MIKETZ “At the End OF”

TORAH: Genesis 41:1-44:17HAFTORAH: Zechariah 2:10 – 4:7B’RIT CHADASHAH: John 6:1-71

All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted1

END TIMESThe story of Joseph and his brothers reveals a pattern of one of the central themes of the Torah:• Sin• Punishment/Discipline• Teshuva (Repentance)• Redemption

• final goal of family unity. • This pattern began in the Garden and cycles and recycles

until we get to the last pages of Revelation. • learn in our story about Joseph that will help us Miketz– at the

end. • end times are exactly where our Torah parasha points us:

Bereshith 41:1 Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the

river. 2

REPENTANCEThe sin of “selling” a “brother” is one of the more serious sins and according to the Torah, worthy of death:Devarim 24:7 " If a man is found kidnapping a soul of his brother of the children of Israel, and mistreats him or sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall put away the evil from among

you.

“Selling” Yosef is connected with the 1st sin listed as a cause for the wrath of YHVH upon Israel: Amos 2:6 Thus says YHVH: "For three transgressions of Israel,

and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver…

Yeshua also was sold by His brethren for “silver”, resulting in “bloodguilt” which YHVH promises will be “pardoned”:

Joel 3:21 "Their bloodguilt, which I have not pardoned, I will pardon….

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RECONCILIATION• Thus Yosef understands the need to send his brothers on a

journey of repentance. Their awful act – the sale of a brother – was a sin that had the potential to haunt the family for generations.

• Yosef desired to bring repentance and unity to the family; through his dreams he understood the authority he was given.

• A wise Yosef knew that one shows full repentance by facing the same situation in which one sinned initially and this time, showing restraint. So Yosef places his brothers in situations whereby they must choose between themselves and their younger brother, now known as their father’s favorite.

• Yosef’s objective then, is to lure his brother Benyamin to Egypt and thereby expose the hearts of his brothers.

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MITZRAYIM “EGYPT”• The “oppressor” is Pharaoh, the King of Mitzrayim. • “Mitzrayim”, means “constriction” and “bondage”. • “Mitzrayim” was also the third son of Ham. Represents

bondage and sexual sin in the world.

• It was Pharaoh who kidnapped Sarah, in order to pollute Avraham‟s genealogy.

• It took what “great plagues” to force Pharaoh into releasing her.

• And, it was Pharaoh who enslaved and brutalized B‟nei Yisra‟el, and killed their male children, at the time of Moshe‟s birth.

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“Our parsha MIKETZ traces the successive stages in which the snare was laid to force Jacob and his Twelve Sons to follow Joseph down into exile in Egypt in preparation for the ultimate redemption of the Children of Israel years later on that same date.

• Joseph is the archetype of the Tzaddik who enables us to survive in This World.

• Having been drawn down to Egypt by Joseph, the Children of Israel are eventually redeemed by Moses, who, having been brought up in the House of Pharaoh, had the power to stand there.

• Moses is linked with Joseph, and thus Moses ‘took the bones (the essence) of Joseph with him’ up out of Egypt.

• Moses is the Tzaddik who teaches us the path leading through the wilderness of This World to the Land of the Living -- the Land of Israel.”

MITZRAYIM “EGYPT”

MIKETZ

The Hebrew word “Miketz” has two meanings.

1. “at the end”, as in the end of Yoseph‟s imprisonment. 2. “at the beginning”, as in the beginning of his rise to rulership

and being given the authority to “stand in Pharaoh’s House”.

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TWO YEARSAt the end of two years, .. (Genesis 41:1 CJB)

• “Va y‟hee miketz sh‟nachim”. This literally translates; “It was the end of two years of days..”

• Avraham and Sarah, were spoken as “walking in their days” and that “their years were full of days”.

• “Hebrewism” refers to the fact that they occupied or filled their days.

• Yoseph, didn’t just mark time in prison; he served YHVH and literally “fulfilled” his days in prison.

• Was he going to live and rest in the knowledge and understanding that ALL was in YHVH’s care or take matters into his own hands?

• He chose to grow with the situation of hardships and trials and allow his Heavenly Father to guide, correct and mould him into the image and destiny YHVH purposed for his life.

• Prophetic symbolism: Two years = 2000 years before Yeshua will raise us up so that we can rule and rein with Him.

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YE’OR…he was standing beside the Nile River; (Genesis 41:1 CJB)

The Hebrew word “Ye‟or” (which is Egyptian) = the Nile, Mitzrayim‟s chief river. it was worshipped as the source of life in those days by the Egyptians. The wording here shows that in his dream, Pharaoh was standing over, or ruling, the Nile. Pharaohs, were often worshipped as elohim (with a small „e‟).

Ezekiel 29:2-3; “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh the sovereign of Mitsrayim, and prophesy against him, and against

Mitsrayim, all of it. Speak, and you shall say, „Thus said the Master YHVH, “See, I am against you, O Pharaoh sovereign of

Mitsrayim, O great crocodile (serpent) who lies in the midst of his rivers, who has said, „My River (in Hebrew Ye‟or = the Nile)is my

own, and I, I have made it for myself.‟

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PHARAOH DREAMSPharaoh had a dream: he was standing beside the Nile River; and there came up out of the river seven cows, sleek and fat;

and they began feeding in swamp grass. After them, there came up out of the river seven more cows, miserable-looking and lean; and they stood by the other cows at the edge of the river. Then the miserable-looking and lean cows ate up the seven sleek, fat cows.. and dreamt a second time: seven full, ripe ears of grain

grew out of a single stalk. After them, seven ears, thin and blasted by the east wind, sprang up. And the thin ears swallowed

up the seven full, ripe ears…. (Genesis 41:1-7 CJB)

cmnt: This was not the first time Pharaoh had had these dreams. They had visited him every night during a period of two years, and he had forgotten them invariably in the morning. This was the first time he remembered them, for the day had arrived for Joseph to come forth from his prison house.

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JOSEPH SUMMONEDThen the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today reminds me of

something wherein I am at fault: Pharaoh was angry with his officials and put me in the prison of the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker. One night both I and he had dreams, .. a young man, a Hebrew, .. interpreted each man's dream individually. And it came about as he interpreted to us — I was restored to my office, and he was hanged." Then Pharaoh summoned Yosef, and they

brought him quickly out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came in to Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:9-14 CJB)

he shaved himselfThey brought him hastily out of the dungeon, but first Joseph, out of respect for the king, shaved himself, and put on fresh raiment, which an angel brought him from Paradise, and then he came in unto Pharaoh.

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GOD WILL GIVE THE ANSWER

Pharaoh said to Yosef, "I had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it; but I've heard it said about you that when

you hear a dream, you can interpret it." Yosef answered Pharaoh, "It isn't in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer that

will set his mind at peace." …"(Genesis 41:15-16 CJB)

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INTERPRETATIONThe dreams of Pharaoh are the same: .. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of grain are seven years — the dreams are the same. Likewise the seven lean and miserable-looking cows that

came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted by the east wind — there will be seven years of famine. ..Here it is: there will be seven years of abundance throughout the whole land of Egypt; but afterwards, there will come seven years of famine; and Egypt will forget all the abundance. The famine will consume the land, and the abundance will not be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, because it will be truly terrible. Why was the dream doubled for

Pharaoh? Because the matter has been fixed by God, and God will shortly cause it to happen. "Therefore, Pharaoh should look for a man

both discreet and wise to put in charge of the land of Egypt. .. he should appoint supervisors over the land to receive a twenty percent tax on the produce of the land of Egypt ...and they should store it. This will be the land's food supply for the seven years of famine that will come over the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish as a result of the famine.“

(Genesis 41:25-36 CJB)

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REPETITIONRepetition in the Torah is a literary device often used to reveal hidden truths. One set of differences involves the use of unique synonyms to describe the fat and thin cows in the text and then in Pharaoh’s recounting of the dream:

Bereshith 41:2 Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking (yefote mareh -) and fat (briyote); and they fed in the

meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly (raote mareh ) and gaunt (rakote basar), and stood by

the other cows on the bank of the river.Bereshith 41:18 "Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fat

(briyote) and beautiful of form (yefote toar); and they fed in the meadow. "Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor

(dalote) and very ugly (raote toar) and gaunt (rakote basar), such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt.

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LEAH AND RACHELThere are two different synonyms in Pharaoh’s recounting:• Beautiful of form (yefote toar)• Gaunt (rakote)These two synonyms appeared in a previous story:Bereshith 29:17 Leah's eyes were delicate (rakote), but Rachel

was beautiful of form (yefot toar) and appearance.

From these special words pointing back to Leah and Rachel, as recounted by Pharaoh, Joseph understands that the time has come for the re gathering of the divided House of Israel. Catching the significance of these words was a confidence builder for Joseph to proceed with the interpretation of the dreams.For us today: It is in knowing Torah to increase our confidence in our prophetic ministering.

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THE ADDITIONPharaoh’s repetition of the dream contained an added detail of despair concerning the cows:When they (gaunt cows) had eaten them (fat cows) up one could

not see that they had eaten them, for their appearance was as bad as it had been at the start

Did Pharaoh really see this in his dream, or did he add it in his retelling? If it was an addition, then would Joseph include it in his interpretation? Were the other wise men rejected because they had not caught the addition? Bereshith 41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; Elohim has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: "The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. "And the

seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. "This is the thing which I have spoken to

Pharaoh. Elohim has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. These verses conclude Joseph’s interpretation of the dream.

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THE CANCELLATIONWhat follows these verses is a plan that Joseph proposes to accumulate grain throughout the seven years of plenty, so as to SOLVE the problem of the famine. In doing so, he addresses Pharaoh’s addition (Pharaoh’s despair) to the actual dream:Bereshith 41:31 "So the plenty will not be known in the land because

of the famine following, for it will be very severe.This is the dire prediction, as interpreted by Joseph. Joseph is about to suggest a way to NEGATE Pharaoh’s addition which is not really part of the dream. If the Pharaoh and the Egyptians will follow Joseph’s instructions, then the accumulation and storage of food will make it possible to eat during the times of famine.• The actual dream was a prophecy but the outcome could wisely be

managed! Pharaoh feared his dream was pointing to a catastrophic future for Egypt. In reality, the only thing the dreams prophesied was years of plenty and years of famine.

• The despair was Pharaoh’s own invention and inability to rely on YHVH (Yahweh)!

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ANOTHER FAMINEThe prophet Amos speaks of another coming famine:

Amos 8:11 " Behold, the days are coming," say Adonai YHVH, "That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing (shema) the words of the YHVH.

This famine is not of bread or water, but one of hearing….shema the words of YHVH. • To “shema” is to “hear” and to “obey”. • We must all learn to make the best use of our time during this

season of “plenty”. • The coming famine is a fact, but our task is to find ways of

dealing with the suffering that it is likely to cause due to people’s inability to “shema”. Yeshua spoke of this:

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YESHUAMatthew 6:19-33 " Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on

earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in

and steal. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. " The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is

good, your whole body will be full of light. "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! " No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve Elohim and mammon." Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will

drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?... "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that

you need all these things. "But seek first the kingdom of Yah and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

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UNDISCIPLINED VS DISCIPLINEDPharaoh only asked to know what his dreams meant but he gets a word of knowledge on what to do next, in light of the interpretation. • the word “Pharaoh” (or Paroh in Hebrew = Pey-reish-ayin-

hey) means “king”, “prince” or “ruler”. But, with different vowel markings, which don‟t appear in the Hebrew Torah, it is the word “paru‟ah”, which means “undisciplined”.

• He does not know how to conserve and save for lean times.

• Joseph used the Seven Years of Plenty to teach the Egyptians to put limits on IMMEDIATE CONSUMPTION AND GRATIFICATION in order to SAVE for the FUTURE.

• Yoseph lays out the perfect discipline of storing up the excess of the abundance to cover the shortage of the following famine.

• Yoseph‟s name means “added to” or “abundance”.

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Pharaoh said to his officials, "Can we find anyone else like him? The Spirit of God lives in him!" So Pharaoh said to Yosef, "Since God has

shown you all this — there is no one as discerning and wise as you — (Genesis 41:38-39 CJB)

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APPROVALLegends of the Jews

The astrologers, who were his counsellors, demurred, saying, "A slave, one whom his present owner hath acquired for twenty pieces of silver, thou proposest to set over us as master? ..“this Hebrew knows none but his own tongue, and how were it possible that a man should rule over us who cannot even speak the language of our land?Pharaoh yielded, ..and he appointed the following day as the time for examining Joseph. During the night Gabriel appeared unto Joseph, and taught him all the seventy languages, and he acquired them quickly after the angel had changed his name from Joseph to Jehoseph. The next morning, when he came into the presence of Pharaoh and the nobles of the kingdom, inasmuch as he knew every one of the seventy languages, he mounted all the steps of the royal throne, until he reached the seventieth, the highest, upon which sat the king, and Pharaoh and his princes rejoiced that Joseph fulfilled all the requirements needed by one that was to rule over Egypt.

Jasher 49:14 And the angel roused him from his sleep, .. and behold the angel of the Lord was standing opposite to him; and the angel of the Lord

spoke with Joseph, and he taught him all the languages of man in that night, and he called his name Jehoseph.

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REWARDSo Pharaoh said to Yosef, "Since God has shown you all this — there is no one as discerning and wise as you —you will be in charge of my household; all my people will be ruled by what you say. Only when I

rule from my throne will I be greater than you." Pharaoh said to Yosef, "Here, I place you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Yosef's hand, had him clothed in fine linen with a gold chain around his neck and had him ride in his

second best chariot …(Genesis 41:39-44 CJB)

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ZAPHENATH-PANEAHPharaoh called Yosef by the name Tzafnat-Pa`neach ..

(Genesis 41:39-45 CJB)

Zaphenath-Paneah, which means “He who explains what is hidden.” a revealer of secrets or the man to whom secrets are revealed; a priest or a prince. • it refers to Joseph being a “shadow” of Yeshua. • it means in Egyptian, “Salvation, or Savior of the Age”.

Legends of the Jews: Each letter of the name Zaphenath-paneah has a meaning, too. The first, Zadde, stands for Zofeh, seer; Pe for Podeh, redeemer; Nun for Nabi, prophet; Taw for Tomek, supporter; Pe for Poter, interpreter of dreams; Ain for Arum, clever; Nun for Nabon, discreet; and Het for Hakam, wise.

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ASENATHPharaoh ..gave him as his wife Osnat the daughter of Poti-Fera priest of On. Then Yosef went out through all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:45

CJB)

Yoseph‟s new wife‟s name was Asenath, which means “she who is like Neith” or “Isis” or “Minerva”, “Dianna” or “Semeramus” depending on the culture.

Legends of the Jews: Asenath was the daughter of Dinah and Hamor, but she was abandoned at the borders of Egypt, only, that people might know who she was, Jacob engraved the story of her parentage and her birth upon a gold plate fastened around her neck. The day on which Asenath was exposed, Potiphar went walking with his servants near the city wall, and they heard the voice of a child. He took her home with him, and raised her as his daughter. The Alef in Asenath stands for On, where Potiphar was priest; the Samek for Setirah, Hidden, for she was kept concealed on account of her extraordinary beauty; the Nun for Nohemet, for she wept and entreated that she might be delivered from the house of the heathen Potiphar; and the Taw for Tammah, the perfect one, on account of her pious, perfect deeds.

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30 YEARS, GATHERING GRAINYosef was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of

Egypt..Yosef stored grain in quantities like the sand on the seashore, so much that they stopped counting, because it was beyond measure.

(Genesis 41:46-49 CJB)

the same age at which Yahshua began His ministry. “Yoseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he ceased counting, for it was without number.” This is a prophetic symbol of the promises to Avraham, Yitzaq and Ya‟aqob that their seed would be as the “sand of the sea”, unable to be counted; and that Yahshua will gather much grain (as grain represents people in Scripture).

Yeshua went about all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and weakness. When he saw the crowds, he had

compassion on them because they were harried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his talmidim, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send

out workers to gather in his harvest.“ (Matthew 9:35-38 CJB)26

GRAIN (BAR)Bereshith 41:49 Joseph gathered very much grain (bar) ..

• The word used for “grain/corn” (bar), is not the common word for grain/corn and is only found in five verses in the Torah.

• Bar is the Aramaic word for “son”. • It is not always possible to distinguish between the “Son” and those

who have joined themselves to the “Son”. Yeshua speaks of this unity:

John 17:23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and

have loved them as You have loved Me.• we are reading about a pattern for the end times. • the unified body of Messiah (Israel), including Messiah, is “one

bread”.• What is bread made up of? Individual kernels of “grain”. • Grain is what Joseph stored up in Egypt and grain is what Joseph’s

10 brothers came to Egypt to buy. There was only “grain” in Egypt because Joseph (shadow of Messiah) was there.

• We should be busy gathering “grain” in Egypt. • Like Joseph, we’ve got to stop thinking about ourselves, and line up

with the Almighty’s plan for the family of Jacob.27

MANASSEH & EFRAIMTwo sons were born to Yosef before the year of famine came; Osnat the daughter of Poti-Fera priest of On bore them to him.

Yosef called the firstborn M'nasheh [causing to forget], "Because God has caused me to forget all the troubles I suffered at the hands of my family." The second he called Efrayim [fruit], "For

God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortune." (Genesis 41:50-52 CJB)

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SENDING OF LEADERS• The famine in Canaan inspired Joseph with the hope of seeing his

brethren.

Now Ya`akov saw that there was grain in Egypt; so Ya`akov said to his sons, "Why are you staring at each other? Look," he said, "I've heard that there's grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us from

there, so that we can stay alive and not die!" Thus Yosef's ten brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt, except for Binyamin, Yosef's

brother. Ya`akov did not send him with his brothers, because he was afraid something might happen to him. (Genesis 42:1-4 CJB)

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WAITING FOR THE DREAM It took a long time, but Joseph's dreams eventually came to pass. Joseph became viceroy of Egypt at age thirty, and nine years later .. his brothers came to buy food. • So Joseph's dream that his brothers would one day bow down before

him and recognize his greatness were fulfilled only when he was 39 years old. Since he had dreamt those dreams of future greatness at age 17, we see that they took 22 years to come true! ..

• he Hebrew alphabet contains 22 letters. Through myriad combinations and permutations of these 22 letters, we can express all of our thoughts and ideas. If we were to lack even one letter, we would be unable to formulate certain words and ideas.

• Just as hundreds of thousands of words are formed from a small set of letters, so too, the vast array of forces that govern our world are in fact composed of a small number of fundamental causes.

• If all 22 letters are needed to accurately express any idea, so too, 22 years are needed for the universe's elemental forces to bring about any desired effect. Thus, we should allow a dream as long as 22 years to come to fruition”.

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1st MEETINGYosef …sold to all the people of the land. Now when Yosef's brothers came and prostrated themselves before him on the ground, Yosef saw his brothers and recognized them; but he

acted toward them as if he were a stranger and spoke harshly with them. He asked them, "Where are you from?" They

answered, "From the land of Kena`an to buy food." So Yosef recognized his brothers, but they didn't recognize him. (Genesis

42:6-8 CJB)

The Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh made Joseph ready to prepare the way for his family, the whole house of Jacob. • Because of faith in Gods faithfulness, He raised Joseph up for

a much larger work to come: the redemption of the Whole House of Israel

• But first Joseph devises a plan to bring his brothers to true repentance and teshuva. He engineered events that would cause his brothers to see and acknowledge the sin they committed to bring restoration and not condemnation.

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AS PHARAOH LIVES..Yosef said to them, "You are spies! … they replied, "your servants

have come to buy food. .. "Just as I said," replied Yosef, "you're spies! Here's how you can prove you're not lying: as Pharaoh lives, you will

not leave here unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother. Meanwhile, you will be kept in custody. This will prove whether there is any truth in what you say.

Otherwise, as Pharaoh lives, you are certainly spies." … They said to each other, "We are in fact guilty concerning our brother. He was in

distress and pleaded with us; we saw it and wouldn't listen. That's why this distress has come upon us now." Yosef turned away from them and wept; then he returned and spoke to them.. (Genesis 42:9-24

CJB)

Yoseph becomes emotional, as he sees that they are beginning to show acknowledgment and remorse for what they did to him.

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SIMEON

..He took Shim`on from among them and put him in prison before their eyes. (Genesis 42:24 CJB)

• Yoseph releases the brothers from prison, except Shimon, whom he has bound and taken before their eyes.

• “Shimon” means, “He who hears and obeys”. In the future split of the kingdom, the tribe of Shim‟on would go to be with Ephraim, their inheritance was in the middle of Yehudah‟s. And, it was Shim‟on, along with Levi, who plotted to kill Yoseph, rather than sell him. Scripture speaks of a group within Yehudah who plotted to kill Mashiach.

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ALL TRIBES ARE GATHEREDBut the famine was severe in the land; so when they had eaten up the

grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, "Go again, buy us a little food." Y'hudah said to him, "The man expressly warned us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.‘ Y'hudah said to Isra'el his father, "Send the boy with me; and we will

make preparations and leave; so that we may stay alive and not die, both we and you, and also our little ones. I myself will guarantee his safety;

you can hold me responsible. If I fail to bring him to you and present him to your face, let me bear the blame forever. (Genesis 43:1-9 CJB)

Their need for more grain urged Jacob to consider Egypt again. Judah reminded Jacob of the conditions needed for their return: “You will not see my face again unless your brother (Benjamin) is with you.” • This was prophetic wedding language, for: “We will not see the

Bridegroom (Yeshua) unless–and not until–all twelve tribes are together again.” .

Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of YHVH’ (Luke

13:35 ref. Psalm 118:26)..

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GIFTS AND INTERCESSIONTheir father Isra'el answered them, "If that's how it is, .. bring the man a gift — some healing resin, a little honey, aromatic gum, opium, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take twice the amount of

money with you; and return the money that came back with you in your packs — it could have been an oversight. Yes, and take your brother too; and get ready; and go again to the man. ..The

men took that gift, and they took twice the money with them, and Binyamin; then they prepared, went down to Egypt and stood

before Yosef. (Genesis 43:11-15 CJB)

Benyamin travels to Egypt in a caravan transporting the same spices as when his brother was taken there. They will take the same route and arrive at the same destination. The only difference is that when Yosef was taken, it was the result of family discord and hatred. Now, the repentant family is united in its mission.

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THE MEALWhen Yosef saw Binyamin, he said to his household manager, "Take the men inside the house, kill the animals and prepare the meat. These men

will dine with me at noon.” (Genesis 43:16 CJB)

The sacrifice for the meal was prophetic reference to Yeshua’s payment and redemption for their souls. The banquet was also prophetic of all twelve tribes of Israel coming together in the Father’s house and eating at the Feast of YHVH (Tabernacles), the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.

And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on

thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:29-30).

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AT THE ENTRANCE..the men became fearful. They said, "It's because of the money that was returned in our packs the first time that we have been brought

inside .." So they approached the manager of Yosef's household and spoke to him at the entrance of the house: "Please, my lord, the first

time we indeed came down to buy food; but when we got to camp, we opened our packs, and there inside our packs was each man's money, the full amount. We have brought it back with us; moreover, we have brought down other money to buy food. We have no idea who put our

money in our packs.“ (Genesis 43:18-22 CJB)

This was symbolic of the confession of sins at the door of salvation before our redemption through Yeshua. Yeshua is the door. "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:1-7).

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CHANGE OF STATUSThe man brought the men into Yosef's house and gave them

water, and they washed their feet…They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians included at the

meal by themselves — Egyptians don't eat with Hebrews, because that is abhorrent to them. So they sat there facing him, the firstborn in the place of honor, the youngest in last place; and

the men expressed their amazement to each other. Each was given his serving there in front of him, but Binyamin's portion was

five times as large as any of theirs. So they drank and enjoyed themselves with him. (Genesis 43:24-34 CJB)

• Joseph had the stewards wash their feet. represented a change of status and consecration. In the same way, Yeshua also washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:5).

• they were seated in order of birth. the meal was served from Joseph’s table. He had the life-giving food. Benjamin was given five times what his brothers received. Five represents grace and the receiving of the Torah, the five books of Moses.

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MINCHAWhen Yosef arrived home, they went in the house and presented him

with the gift (mincha) they had brought with them, then prostrated themselves before him on the ground. (Genesis 43:26 CJB)

The “mincha” was interpreted as the “grain offering” in the Temple: (6:14) It is to be well mixed with olive oil and fried on a griddle; then bring it in, break it in pieces and offer the grain offering (Mincha) as a fragrant

aroma for Adonai. (Leviticus 6:21 CJB)

The brothers offer the grain offering (mincha) … they offer themselves to be the ingredients (grain) in the “bread” which could now be made since all 12 brothers have once again been united. “Bread” (lechem) continues to be the focus:Then they made the present ready for Joseph's coming at noon, for they

heard that they would eat bread there. (Genesis 43:25 NKJV)Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and

said, "Serve the bread. (Lechem)”(Genesis 43:31 NKJV)

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DIFFERENT BREADAlthough this was a feast with an animal slaughtered (Bereshith 43:16), their focus was all on the “bread”. The Egyptians were not able to eat “bread” with the Hebrews:And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and

for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an

abomination unto the Egyptians. (Genesis 43:32 KJV)The “bread of Egypt” (world) is not the same as the “bread of the Hebrews”:

John 6:32-35 Yeshua said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. "For the bread of Elohim is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.“ Then they said to Him, "Adonai, give us this bread always.“ And Yeshua said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and

he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

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SILVER CUPAnd put my goblet, the silver one, just inside the pack of the youngest, along with his grain money." ..(Genesis 44:2 CJB)• This silver cup of Joseph’s revealed prophetic redemptive imagery fulfilled in Yeshua as silver represents redemption in scripture. Yeshua is also the lamb offering. A lamb offering must have the grain and wine offering accompanying it. That is why Joseph placed his cup among the grain, hidden for such a time when the Father will reveal His redemptive plan for His people (Numbers 15:1-5).• The brothers vehemently denied any of them stole this valued cup. So sure where they that they pronounce this vow and oath, “Anyone among your servants with whom it is found shall die, and we also will become slaves to my lord” (Genesis 44:9). • With this pledge having left their lips, Joseph’s cup was then found in Benjamin’s sack. • As Jacob had pronounced a death sentence over his wife, so had his sons pronounced a death sentence over Benjamin. (Genesis 31:32).

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VAYIGASH “And He Drew Near”

TORAH: Genesis 44:18-47:27HAFTORAH: Ezekiel 37:15-28

B’RIT CHADASHAH: Luke 6:9-16, Colossians 1:1-29All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted

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