Introduction: After being separated from his family for 22 years, Yosef finally stands face to face with his brothers. While Yosef recognizes his brothers, they fail to recognize him. While we can expect Yosef to have negative feelings towards his brothers (throwing someone in a pit and selling them into slavery is not cool), his reactions to his brothers seems odd, and something unbefitting of such a Tzadek. At tonight's Mishmash, we will try to put ourselves in the shoes of Yosef and try to figure out what he is trying to accomplish.
Instructions: Please read the sources below and answer the discussion questions that fellow. Don't forget to have fun!
(ו) וְיוֹסֵ֗ף ה֚וּא הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ ה֥וּא הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר לְכׇל־עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־ל֥וֹ אַפַּ֖יִם אָֽרְצָה׃ (ז) וַיַּ֥רְא יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו וַיַּכִּרֵ֑ם וַיִּתְנַכֵּ֨ר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר אִתָּ֣ם קָשׁ֗וֹת וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מֵאַ֣יִן בָּאתֶ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן לִשְׁבׇּר־אֹֽכֶל׃ (ח) וַיַּכֵּ֥ר יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶת־אֶחָ֑יו וְהֵ֖ם לֹ֥א הִכִּרֻֽהוּ׃ (ט) וַיִּזְכֹּ֣ר יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֚ת הַחֲלֹמ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָלַ֖ם לָהֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מְרַגְּלִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם לִרְא֛וֹת אֶת־עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶֽם׃ (י) וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֲדֹנִ֑י וַעֲבָדֶ֥יךָ בָּ֖אוּ לִשְׁבׇּר־אֹֽכֶל׃ (יא) כֻּלָּ֕נוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד נָ֑חְנוּ כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ לֹא־הָי֥וּ עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃ (יב) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם לֹ֕א כִּֽי־עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶ֥ם לִרְאֽוֹת׃ (יג) וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂר֩ עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ אַחִ֧ים ׀ אֲנַ֛חְנוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־אֶחָ֖ד בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַקָּטֹ֤ן אֶת־אָבִ֙ינוּ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְהָאֶחָ֖ד אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃ (יד) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֖ם יוֹסֵ֑ף ה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבַּ֧רְתִּי אֲלֵכֶ֛ם לֵאמֹ֖ר מְרַגְּלִ֥ים אַתֶּֽם׃
(6) Now Joseph was the vizier of the land; it was he who dispensed rations to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed low to him, with their faces to the ground. (7) When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them; but he acted like a stranger toward them and spoke harshly to them. He asked them, “Where do you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to procure food.” (8) For though Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. (9) Recalling the dreams that he had dreamed about them, Joseph said to them, “You are spies, you have come to see the land in its nakedness.” (10) But they said to him, “No, my lord! Truly, your servants have come to procure food. (11) We are all of us sons of the same man; we are honest men; your servants have never been spies!” (12) And he said to them, “No, you have come to see the land in its nakedness!” (13) And they replied, “We your servants were twelve brothers, sons of a certain man in the land of Canaan; the youngest, however, is now with our father, and one is no more.” (14) But Joseph said to them, “It is he who I speak of! Just as I have told you: You are spies!
Discussion Questions:
(1) Why does Yosef recognize his brothers, but they don't recognize him?
(2) Why does Yosef expect the brothers to recognize him?
(3) What is Yosef trying to accomplish by calling them spies? Spies for what? What does Yosef think, or at least hope, they are looking for?
Yosef is a smart guy, he knew from the moment Pharoah had his dreams that his brothers would be coming to Egypt. Yosef planned for this eventual. Plan A was simple, the brothers would come, bow, and recognize him, bam, the story ends there. When this doesn't happen, Yosef turns to Plan B, find out if the brothers are at least looking for him. Accuse them of being spies who are looking for their brother. To Yosef's surprise, this is not in fact the case. The brothers have come for food, not in search of their long lost brother. This forces Yosef to turn to Plan C. Let's read forward and try to figure out what Yosef is trying to accomplish.