True or False? Read the Commentaries

The rabbis who wrote commentaries on the Torah each had a slightly different way of understanding what happened between Joseph, his brothers, and their father. As you read each source, try to figure out:

According to this commentary, were the brothers lying about what Jacob said to them, or were they telling the truth?
How does each commentator prove or justify their interpretation?

Remember to take turns reading with your hevruta, and remember to LISTEN while your hevruta tells you what they think, to respectfully ASK questions once they are done if there’s anything you didn’t understand, and, if you can, try to offer texts or other details to SUPPORT their ideas.

Once you are done, click here to complete the assignment (the texts from the assignment also appear below).

רש"י על בראשית נ׳:ט״ז:ב׳

אביך צוה. שִׁנּוּ בַדָּבָר מִפְּנֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם, כִּי לֹא צִוָּה יַעֲקֹב כֵּן, שֶׁלֹּא נֶחֱשַׁד יוֹסֵף בְּעֵינָיו.

Rashi on Genesis 50:16:2

אביך צוה THY FATHER DID COMMAND — They altered the facts (they stated something that was false) for the sake of peace, for Jacob had given them no such command because Joseph was not suspect in his sight.

ספורנו על בראשית נ׳:ט״ז:ב׳

לאמר אביך צוה צוה שיאמרו ליוסף אביך צוה לנו שנאמר אליך מאלינו לא מצדו שאינו חושד אותך כלל אבל שאם ייראו אחיך נאמר אליך אלה הדברים:

Sforno on Genesis 50:16:2

לאמר אביך צוה, he commanded that we should say what we have to say as something that originated with us and not with him, as he did not think for a moment that you might want to avenge yourselves on us. However, he consented that if we were worried, we could take the initiative and express our concerns to you.

העמק דבר על בראשית נ׳:ט״ז:א׳

אביך צוה לפני מותו. הוא תמוה שהרי יוסף לא זזה ידו מאביו בשעת מותו. ואיך צוה והוא לא ידע. ונראה שהשכילו להבינו אשר במה שאמר בברכת יוסף ויפזו זרועי ידיו ששבח אותו שלא ירה חצים וקשת להממררים לו בזה צוה להגיד כי כן מבוקשו:

Haamek Davar on Genesis 50:16:1

This is shocking, because Yosef never left his father's side while he was dying. How could he have commanded this without Yosef knowing? It seams that they were clever and understood it from what Yaakov said in the blessing of Yosef, "and his arms were made firm." He praised him for not shooting his bow and arrow at those who "bitterly" attacked him, and in this way commanded them to say that this was his request.

רמב"ן על בראשית מ״ה:כ״ז:א׳

וידברו אליו את כל דברי יוסף יראה לי על דרך הפשט שלא הוגד ליעקב כל ימיו כי אחיו מכרו את יוסף אבל חשב כי היה תועה בשדה והמוצאים אותו לקחוהו ומכרו אותו אל מצרים כי אחיו לא רצו להגיד לו חטאתם אף כי יראו לנפשם פן יקצוף ויקללם כאשר עשה בראובן ושמעון ולוי (להלן מט ג-ז) ויוסף במוסרו הטוב לא רצה להגיד לו ולכך נאמר ויצוו אל יוסף לאמר אביך צוה לפני מותו לאמר וגו' ואלו ידע יעקב בענין הזה היה ראוי להם שיחלו פני אביהם במותו לצוות את יוסף מפיו כי ישא פניו ולא ימרה את דברו ולא היו בסכנה ולא יצטרכו לבדות מלבם דברים

Ramban on Genesis 45:27:1

And they told him all the words of Joseph: It appears to me according to the simple meaning that throughout all the days of his life, Jacob was never told that the brothers sold Joseph. Rather he thought that he got lost in the field and that the ones that found him took him and sold him to Egypt. For the brothers did not want to tell him their sin, especially since they feared for their lives, lest he get enraged and curse them.... And Joseph did not want to tell him because of his good ethics. And it therefore states (Genesis 50:16-17), "Your father commanded before his death, saying... 'Please now forego the sin of your brothers.'" And if Jacob had known about this matter, it would have been fitting for them to beseech the face of their father at his death to command Joseph from his [own] mouth - as he would not raise [himself against his father] and violate his words. And [then] they would not have been in danger, and they would not have needed to make up words from their hearts (that he had not said).