God told Abraham that his offspring would be oppressed in a foreign land (Genesis 15). In Genesis 37 Jacob sends Joseph to meet his brothers. That encounter begins the process of Jacob’s family descending down to Egypt.
Jacob sent Joseph to Shechem to see how his brothers were doing. But Joseph could not find them.
15. And a certain man found him [Joseph], and, behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, saying, “What do you seek?”
16. And he said, “I seek my brothers; tell me, I beg you, where they feed their flocks.”
17. And the man said, “They have departed from here; for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.'” And Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan.
Let’s look at how Ramban explains these verses and his point of disagreement with Rashi.
Who is the Man?
According to Jewish tradition, the man mentioned in these verses is the angel Gabriel. Both Rashi and Ramban accept this tradition.
Different commentators point out ways to see a hint to this tradition in the text.
The Baal HaTurim finds a hint based on gematria.
The Hebrew words translated as “the man asked him” have the gematria of 674. Also, the Hebrew phrase “angel Gabriel asked him” has the same value.
Who is the man? The angel Gabriel.
Genesis 37:15 – Joseph Wanders
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field – We could understand the verse to mean only that Joseph was “wandering.”
Ramban claims that the verse is teaching two ideas.
- Joseph had wandered from his way
- He did not know where to go
Ramban is not bothered by the fact that Joseph was in a field. He went into a field because his brothers were shepherding the flocks which require a pasture. It makes sense for Joseph to be in a field.
Even so, he was wandering. This implies he was not moving with purpose toward a goal.
Why are these verses going into so much detail about Joseph searching for his brothers?
Ramban answers that there were many reasons why Joseph could have justified ending the search and returning home. However, he withstood the problems he encountered because he wanted to honor his father’s request.
Ramban supplies another reason: The Torah is teaching us God’s decree is true and that man’s actions cannot derail it.
Ramban is not suggesting that in this instance Joseph was trying to thwart God’s plans. But, God’s plan was for Joseph to encounter his brothers and start the chain of events that would bring the family down to Egypt.
Joseph did not ask anyone for help or directions. So God provided him with a guide without his knowledge, to deliver him into his brother’s hands.
This is the intention of the Sages in the midrash:
14. And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field – Rabbi Yannai said: Three angels came to his assistance: “a certain man found him”; “the man asked him”; “the man said.”
Why do the Sages say there were 3 angels (two besides Gabriel)? To teach us that these verses go into detail for a reason: to make it known that God’s plan will be fulfilled.
21. There are many plans in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord shall stand.
Genesis 37:16 – No Comment
Neither Rashi nor Ramban comment on this verse.
Genesis 37:17 – Departed From Here
Rashi Explains
They have departed from here – they have removed themselves from brotherliness.
Rashi is bothered by the word “here” (Hebrew: zeh spelled zayin-hey). That word is often translated as “this” so the phrase could be: they have departed from this.
What is “this”? Rashi explains it is the bonds of brotherly love.
It’s not clear what is Rashi’s source for this comment.
Most of Rashi’s commentary is based on statements of the Sages in a gemara or midrash. I have not been able to find any statement of the Sages that Rashi is quoting.
Ramban seems to be aware of Rashi’s source. As we will see, Ramban has an alternate explanation of what the Sages meant.
In Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayeishev 13, we find this:
And the man said, “They have departed from here…” What does he mean “from here”? When they see you they become cruel.
It could be that Rashi is paraphrasing this midrash and explains that “become cruel” means not acting like brothers.
Let us go to Dothan – to seek against you legal reasons to put you to death. But, according to its simple meaning, Dothan is the name of a place.
Rashi explains the underlying message of the phrase. This is based on the Hebrew spelling of Dothan: dalet-tav-nun. Considering the first two letters as a separate word spells the Hebrew word “legal” or “law.”
According to Rashi, the angel is telling Joseph that he is walking into a trap.
Ramban Explains
They have departed from here – Ramban disagrees with Rashi’s understanding of the midrash.
He writes it was not the intention of the Sages that “the man” should explain to Joseph that his brothers were seeking a pretext against him. If Joseph would have understood he was in danger, he would not have continued on his quest to find his brothers.
Rather, according to Ramban, the Sages are teaching that the angel Gabriel was speaking truth. He used words that could be understood in more than one way. And each way is true.
But, Joseph did not understand the hidden message and, therefore, he continued on his way, according to the revealed meaning of Gabriel’s words. (I think Ramban is also saying that Joseph was not meant to understand the hidden message.)
What caused the Sages to explain the verse this way?
Since “the man” was the angel Gabriel, he knew where Joseph’s brothers were. So why didn’t he just say, “Behold, they are in Dothan”?
Rather he said, “I heard them say …” and then implies that maybe they are no longer in Dothan.
The fact that so many extra words were spoken implies that the words have an additional, deeper (and in this case, hidden) meaning.
Further Reading
Click here for a summary of Parshat Vayeishev.
Jacob mourned for Joseph for many days. Why didn’t anyone tell him that his son was alive?