  It was implemented with Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:1-8).  Understand the front of God’s book (Old T.) and you may better understand the back (New T.) and realise God’s Laws did not start with Moses or the Jews.  So ladies if as many of you say you want a Boaz, recognise him by knowledge and practice of God’s laws! 

“When brothers live together, and one of them dies childless, the wife of the deceased man shall not marry outside to a strange man; her brother-in-law shall come to her, and take her to himself as a wife, and perform levirate marriage. “The firstborn son whom she bears will then perpetuate the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be obliterated from Israel.”  (Deuteronomy 25:5–6). 

After the death of Onan, Judah’s second son, he told Tamar to wait as a widow until Shelah, the third son, grew to maturity.  However, when Shelah became a man, Judah still did not give him to Tamar as her husband, so she took matters into her own hands Gen 38:14.   Tamar disguised herself as a cult prostitute and lured Judah into an encounter that resulted in her becoming pregnant by him.  Approximately three months later, when her pregnancy became evident, Judah ordered her executed for harlotry (according to God’s law even before Moses or Jews); but it was then that Tamar displayed Judah’s seal, cord, and staff, which Judah had given Tamar as pledge of payment for her services.    "As she was being brought out, she sent this message to her father-in-law, ‘I am with child by the man to whom these belong.’  And she added, ‘Examine these: whose seal and cord and staff are these?’"  (Genesis 38:25). 

Judah then realized that though Tamar’s actions were less than perfect, she had acted to fulfil the familial responsibility to raise up a child for her husband under the family name.  He realized that she was more righteous (obedient to the law) than he was, so he set her free.  Tamar gave birth to twins, one of whom, Perez, became a forefather of Boaz, who became the great-grandfather of King David, who became a forefather of the Messiah.  (see Matthew 1; Ruth 4:18–22).  Judah is considered, in traditional Judaism and in the Tanakh, the father of the Mashiach (Messiah), who we know to be Yahshua, the Lion from the tribe of Judah.  “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honour."  (Genesis 49:10). 

From Pit to Palace. 

What does this story show us?  It shows us that God, by His mercies, can redeem us and take us from the depth to the heights.  Although Judah made some very bad decisions that hurt people tremendously, and though he fell into immorality, God still chose to bring forth the Messiah of all mankind through his lineage.  Likewise, Joseph’s dark descent into a pit, his betrayal by his brothers, his period of slavery in Egypt, and abandonment in a dungeon for a crime he did not commit served to position him to be exalted over all of Egypt, next to Pharaoh.  In this exalted position Joseph was able to arrange for provision for all of Egypt during the seven-year famine.  The people living around Egypt benefited and survived because of Joseph, including his own family, who also came into Egypt for relief from the famine in their land.  We also may have to endure challenging situations in life as we journey toward fulfilling our calling in God. 

When times are the darkest, when we have fallen into a pit, either by those who sin against us, or by our own sin we can take heart because this is not the end of the story.  God promises to make all things work together for our good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  Simply repent and turn to God.   “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. & 14:23. 

When He blesses you others around you benefit [Gen 39:5  And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Yahweh blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of Yahweh was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.]  When others leave God, you take Him into your home and heart, make Him the centre and He may bless your household [2Sa 6:11  And the ark of Yahweh continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and Yahweh blessed Obededom, and all his household.] 

It is during life’s dark times that the light of Yahshua seems brightest.  Yahshua said, “I am the Light of the World.”  His true light can sustain us through the darkest of nights as we continue to place our faith and trust in Him.  “Then Yahshua spoke to them again: 'I am the light of the world.  Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life'"  (John 8:12).  

Signet, Cord, and Staff

Judah’s seal, cord, and staff amount to the ancient version of his personal I.D. The seal (chotam, חותם) was a cylindrical signet seal, the ancient equivalent of a signet ring, used to make a signature impression in clay seals for certification purposes. The cord (patil, פתיל) refers to the fringes on the hem of his garment. As explained above, the hem of the garment indicated a person’s status and prestige. Men sometimes used the distinctive embroidery on the hems of their garments to make seal impressions, like a signet. In the days of the Torah, a man might also use his staff (matteh, מטה) as a form of identification. For example, Moses collected the twelve staffs of the twelve tribal leaders, writing each leader’s name upon his staff.

AMOS:  Some verses to note Amo 2:10  Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite. Amo 2:11  And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.  Amo 2:12  But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.  Amo 2:13  Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.  Amo 2:14  Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: 

Amo 3:1  Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, Amo 3:2  You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.  Amo 3:3  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?  Amo 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? 

This is the account of Tamar from the book of Jasher, chapter 45:23. And in those days Judah went to the house of Shem and took Tamar the daughter of Elam, the son of Shem, for a wife for his first born Er.

24. And Er came to his wife Tamar, and she became his wife, and when he came to her he outwardly destroyed his seed, and his work was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord slew him. 25. And it was after the death of Er, Judah's first born, that Judah said unto Onan, go to thy brother's wife and marry her as the next of kin, and raise up seed to thy brother.   26. And Onan took Tamar for a wife and he came to her, and Onan also did like unto the  work of his brother, and his work was evil in the sight of the Lord, and he slew him also.  27. And when Onan died, Judah said unto Tamar, Remain in thy father's house until my son

Shiloh shall have grown up, and Judah did no more delight in Tamar, to give her unto Shiloh, for he said, Peradventure he will also die like his brothers.   28. And Tamar rose up and went and remained in her father's house, and Tamar was in her  father's house for some time.   29. And at the revolution of the year, Aliyath the wife of Judah died; and Judah was  comforted for his wife, and after the death of Aliyath, Judah went up with his friend  Hirah to Timnah to shear their sheep.  30. And Tamar heard that Judah had gone up to Timnah to shear the sheep, and that Shiloh was grown up, and Judah did not delight in her.  31. And Tamar rose up and put off the garments of her widowhood, and she put a vail upon her, and she entirely covered herself, and she went and sat in the public thoroughfare, which is upon the road to Timnah.

32. And Judah passed and saw her and took her and he came to her, and she conceived by him, and at the time of being delivered, behold, there were twins in her womb, and he called the name of the first Perez, and the name of the second Zarah. 

This is a summary of the details relating to Joseph from the book of Jasher.

CHAPTER 41--Joseph, the Son of Jacob, Dreams of his Future Exaltation over his Brethren.  Being his Father's Favorite, his Brethren become Jealous. Joseph is sent to Visit his Brethren.   They conspire against him, and at the Suggestion of Reuben Place him in a Pit.

CHAPTER 42--Joseph is sold to a company of Midianites, who in Turn sold him to the  Ishmaelites, who take him down to Egypt. An account of his Journey thither, and of his Affliction on the Road.

CHAPTER 43--Reuben's Anguish at not Finding Joseph in the Pit. The Brothers contrive to Deceive their Father by Dipping his coat in Blood. Jacob's Anguish at the loss of his Son. 

CHAPTER 44--Joseph is sold to Potiphar, an Officer of Pharaoh. Zelicah, the Wife of Potiphar, seeks to entice Joseph to do Evil, but all her advances are Rejected. Is Falsely Accused by her and is brought to Judgment. Is Acquitted by his Judges, but for the Sake of the Report against Potiphar's Wife, he is cast into Prison.

CHAPTER 45--An Account of the Families of Jacob's Sons.

CHAPTER 46--Joseph Interprets the Dreams of his Fellow-Prisoners.

CHAPTER 47--Isaac Blesses his two Sons and Dies. His Property is Divided. Esau takes all the personal Property and Jacob chooses the Inheritance of the Land of Canaan, with the Cave of Machpelah for a Burying Place.

CHAPTER 48--Pharaoh's Dreams. Not Receiving a Satisfactory Interpretation from the Magicians, he orders the Wise Men to be Slain. The King's Butler makes Joseph's Gifts known to Pharaoh. Joseph is Brought before the King, who Relates his Dreams to him. Joseph, by the Gift of God, Interprets them. A great Famine Predicted.

CHAPTER 49--Pharaoh Assembles all the Great Men of the Kingdom, and desires to appoint Joseph to Govern Egypt. They Object because he cannot speak all the Seventy Languages of the Earth. An Angel visits Joseph and teaches him all the Languages of the Earth. When brought before the King, Joseph's Wisdom and Knowledge please Pharaoh and all the Princes of Egypt, and he is appointed the Second to the King, and all authority is given him. Joseph is made Wealthy and clothed in Princely apparel and proclaimed Governor of Egypt. Is given the Daughter of Potiphar for a Wife.

CHAPTER 50--Joseph goes to help the Ishmaelites against their Enemies. Great Plenty prevails in Egypt as Joseph predicted. Joseph's Two Sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Joseph stores up Food throughout Egypt. That stored by the Egyptians is spoiled. The Famine prevails over all the Land and Joseph sells corn to all the Egyptians and the surrounding Nations. Knowing that his Brethren will have to come to Egypt for Corn, he arranges to meet them when they come.

CHAPTER 51--Jacob sends his Ten Oldest Sons to Egypt for Food. Tells them not to enter in at one gate but to go in Separately. On the way they Covenant together to seek for Joseph, and if they cannot ransom him they resolve to take him by force. They enter in at ten gates, and spread themselves to seek for Joseph three days. Joseph, in the meantime, has his men Seeking them.  When found they are brought before Joseph who accuses them of being Spies. Joseph sends his Brethren home with corn, while Simeon is kept as a hostage till they shall again come to Egypt with their Younger Brother. They are astonished to find their Money in their sacks of corn.

CHAPTER 52--Jacob's sorrow at the absence of Simeon; Refuses to let Benjamin go. But when he and his Household become pinched with hunger, Judah pleads for Benjamin. Tells his Father of the great glory and Authority of the Governor of Egypt and offers himself as Security for his Younger Brother. Jacob consents and sends his Sons again to Egypt with a conciliatory Letter and Present to the Governor.

CHAPTER 53--Jacob's Sons again go to Egypt for Bread. Benjamin is presented before Joseph.  Joseph's Cup. Joseph's conduct towards Benjamin by which he makes himself known to him.  Resolves to prove his Brethren by taking away Benjamin from them, and puts his Cup in Benjamin's sack of corn and sends them Home to their Father. An Officer is sent after them who accuses them of purloining his Master's Cup. Brings them back to Joseph. Benjamin is taken from them by force, and they are told to go on their way.

CHAPTER 54--Judah breaks through the Door to get to Joseph and Benjamin. He recounts the many Mighty Deeds of his Brethren and threatens to destroy all Egypt if Benjamin be not released. Joseph wrangles with his Brethren and accuses them of Selling their Brother. They commence to war upon the Egyptians, and frighten the whole Land. After satisfying himself of their repentance for selling their Brother, Joseph makes himself known to them, and bestows presents upon them. They are presented before Pharaoh, who commands Joseph to bring all his Father's Household Down to Egypt. He sends Chariots for this Purpose, laden with Presents, Luxuries and Clothing. Jacob's joy on Learning that Joseph is still Alive.

CHAPTER 55--The Lord commands Jacob to go down to Egypt, where He will make him a Great Nation. Joseph and all Egypt go to meet Jacob to do him Honour when he arrives. The Land of Goshen is given to him and his Children.

CHAPTER 56--After Seventeen Years' Dwelling in Egypt, Jacob dies, after Blessing his Children and commanding them to go in the Way of the Lord. Joseph and his Brethren and all the Mighty Men of Egypt go up to Canaan to Bury Jacob. Esau, claiming the Land of Canaan as his, will not Allow Joseph to Bury his Father. After Esau and many of his People are slain, Jacob is Buried by Force. All the Kings of Canaan come up to do him Honor.

CHAPTER 57--The Sons of Esau make war with the Sons of Jacob and are smitten. Some are taken captive to Egypt. The Children of Esau enlist the People of Seir to Accompany them to Egypt to Deliver their Brethren. Joseph and his Brethren and the Egyptians slay Six Hundred Thousand. Nearly all the Mighty Men of Seir being Slain, they make war with the Children of Esau to Drive them from their Land. Esau prevails and utterly annihilates the Children of Seir.

CHAPTER 58--Pharaoh dies and the whole Government of Egypt devolves upon Joseph, Pharaoh the Younger being but a nominal Ruler. The Children of Esau again come Against the Israelites, and are again smitten.

CHAPTER 59--Jacob's Posterity in Egypt. After Prophesying that the Lord would Deliver his Brethren from Egypt, Joseph dies and is buried, and the Israelites are ruled over by the Egyptians.

CHAPTER 60--Zepho, the Son of Eliphaz, the Son of Esau, who was taken Captive by Joseph

where he Buried his Father, Escapes from Egypt with all his Men. 

Shabbat Shalom.