each other's accomplishments. Second, because these kids grow up as sons of the Viceroy, they could have been totally assimilated, spoiled, Egyptian brats, yet it's very clear that they grow up completely loyal proto-Jews in an incredibly hostile environment. Now that Joseph is Viceroy the stage is set for his early dreams to come true, when he saw his brothers bowing before him. And this is indeed what happens next.
Joseph realizes that through the generations,
by Rabbi Ken Spiro
the family has created a rut of hatred among the brothers. To remedy the situation, he sets the stage for a great test.
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An interesting thing happens in the Bible right in the middle of the Joseph story. Suddenly the story stops. We leave off Joseph and return to the land of Canaan to pick up the story of Judah, the fourth oldest of the 12 brothers. And it is not immediately clear why we need to be informed of this slice out of Judah's life at this point in the narrative. (See Book of Genesis, Chapter 38.) We learn that Judah had three sons and the oldest married a woman named Tamar. He died. Then, according to Jewish law, the second son married Tamar. He also died. Tamar is in line to marry the third son, but Judah stalls. Realizing Judah will not honor the law, and seeing herself growing older and childless, Tamar decides to take the matters into her own hands. As the Bible tells it, she disguises herself as a prostitute and seduces Judah, who promises her a goat in payment for her services. She holds onto his staff and seal as collateral, but when he arrives with the goat, the "prostitute" is nowhere to be found.
It is discovered that Tamar is pregnant and she is sentenced to
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