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Genesis 45:26 - Yaakov doubts Yosef's survival?

Genesis 45:26 - בראשית 45:26

Hebrew Text

וַיַּגִּדוּ לוֹ לֵאמֹר עוֹד יוֹסֵף חַי וְכִי־הוּא מֹשֵׁל בְּכָל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וַיָּפָג לִבּוֹ כִּי לֹא־הֶאֱמִין לָהֶם׃

English Translation

and told him, saying, Yosef is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Miżrayim. And his heart fainted, for he believed them not.

Transliteration

Vayagidu lo lemor od yosef chai v'chi-hu moshel b'chol-eretz mitzrayim vayafag libo ki lo-he'emin lahem

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר ע֚וֹד יוֹסֵ֣ף חַ֔י וְכִֽי־ה֥וּא מֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכׇל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֣פׇג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י לֹא־הֶאֱמִ֖ין לָהֶֽם׃
וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר ע֚וֹד יוֹסֵ֣ף חַ֔י וְכִֽי־ה֥וּא מֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכׇל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֣פׇג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י לֹא־הֶאֱמִ֖ין לָהֶֽם׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

The Initial Reaction of Yaakov Avinu

The verse describes Yaakov's reaction when his sons inform him that Yosef is alive and ruling over Egypt. The phrase "וַיָּפָג לִבּוֹ" ("his heart fainted") is interpreted by Rashi to mean that Yaakov's heart became weak and numb, as he could not immediately process this overwhelming news. The Torah emphasizes that "כִּי לֹא־הֶאֱמִין לָהֶם" ("he did not believe them"), indicating his skepticism after years of mourning Yosef's presumed death.

Reasons for Yaakov's Disbelief

  • Psychological Trauma: The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 94:3) explains that Yaakov had spent 22 years grieving Yosef, and the sudden reversal of this reality was too shocking to accept immediately.
  • Distrust of the Brothers: Ramban suggests that Yaakov may have doubted his sons' sincerity, given their earlier deception regarding Yosef's disappearance (Bereishit 37:31-33).
  • Divine Concealment: The Kli Yakar notes that Hashem had concealed Yosef's survival from Yaakov as part of a larger divine plan, making the revelation all the more difficult to accept.

The Role of the Wagon (עֲגָלָה) as Proof

Later in the narrative (Bereishit 45:27), Yaakov's spirit is revived when he sees the wagons Yosef sent—a sign recalling the last Torah topic they studied together (Eglah Arufah). Rashi cites this as the turning point where Yaakov finally accepts the truth, recognizing a hidden message only Yosef could have known.

Spiritual Lessons from Yaakov's Reaction

The Or HaChaim highlights that Yaakov's initial disbelief teaches the gravity of despair and the power of sudden divine salvation. Even a tzaddik like Yaakov could struggle with emunah (faith) when faced with an unexpected yeshuah (redemption), reinforcing the idea that trust in Hashem must endure even in prolonged hardship.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Ta'anit 10b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the emotional impact of sudden good news, paralleling Yaakov's reaction to hearing that Yosef is alive.
📖 Megillah 16b
The verse is cited in a discussion about the nature of disbelief and how Yaakov initially did not believe the news about Yosef.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why didn't Yaakov (Jacob) believe that Yosef (Joseph) was still alive?
A: According to Rashi, Yaakov initially didn't believe the news because he had spent 22 years mourning Yosef, thinking he was dead. The sudden news seemed too incredible to accept immediately. Additionally, the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 94:3) explains that Yaakov was reciting Shema at that moment and didn't want to interrupt his devotion to G-d to process this emotional news.
Q: What does it mean that Yaakov's 'heart fainted'?
A: The phrase 'his heart fainted' (וַיָּפָג לִבּוֹ) describes Yaakov's emotional shock. The Ramban explains this means his heart became weak and couldn't properly absorb the news. The Sforno adds that this reaction shows how deeply Yaakov had accepted Yosef's apparent death - the sudden reversal was emotionally overwhelming.
Q: Why is this moment important in the Torah narrative?
A: This moment is crucial because it marks the turning point where Yaakov learns the truth about Yosef after decades of mourning. The Talmud (Chagigah 4b) notes this teaches about the power of hope - even when something seems impossible (like Yosef being alive after so many years), miracles can happen. It also sets the stage for the Jewish people's descent to Egypt.
Q: How did Yaakov eventually become convinced Yosef was alive?
A: According to Rashi on Genesis 45:27, Yaakov only became fully convinced when he saw the wagons (agalot) Yosef sent, which were a reminder of the last Torah topic they had studied together - the law of the 'eglah arufah' (the decapitated calf). This private sign proved it was truly Yosef.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Yaakov's reaction?
A: The Midrash teaches that Yaakov's initial disbelief teaches us about human nature - after prolonged grief, good news can be hard to accept. The Malbim explains this shows how deeply parents love their children. Practically, it teaches that even in our darkest moments (like Yaakov's 22 years of mourning), we should never completely lose hope for redemption.