Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/303

Rh Joseph the Dreamer

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Then answered, "So be it as thou hast asked". two men went to the tabernacle, and the cloud of God descended and separated them. When it rose again, Moses said, "Joshua, my master, what word did the Lord reveal

And God the

But Joshua answered,' "Didst thou not hear it strange; for whenever the Lord spoke to thee, I, too, heard His word and understood His bidding". Then Moses bowed his head, and his face reddened with shame, as envy whispered thoughts of evil. But only for a moment. Quickly he fell upon his face and cried, "O Lord, to

thee?"

How

thyself?

rather a hundred deaths than one thought of envy".

Then

Moses ascended the mountain and entered a cave and lay down upon the rocky floor. And the Lord came, and with freed Moses' soul from his body and took it once more unto Himself, the true Promised Land, the "goal

a gentle kiss

of

Thus did Moses overcome envy.

life.

all

We may compelled

among

his

his owni too,

he

be sure that Jacob suffered greatly in thus being

to

witness the lack of love and brotherly feeling

Perhaps he was reminded thereby of and perhaps, that he deserved this unhappiness as a

children.

early treatment of his brother, Esau,

may have

felt

further punishment for the old

man

when

sons

his

pathetic indeed.

for

in his

bring In

his

youthful

sorrow.

The

him Joseph's

fact,

sin.

We

feel

deeply

picture of Jacob's grief,

blood-stained

coat,

the entire story of Joseph

is

is

an-

other masterpiece of the story-teller's art. It

begins with a rather foreboding picture, a father, old,

and partial, deceived in heartless manner by his own and subjected to the deepest sorrow; the sons envious, sons, deceitful and cruel beyond measure and the one lad a talebearer, and supercilious and arrogant toward his older But it is only the beginning of the story, and brothers. Already this opening chapserves but to whet the interest. ter hints that things wnll gradually, under God's wise and loving guidance, right themselves. Joseph's dreams point

doting,


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