The Brothers' Invented Command and the Power of Peace

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Tzav 10:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

When Jacob died, "and Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead" (Genesis 50:15) — what did they do? They went to Bilhah and said to her: Go in to Joseph and say to him, "Your father commanded before his death, saying" (Genesis 50:16). But Jacob never commanded any of these things at all; rather, they said this thing of their own accord. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: See how much ink is spilled, and how many quills are broken, and how many hides are prepared, and how many children are flogged, in order to learn a matter that was not in the Torah. See how great is the power of peace! And likewise you find in the case of Sarah: when the ministering angels came to Abraham and said to him, "At the appointed time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah shall have a son" (Genesis 18:14), at that moment "Sarah laughed within herself, saying" (Genesis 18:12), "and my husband is old." But the Holy One, blessed be He, did not say to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that my husband is old?'" Rather, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'" (Genesis 18:13). And why all this? For the sake of peace.

Themes

CreationAngelsAdam EveAbrahamPatriarchs

Biblical References

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2 EnochAdam The AngelAdam is often remembered as simply the first man, made of dust. But some ancient traditions paint a far more…celestial picture. A picture of Adam as an angel. BTestament of AbrahamThe Enthronement Of AdamTestament of Abraham turns to The Enthronement Of Adam. One such idea, found in The Testament of Abraham (chapters 10-11), paints a breathtaking picture. The arSefer HaZichronotThe Messiah In HellMashiach – the Messiah – is often remembered as a future figure, the one who will usher in an era of peace and redemption. But what about now? Where is he? WhatBook of JubileesThe First TorahThe familiar picture has Moses on Mount Sinai, receiving the divine word directly from God. Forty days and forty nights of dictation. But what if I told you theBook of JubileesGod Keeps The SabbathIn fact, the Sabbath isn't just a terrestrial observance; it's a celestial one, too. Right after creating the Sabbath, God gathers all the angels – the angels oBook of JubileesThe Angel Who Saved IsaacI'm talking about the Akedah, the binding of Isaac. The familiar story is this: Abraham, tested to the absolute limit, raises his knife to sacrifice his son Isa