Blessings and Forgiveness

Parshat Vayechi
Genesis 47:28-50:26

Synopsis:

Jacob lives for 17 years in Egypt.  He feels that his death is imminent.  He makes Joseph swear to bury him in Canaan.  Prior to his death, Jacob formally adopts Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and blesses them.  In the blessing, he elevates the younger Ephraim over Manasseh, explaining to Joseph that Ephraim would father a larger people than Manasseh.

On his deathbed, Jacob summons his sons.  He describes the character and depicts the future of each one.  Jacob directs his sons to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah, where his ancestors are buried.

Following his death, Jacob is embalmed.  A great Egyptian procession accompanies Joseph and his brothers to Canaan.  When they reach Goren HaAtad, Joseph observes a seven day mourning period for his father.  Joseph and his brothers return to Egypt after the burial.  Although the brothers are concerned that Joseph will take revenge upon them now that Jacob is dead, Joseph tells them they have no cause for concern.

The Book of Genesis closes with Joseph's death at 110 years of age.  On his deathbed, he speaks to his brothers, requesting that his bones be taken back to the land promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Questions for your Shabbat table:

• Jacob and his family originally left Canaan for Egypt due to a famine.  The famine in Canaan lasted seven years, but the parasha tells us that Jacob lived in Egypt for 17 years.  Why do you think he and his family remained in Egypt even after the end of the famine?
• Much earlier in the story of Joseph and his brothers, Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery, which starts his journey that ends with him in Egypt.  By the end of this parasha, his brothers are worried that he holds a grudge against them, so they convince him that their father wanted Joseph to forgive them, which Joseph does.  Are there times it is hard to forgive someone for something they have done?  Are there times when it might be easier?
• Before Jacob's death, he blesses each of his sons and tells their future.  If you were to receive a blessing from a parent or another adult, what do you hope would be in that blessing?  

And now, a look into Jacob's blessings for his sons: