Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Exodus 1:6 mean when it says 'And Yosef died, and all his brethren, and all that generation'?
A: This verse marks the end of an era in Jewish history. According to Rashi, it signifies the passing of the generation that experienced the descent to Egypt and the beginning of a new period where the Israelites would face hardship and slavery. The death of Yosef and his brothers represents the loss of the leadership that had protected Bnei Yisrael in Egypt.
Q: Why is the death of Yosef and his brothers mentioned at the start of Exodus?
A: The Torah mentions this to show a turning point in the Israelite experience in Egypt. As Ramban explains, while Yosef and his generation were alive, the Egyptians treated the Israelites with respect due to Yosef's high position. After their passing, a new Pharaoh arose who didn't remember Yosef's contributions (Exodus 1:8), leading to the enslavement.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Exodus 1:6 about generations and leadership?
A: The verse teaches us about the importance of strong leadership and the vulnerability that comes with generational transitions. The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 1:8) notes that as long as even one member of that righteous generation remained alive, the Egyptians delayed oppressing the Israelites. This shows how the merits of righteous leaders protect their people.
Q: How does Exodus 1:6 connect to the story of Jewish slavery in Egypt?
A: This verse sets the stage for the slavery narrative. The Talmud (Sotah 11a) explains that the death of this generation removed the 'protective merit' that had shielded the Israelites, allowing the Egyptian oppression to begin. It serves as the transition between the favorable treatment under Yosef and the harsh slavery that follows.
Q: Why does the Torah mention that 'all that generation' died?
A: The Torah emphasizes this complete passing of the generation to show that no one remained who personally remembered the covenant with Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov or Yosef's salvation of Egypt. As Ibn Ezra notes, this created a spiritual vacuum where the new Pharaoh could claim the Israelites were a threat without anyone to contradict him based on historical knowledge.
The Passing of Yosef and His Generation
The verse (Shemot 1:6) states: "וַיָּמָת יוֹסֵף וְכָל־אֶחָיו וְכֹל הַדּוֹר הַהוּא" ("And Yosef died, and all his brethren, and all that generation"). This marks a pivotal transition in Sefer Shemot, as the era of the Avot and Shevatim concludes, setting the stage for the enslavement in Mitzrayim.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi notes that the Torah emphasizes the deaths of Yosef and his brothers to highlight that as long as even one of the Shevatim remained alive, the Egyptians did not fully subjugate Bnei Yisrael. Only after the entire generation passed away did the oppression begin (Rashi on Shemot 1:6, based on Sotah 13a). This teaches that the merit of the righteous protects their descendants even after their passing.
Midrashic Insights
Halachic and Philosophical Implications
The Rambam (Hilchos Teshuva 3:4) derives from this verse that the passing of a tzaddik creates a collective responsibility for the living to uphold their legacy. The Talmud (Sotah 13a) also notes that Yosef's brothers were embalmed like him, fulfilling the principle of "חייב אדם לכבד את רבו" ("One must honor their teacher").
Transition to Galus
The Kli Yakar observes that the verse's structure—mentioning Yosef first, then his brothers, then the entire generation—parallels the gradual onset of oppression. As each level of protection (Yosef's influence, then the Shevatim's merit, then the entire generation's memory) faded, the conditions for the enslavement were set in motion.