Vayeshev Parashat

This week’s parashat is the 9th parashat in the book of B’reisheet also called Genesis, and is called Vayeshev which means ‘And He Dwelt’.

Bullet Point Summary

–  Yosef was feeding the flock with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah and told his father their evil report
–  Yisra’el loved Yosef more than any of his children and made him a special coat so his brother’s hated him
–  Yosef had a dream and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more
–  Yosef had another dream and when his father heard it he rebuked him
–  Yisra’el sent Yosef to see how his brothers and the flocks were doing
–  When they saw Yosef coming they made plans to kill him but Re’uven said lets not kill him but cast him into the dry well
–  His brothers took his special coat and threw him in the dry well
–  When they sat down to eat some merchants going to Mitzrayim drew near and they sold him to them as a slave
–  They dipped his coat in the blood of a goat and showed their father who said an evil beast must have killed him
–  The merchants sold Yosef to Potifar an officer in Par’oh’s army
–  Yahudah took Shuah to wife and had Er, Onan, and Shelach
–  Yahudah found Er a wife named Tamar but Er was wicked in the eyes of YHWH and YHWH slew him
–  Yahudah told Onan to take Tamar as wife and have children for his brother but he wouldn’t and YHWH slew him
–  Yahudah told Tamar to stay a widow until Shelach was old enough but he didn’t keep his word
–  Tamar covered her face and sat out where Yahudah was and he lay with her thinking she was a harlot
–  Yahudah promised to pay her with a goat and left his signet, bracelets, and staff with her until he brings the goat
–  When Yahudah sent the goat with his friend to pay her she was gone
–  It was told to Yahudah Tamar was pregnant out of marriage and he was going to punish her but she showed the signet, bracelets, and staff
–  Tamar had twins one called Peretz and the other called Zerach
–  Potifar bought Yosef and YHWH blessed Yosef in all that he did
–  Yosef found favor in the eyes of Potifar and was put in charge of his house because YHWH blessed Yosef
–  Potifar’s wife wanted Yosef to lay with her but he wouldn’t
–  Potifar’s wife asked again on day and grabbed Yosef but he fled and left his coat behind
–  She told her husband Yosef tried to lay with her against her will and showed him his coat
–  Potifar threw Yosef in prison and the prison guard put him in charge of all the prisoners
–  Par’oh was angry with his chief cupbearer and his chief baker and cast them into prison
–  Yosef asked why they were sad one day and they told him they both had a dream but didn’t know the meaning
–  Yosef told the chief cupbearer his dream meant in 3 days Par’oh would restore him to his position
–  Yosef told the chief butler his dream meant in 3 days Par’oh was going to hang him
–  On the 3rd day it was Par’oh’s birthday and he restored the cupbearer and hanged the baker just like Yosef said
–  Haftarah – Yisra’el has sinned and YHWH will punish them

Parashat Text with Readers and Daily Portions (Reader 1 Starts on Saturday Evening)

Vayeshev “And He Dwelt”
Gen 37:1 – 40:23 , Amos 2:6 – 3:8

Reader 1 (Evening Portion)

Gen 37:1 And Ya’akov dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of
Kena’an.
Gen 37:2 These are the generations of Ya’akov. Yosef, being seventeen years old, was feeding
the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of
Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Yosef brought unto his father their evil report.
Gen 37:3 Now Yisrael loved Yosef more than all his children, because he was the son of his old
age: and he made him a coat of many colors.
Gen 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren,
they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

(Morning Portion)

Gen 37:5 And Yosef dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the
more.
Gen 37:6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Gen 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also
stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my
sheaf.
Gen 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shall you indeed reign over us? or shall you indeed have
dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
Gen 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have
dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made
obeisance to me.
Gen 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said
unto him, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your
brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to you to the earth?
Gen 37:11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Reader 2 (Evening Portion)

Gen 37:12 And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
Gen 37:13 And Yisra’el said unto Yosef, Do not your brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come,
and I will send you unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
Gen 37:14 And he said to him, Go, I pray you, see whether it be well with your brethren, and
well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the valley of Chevron,
and he came to Shechem.
Gen 37:15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the
man asked him, saying, What seek you?
Gen 37:16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray you, where they feed their flocks.
Gen 37:17 And the man said, They are departed here; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dotan.
And Yosef went after his brethren, and found them in Dotan.

(Morning Portion)

Gen 37:18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired
against him to slay him.
Gen 37:19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer comes.
Gen 37:20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some well, and we will
say, Some evil beast has devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
Gen 37:21 And Re’uven heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not
kill him.
Gen 37:22 And Re’uven said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this well that is in the
wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver
him to his father again.

Reader 3 (Evening Portion)

Gen 37:23 And it came to pass, when Yosef was come unto his brethren, that they stript Yosef
out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him;
Gen 37:24 And they took him, and cast him into a well: and the well was empty, there was no
water in it.
Gen 37:25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and,
behold, a company of Yishme’elim came from Gil’ad with their camels bearing spicery and
balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Mitzrayim.
Gen 37:26 And Yahudah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and
conceal his blood?
Gen 37:27 Come, and let us sell him to the Yishme’elim, and let not our hand be upon him; for
he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midyanim merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Yosef
out of the well, and sold Yosef to the Yishme’elim for twenty pieces of silver: and they
brought Yosef into Mitzrayim.
Gen 37:29 And Re’uven returned unto the well; and, behold, Yosef was not in the well; and he
rent his clothes.
Gen 37:30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, where shall I
go?

(Morning Portion)
Gen 37:31 And they took Yosef’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the
blood;
Gen 37:32 And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said,
This have we found: know now whether it be your son’s coat or no.
Gen 37:33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast has devoured him; Yosef is
without doubt rent in pieces.
Gen 37:34 And Ya’akov rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his
son many days.
Gen 37:35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be
comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his
father wept for him.
Gen 37:36 And the Midyanim sold him into Mitzrayim unto Potifar, an officer of Par’oh’s, and
captain of the guard.

Reader 4 (Evening Portion)

Gen 38:1 And it came to pass at that time, that Yahudah went down from his brethren, and
turned in to a certain Adullami, whose name was Chirah.
Gen 38:2 And Yahudah saw there a daughter of a certain Kena’ani, whose name was Shuah;
and he took her, and went in unto her.
Gen 38:3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
Gen 38:4 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she called his name Onan.
Gen 38:5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelach: and he was
at Keziv, when she bare him.
Gen 38:6 And Yahudah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
Gen 38:7 And Er, Yahudah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of YHWH; and YHWH slew him.
Gen 38:8 And Yahudah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise
up seed to your brother.
Gen 38:9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in
unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his
brother.
Gen 38:10 And the thing which he did displeased YHWH: wherefore he slew him also.
Gen 38:11 Then said Yahudah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at your father’s
house, till Shelach my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his
brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
Gen 38:12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Yahudah’s wife died; and Yahudah was
comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnah, he and his friend Chirah the
Adullami.
Gen 38:13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold your father in law goes up to Timnah to shear
his sheep.
Gen 38:14 And she put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and
wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that
Shelach was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

(Morning Portion)

Gen 38:15 When Yahudah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; because she had covered her
face.
Gen 38:16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray you, let me come in unto
you; (for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law.) And she said, What wilt you give
me, that you may come in unto me?
Gen 38:17 And he said, I will send you a kid from the flock. And she said, Will you give me a
pledge, till you send it?
Gen 38:18 And he said, What pledge shall I give you? And she said, Your signet, and your
bracelets, and your staff that is in your hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and
she conceived by him.
Gen 38:19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the
garments of her widowhood.
Gen 38:20 And Yahudah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullami, to receive his
pledge from the woman’s hand: but he found her not.
Gen 38:21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by
the wayside? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
Gen 38:22 And he returned to Yahudah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the
place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
Gen 38:23 And Yahudah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid,
and you have not found her.
Gen 38:24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Yahudah, saying,
Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by
whoredom. And Yahudah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
Gen 38:25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man,
whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray you, whose are these, the
signet, and bracelets, and staff.
Gen 38:26 And Yahudah acknowledged them, and said, She has been more righteous than I;
because that I gave her not to Shelach my son. And he knew her again no more.
Gen 38:27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
Gen 38:28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the
midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
Gen 38:29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out:
and she said, How have you broken forth? this breach be upon you: therefore his name was
called Peretz.
Gen 38:30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and
his name was called Zerach.

Reader 5 (Evening Portion)

Gen 39:1 And Yosef was brought down to Mitzrayim; and Potiphar, an officer of Par’oh, captain of
the guard, a Mitzrayim, bought him of the hands of the Yishme’elim, which had brought him
down there.
Gen 39:2 And YHWH was with Yosef, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of
his master the Mitzrayim.
Gen 39:3 And his master saw that YHWH was with him, and that YHWH made all that he did
to prosper in his hand.

(Morning Portion)

Gen 39:4 And Yosef found favor in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer
over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Gen 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and
over all that he had, that YHWH blessed the Mitzrayim’s house for Yosef’s sake; and the
blessing of YHWH was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
Gen 39:6 And he left all that he had in Yosef’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the
bread which he did eat. And Yosef was a goodly person, and well-favored.

Reader 6 (Evening Portion)

Gen 39:7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Yosef;
and she said, Lie with me.
Gen 39:8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master knows not what is
with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand;
Gen 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he kept back any thing from me
but you, because you are his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against
Elohim?
Gen 39:10 And it came to pass, as she spoke to Yosef day by day, that he hearkened not unto
her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
Gen 39:11 And it came to pass about this time, that Yosef went into the house to do his
business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
Gen 39:12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in
her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Gen 39:13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was
fled forth,
Gen 39:14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spoke unto them, saying, See, he has
brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried
with a loud voice:
Gen 39:15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his
garment with me, and fled, and got him out.
Gen 39:16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
Gen 39:17 And she spoke unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant,
which you have brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
Gen 39:18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with
me, and fled out.
Gen 39:19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake
unto him, saying, After this manner did your servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
Gen 39:20 And Yosef’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s
prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
Gen 39:21 But YHWH was with Yosef, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight
of the keeper of the prison.
Gen 39:22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Yosef’s hand all the prisoners that were
in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
Gen 39:23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because
YHWH was with him, and that which he did, YHWH made it to prosper.

Reader 7 (6th Day Morning Portion)

Gen 40:1 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Mitzrayim and his
baker had offended their lord the king of Mitzrayim.
Gen 40:2 And Par’oh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers,
and against the chief of the bakers.
Gen 40:3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the
place where Yosef was bound.
Gen 40:4 And the captain of the guard charged Yosef with them, and he served them: and they
continued a season in ward.
Gen 40:5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man
according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Mitzrayim,
which were bound in the prison.
Gen 40:6 And Yosef came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold,
they were sad.
Gen 40:7 And he asked Par’oh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house,
saying, Why look you so sadly to day?
Gen 40:8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.
And Yosef said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to Elohim? tell me them, I pray
you.
Gen 40:9 And the chief butler told his dream to Yosef, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a
vine was before me;
Gen 40:10 And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her
blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
Gen 40:11 And Par’oh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into
Par’oh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Par’oh’s hand.
Gen 40:12 And Yosef said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are
three days:
Gen 40:13 Yet within three days shall Par’oh lift up your head, and restore you unto your
place: and you shall deliver Par’oh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when you
were his butler.
Gen 40:14 But think on me when it shall be well with you, and show kindness, I pray you, unto
me, and make mention of me unto Par’oh, and bring me out of this house:
Gen 40:15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I
done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
Gen 40:16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Yosef, I also
was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
Gen 40:17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Par’oh; and
the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
Gen 40:18 And Yosef answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets
are three days:
Gen 40:19 Yet within three days shall Par’oh lift up your head from off you, and shall hang
you on a tree; and the birds shall eat your flesh from off you.
Gen 40:20 And it came to pass the third day, which was Par’oh’s birthday, that he made a
feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker
among his servants.
Gen 40:21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into
Par’oh’s hand:
Gen 40:22 But he hung the chief baker: as Yosef had interpreted to them.
Gen 40:23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Yosef, but forgot him.

Haftarah (Shabbat Evening Portion)

Amos 2:6 Thus saith YHWH; For three transgressions of Yisrael, and for four, I will not turn
away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a
pair of shoes;
Amos 2:7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of
the humble: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy
name:
Amos 2:8 And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they
drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their elohim.
Amos 2:9 Yet destroyed I the Amori before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars,
and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from
beneath.
Amos 2:10 Also I brought you up from the land of Mitzrayim, and led you forty years through the
wilderness, to possess the land of the Amori.
Amos 2:11 And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Natzari. Is it not
even thus, O you children of Yisra’el? saith YHWH.
Amos 2:12 But you gave the Natzari wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying,
Prophesy not.
Amos 2:13 Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
Amos 2:14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen
his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
Amos 2:15 Neither shall he stand that handles the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not
deliver himself: neither shall he that rides the horse deliver himself.
Amos 2:16 And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith
YHWH.
Amos 3:1 Hear this word that YHWH has spoken against you, O children of Yisra’el, against the
whole family which I brought up from the land of Mitzrayim, saying,
Amos 3:2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for
all your lawlessness.
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
Amos 3:4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his
den, if he have taken nothing?
Amos 3:5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no noose is for him? shall one take up
a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
Amos 3:6 Shall a shofar be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a
city, and YHWH has not done it?
Amos 3:7 Surely YHWH Elohim will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the
prophets.
Amos 3:8 The lion has roared, who will not fear? YHWH Elohim has spoken, who can but
prophesy?
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