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Genesis 37:10 - Dreams provoke family tension?

Genesis 37:10 - בראשית 37:10

Hebrew Text

וַיְסַפֵּר אֶל־אָבִיו וְאֶל־אֶחָיו וַיִּגְעַר־בּוֹ אָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מָה הַחֲלוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר חָלָמְתָּ הֲבוֹא נָבוֹא אֲנִי וְאִמְּךָ וְאַחֶיךָ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת לְךָ אָרְצָה׃

English Translation

And he told it to his father, and to his brothers: and his father rebuked him, and said to him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brothers indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

Transliteration

Vay'saper el-aviv ve'el-echav vayig'ar-bo aviv vayomer lo ma hachalom hazeh asher chalamta havo navo ani ve'imcha ve'acheycha lehishtachavot lecha artza.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר אֶל־אָבִיו֮ וְאֶל־אֶחָיו֒ וַיִּגְעַר־בּ֣וֹ אָבִ֔יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ מָ֛ה הַחֲל֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָלָ֑מְתָּ הֲב֣וֹא נָב֗וֹא אֲנִי֙ וְאִמְּךָ֣ וְאַחֶ֔יךָ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֥ת לְךָ֖ אָֽרְצָה׃
וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר אֶל־אָבִיו֮ וְאֶל־אֶחָיו֒ וַיִּגְעַר־בּ֣וֹ אָבִ֔יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ מָ֛ה הַחֲל֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָלָ֑מְתָּ הֲב֣וֹא נָב֗וֹא אֲנִי֙ וְאִמְּךָ֣ וְאַחֶ֔יךָ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֥ת לְךָ֖ אָֽרְצָה׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Bereshit 37:10) describes Yosef recounting his dream to his father Yaakov and his brothers, in which the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow down to him. Yaakov responds with a rebuke, questioning the meaning of the dream and whether it implies that he, Yosef's mother, and brothers would bow to him.

Yaakov's Rebuke

Rashi explains that Yaakov's rebuke ("וַיִּגְעַר־בּוֹ אָבִיו") was not merely a rejection of the dream but a corrective measure to prevent further strife among the brothers. Yaakov understood the dream's prophetic nature but sought to mitigate its immediate impact on family harmony. The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 84:11) adds that Yaakov recognized the truth in the dream but was concerned about the brothers' jealousy.

The Dream's Symbolism

  • Sun and Moon: The sun represents Yaakov, and the moon represents Rachel (Yosef's mother), as per Rashi. However, since Rachel had already passed away, Ramban suggests the moon may symbolize Bilhah, who raised Yosef after Rachel's death.
  • Eleven Stars: These clearly symbolize Yosef's eleven brothers, as stated in the verse itself.

Yaakov's Question: "הֲבוֹא נָבוֹא"

Yaakov's rhetorical question—"Shall I and your mother and brothers bow to you?"—hints at the dream's eventual fulfillment in Mitzrayim (Egypt), where the family would indeed bow before Yosef (Bereshit 42:6). The Kli Yakar notes that Yaakov's wording ("הֲבוֹא נָבוֹא") implies reluctance, as bowing to a son goes against the natural order, yet it would ultimately come to pass due to divine providence.

Lessons from the Incident

  • Family Harmony: Yaakov's rebuke teaches the importance of maintaining peace within the family, even when dealing with prophetic truths (Talmud, Sanhedrin 101a).
  • Divine Plan: The dream foreshadowed Yosef's future leadership, demonstrating how Hashem's plan unfolds despite human resistance (Sforno).

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Berakhot 55a
The verse is discussed in the context of dreams and their interpretations, referencing Jacob's reaction to Joseph's dream.
📖 Sanhedrin 102a
The verse is mentioned in a discussion about the nature of dreams and their significance, particularly in the story of Joseph and his brothers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Yaakov (Jacob) rebuke Yosef (Joseph) for his dream?
A: Yaakov rebuked Yosef because the dream implied that Yosef's parents and brothers would bow down to him, which seemed disrespectful. However, Rashi explains that Yaakov actually kept the dream in mind, realizing it might be prophetic (Rashi on Genesis 37:10).
Q: What is the significance of Yosef's dream in Genesis 37:10?
A: Yosef's dream was a prophecy about his future leadership. The sun, moon, and stars bowing represented his family, foreshadowing how they would eventually come to him for sustenance in Egypt (Bereshit Rabbah 84:11).
Q: Why does the verse mention 'your mother' bowing if Rachel had already passed away?
A: According to Rashi, 'your mother' refers to Bilhah, who raised Yosef after Rachel's death. Alternatively, some commentaries suggest it hints to Rachel's descendants (like Binyamin) who would later bow (Rashi on Genesis 37:10).
Q: How does this verse relate to sibling rivalry in the Torah?
A: This verse shows how Yosef's dreams intensified his brothers' jealousy, leading to the sale into Egypt. The Talmud teaches that dreams have significance (Berachot 55a), and this one set in motion events that would fulfill Hashem's plan for the Jewish people.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Yaakov's reaction to Yosef's dream?
A: Yaakov teaches us to balance rebuke with faith - while correcting what seemed like arrogance, he also recognized the dream's potential divine origin. The Rambam (Hilchos Dei'os 6:7) explains this is how we should give constructive criticism.