ח. וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמֶר מִי אֵלֶּה:
Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and he said, "Who are these?"
What does this mean that Yaakov had to ask who was there? Who else would Yosef bring for a blessing?!
Rashi says that Yaakov asked because when Ephraim and Minashe entered the room, Yaakov's shechinah left
him. This was due to their future descendants that were going to be evil kings.
What is another interpretation of why Yaakov asked who was there?
According to the pshat interpretation, Yaakov was simply growing old and his eyesight was failing. At the beginning of the Parsha, the Torah mentions that Yaakov is described as old and bed-ridden. Alternatively, in an article by Rabbi Avi Weiss, he states that some commentators say that Yaakov did not recognize his grandchildren because he did not have a strong relationship with them. Rabbi Avi Weiss suggests that maybe Yosef did not take his children to see Yaakov often because of his ill will towards Yaakov for having favored him, creating tension between the brothers.
ReplyDeleteThe Divrei Shumel notes that the gematriah of "mi eilah" is equal to elokim, the name of gevurah and yirah.So when Yaakov asks "mi eilah" he isn't literally asking who is there. Rather questioning the manner in which each child served hashem, through gevurah or yirah.
ReplyDeleteA different interpretation on the words of Rashi:
ReplyDeleteAfter his question, Yaakov proceeds to give the bracha, “HaMalach HaGoel Oti…” “The angel that protected me... (48:16).” At first, this bracha seems to be intended for Ephraim and Menashe, but it is apparent, based on the wording of the pasuk, that the bracha is intended for Yosef. If Yosef already received a bracha from Yaakov, then why does Yaakov give him another bracha later? The answer can be found in Rashi’s interpretation of the word “haMalach.” Rashi explains that Yaakov referred to Yosef’s protecting angel, the angel of galut, on the way to Lavan’s house. Yaakov realized that Yosef had built character in galut and had raised sons in galut. Yaakov wanted to make sure that his grandchildren were raised properly, so he asks Yosef, “Mi Eileh,” interpreted as Yaakov’s questioning Yosef upon the upbringing of his sons. In conclusion: he wasn’t asking who are they but was instead questioning the way they were brought up (in galut).
in addition, Rashi comments that since Yaakov couldnt see- he was asking who were these children born form? meaning whose children are they that they are unworthy of a Bracha. To which Yosef says in the next Pasuk (48:9) that these are HIS sons that God gave to him"
ReplyDeleteWhen Yosef brings his sons to Yaakov to get their brachot, Yaakov asks "who are these?" Did he really not recognize his own grandchildren?
ReplyDeleteIn an article by Avi Weiss, he quotes many different answers that are given to this question:
Some commentators say that since Yaakov was so old his eyesight wasn't as good as it used to be and he couldn't see very well
Others say that the question "who are these?" wasn't directed at Ephraim and Menashe but at their descendants (because he knew they would be evil). Yaakov is asking "how could such evil people come from people as good as Ephraim and Menashe?"
Rabbi Avi Weiss says that Yaakov's question, directed at Menashe and Ephraim, was really "do you, my grandchildren, identify as Egyptians or as Jews?" since they grew up in Egypt and had assimilated into Egyptian society.
He also says that a grandparent-grandchild relationship is stronger and deeper than a parent-child relationship, "who are these?" wasn't a question, it was Yaakov thanking Hashem for blessing him with such amazing grandchildren.