parsha bit: Vayigash

[cellio]

When Yosef threatened to keep Binyamin as a slave, Yehudah challenged him. According to the midrash he tried three approaches: war, appeasement, and prayer. First he threatened to take up his sword and kill Yosef and all Egypt, but Yosef returned the threat. Then he offered appeasement, giving himself as a substitute. Finally, the midrash interprets his pleas as not to Yosef but to God himself, and this is when Yosef softened and revealed himself. (Midrash Rabbah 93:6)

Comments

[jonbaker.livejournal.com]

interestingly parallel to jacob's attempted rapprochement with esau. same elements: prepare for war, try appeasement with gifts, and pray to God for help. yehuda saw yosef as the Other, the Alien, the Non-Jew, much as Chazal say "it is settled law that Esav hates Jacob", so presumably he drew from his father's example in approaching a potential threat.