Parashat Miketz

Revision as of 20:55, 18 December 2014

Parshas Miketz is the 10th parsha in the Book of Berashis. It contains 146 pesukim. For the Haftora, the section of Milachim describing the first trial of King Shlomo involving two woman arguing over the mothership of a surviving baby, is read.

Pharaoh's Dream

Two years following the incident of the Royal Baker and Cupbearer, Pharaoh had two dreams. In the first he witnessed seven fat cows emerge from the Nile river that were soon devoured by seven skinny cows that followed them. In a consecutive dream he saw seven thin ears of grain swallow seven healthy ones. All his sages and sorcerers could not give an acceptable interpretation.

First Dream

In his dream Pharaoh was standing by the Nile river and saw seven handsome, plump cows emerging from the water, continuing to pasture in the marshland of reed grass. Pharaoh then witnessed seven ugly, thin cows emerging after them from the Nile. They stood beside the seven fat cows on the Nile bank and proceeded to devour them. Pharaoh then awoke.

Second Dream

Pharaoh fell back asleep and had a similar second dream where he observed seven ears of healthy, good grain growing on one stalk. He then saw seven ears of grain growing after them that looked thin and beaten by the east wind. These thin ears of grain proceeded to swallow up the seven healthy, full ears of grain. Pharaoh awoke, realizing it was a dream with a hidden message that would require serious interpretation.

Troubled Spirit

In the morning Pharaoh awoke with his spirit troubled, agitated and knocking within him like a bell. He remembered the dreams but was ignorant their meaning, unlike Nebuchadnetzar who forgot the dream as well. Pharaoh summoned all the sages of Egypt as well as its sorcerers who could divine answers through the bones of the dead, relating his dreams to them but none could provide an acceptable interpretation. Some said that he would have seven daughters and then bury them but Pharaoh had no satisfaction from their interpretation.

Cupbearers Confession

All along, the Royal Cupbearer knew Yosef had the power to interpret Pharaoh's dream but refrained from divulging this out of jealousy for the reward Yosef would be granted. Upon seeing that Pharaoh was on the verge of insanity and fearing that he might be replaced from his position in the new government of a successor, the Cupbearer spoke with Pharaoh. First he recollected his crime that sent him to the Chief Executioner's prison along with the Chief Baker. He then related how they both had dreams on the same night, that were fit for interpretation and were properly interpreted by Yosef, according to the dream and close to its contents. Being wicked, the Cupbearer described Yosef with contempt, calling him a 'youthful Hebrew slave'. Implying that he was foolish and therefore unfit for a high position, a foreigner that did not even speak Egyptian properly and a slave, which according the Laws of Egypt made him unfit to hold a position of rulership or wear royal attire.

Interpretation

The cows of handsome appearance symbolized the days of plenty, when creatures appear handsome to one another, for no one envies his fellow.