The Legends of the Jews, vol 2 | Page 6

they gave heed to him, and they said,
"Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion
over us?"[12] God put an interpretation into their mouths that was to be
verified in the posterity of Joseph. Jeroboam and Jehu, two kings, and
Joshua and Gideon, two judges, have been among his descendants,
corresponding to the double and emphatic expressions used by his
brethren in interpreting the dream.[13]
Then Joseph dreamed another dream, how the sun, the moon, and
eleven stars bowed down before him, and Jacob, to whom he told it
first, was rejoiced over it, for he understood its meaning properly.[14]
He knew that he himself was designated by the sun, the name by which
God had called him when he lodged overnight on the holy site of the
Temple. He had heard God say to the angels at that time, "The sun has
come."[15] The moon stood for Joseph's mother, and the stars for his
brethren, for the righteous are as the stars.[16] Jacob was so convinced
of the truth of the dream that he was encouraged to believe that he

would live to see the resurrection of the dead, for Rachel was dead, and
her return to earth was clearly indicated by the dream. He went astray
there, for not Joseph's own mother was referred to, but his
foster-mother Bilhah, who had raised him.
Jacob wrote the dream in a book, recording all the circumstances, the
day, the hour, and the place, for the holy spirit cautioned him, "Take
heed, these things will surely come to pass."[17] But when Joseph
repeated his dream to his brethren, in the presence of his father, Jacob
rebuked him, saying, "I and thy brethren, that has some sense, but I and
thy mother, that is inconceivable, for thy mother is dead."[18] These
words of Jacob called forth a reproof from God. He said, "Thus thy
descendants will in time to come seek to hinder Jeremiah in delivering
his prophecies."[19] Jacob may be excused, he had spoken in this way
only in order to avert the envy and hate of his brethren from Joseph, but
they envied and hated him because they knew that the interpretation put
upon the dream by Jacob would be realized.[20]
JOSEPH CAST INTO THE PIT
Once the brethren of Joseph led their father's flocks to the pastures of
Shechem, and they intended to take their ease and pleasure there.[21]
They stayed away a long time, and no tidings of them were heard.
Jacob began to be anxious about the fate of his sons. He feared that a
war had broken out between them and the people of Shechem, and he
resolved to send Joseph to them and have him bring word again,
whether it was well with his brethren.[22] Jacob desired to know also
about the flocks, for it is a duty to concern oneself about the welfare of
anything from which one derives profit. Though he knew that the
hatred of his brethren might bring on unpleasant adventures, yet Joseph,
in filial reverence, declared himself ready to go on his father's errand.
Later, whenever Jacob remembered his dear son's willing spirit, the
recollection stabbed him to the heart. He would say to himself, "Thou
didst know the hatred of thy brethren, and yet thou didst say, Here am
I."[23]
Jacob dismissed Joseph, with the injunction that he journey only by
daylight,[24] saying furthermore, "Go now, see whether it be well with
thy brethren, and well with the flock; and send me word"--an
unconscious prophecy. He did not say that he expected to see Joseph
again, but only to have word from him.[25] Since the covenant of the

pieces, God had resolved, on account of Abraham's doubting question,
that Jacob and his family should go down into Egypt to dwell there.
The preference shown to Joseph by his father, and the envy it aroused,
leading finally to the sale of Joseph and his establishment in Egypt,
were but disguised means created by God, instead of executing His
counsel directly by carrying Jacob down into Egypt as a captive.[26]
Joseph reached Shechem, where he expected to find his brethren.
Shechem was always a place of ill omen for Jacob and his seed--there
Dinah was dishonored, there the Ten Tribes of Israel rebelled against
the house of David while Rehoboam ruled in Jerusalem, and there
Jeroboam was installed as king.[27] Not finding his brethren and the
herd in Shechem, Joseph continued his journey in the direction of the
next pasturing place, not far from Shechem, but he lost his way in the
wilderness.[28] Gabriel in human shape appeared before him, and
asked him, saying, "What seekest thou?"[29] And he answered, "I seek
my brethren." Whereto the angel replied, "Thy brethren have given up
the Divine qualities of love