Thirteen years had passed since Joseph was abducted from his father’s home. During that time he had been sold into slavery, was falsely accused of attacking his master’s wife, and was then imprisoned. For all practical purposes Joseph seemed to have been forgotten. Yet, when the Divine Plan to fulfill Joseph’s dreams of leadership began to be realized, it happened swiftly. In a matter of moments a relatively unknown prisoner rose to become the viceroy over Egypt.
Pharaoh dreamed two disturbing dreams that his advisors could not interpret satisfactorily. In one dream he saw seven lean and sickly cows swallow seven healthy cows. In the next dream he saw seven measly sheaves of grain swallow seven plump sheaves. Pharaoh understood that there was a message alluded to in the dreams, but he could not understand what it was.
The wine butler suddenly recalled how Joseph had successfully interpreted his own dream in prison, and mentioned this to Pharaoh. Joseph was hurried out of prison, cleaned up and dressed properly, and brought before Pharaoh. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream to mean that G-d was going to send seven years of bounty to Egypt, followed by seven years of terrible famine. He also recommended that Pharaoh appoint somebody to prepare Egypt for the years of hunger.
Pharaoh was very impressed with Joseph’s wisdom, integrity and concern. He appointed Joseph as the viceroy of all Egypt. Joseph stored grain during the years of plenty to prepare the succeeding years. Pharaoh also gave Joseph Osnas, the daughter of his former master Potiphar, as a wife. She bore him two sons, Menashe and Ephraim.
Once the famine began, the whole country was at the mercy of Joseph. When the famine reached Canaan too, Jacob sent ten of his sons to Egypt to purchase food. Benjamin was not sent because Jacob was concerned lest he get hurt on the way. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.
Joseph decided to test his brothers to see if they truly regretted their earlier actions towards him before he would forgive them. He accused his brothers of spying and told them that they must bring their younger brother back with them to prove their innocence. Joseph then tried to re-create a situation by planting his silver goblet in Benjamin’s sack to see how his brothers would treat their youngest brother Benjamin when he would fall in their disfavor. If they would show him the proper compassion, and show concern for their elderly father, Joseph figured that he would reveal himself to them and forgive them for what they had done to him.
“...Pharaoh sent and summoned Joseph, and they rushed him from the dungeon..” (Gen. 41:14)
The Chafetz Chaim points out that when the time for Joseph’s redemption came, they rushed him from the prison not wasting a moment. Similarly, when the ultimate redemption of the Moshiach will come, he will not tarry for a moment.
Although thousands of years have passed in exile, the Jew anticipates the Moshiach’s coming at any possible moment. Rav Nosson Wachtfogel had a suitcase packed with a new set of clothing in honor of the Moshiach. He didn’t want the Moshiach to have to wait the extra few minutes it would take to pack his suitcase.
Likewise, when a Jew is dressed in shrouds for burial, they are tied with a slipknot. The reason for this is that when the dead will be resurrected, not a moment will be wasted trying to untie the knots; they can just be pulled and undone.
Did You Know...
The prayer for rain, V’sein tal umatar, is recited in the Amidah beginning the evening of the sixtieth day after the autumn equinox. During a regular year this is December 4, and prior to a leap year it is December 5. In Israel they begin praying for rain on the seventh day of Cheshvan.
If one forgets to say V’sein tal umatar, he may still add it into the blessing of Shomeia tefillah. If it was forgotten there, as long as the the Amidah has not been completed, one should return to the blessing of Barech aleinu, and proceed from there. Once the Amidah has been completed, one must say the Amidah over again.
