Jacob Takes Counsel With the Tribes to Go Up to Bethel

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayishlach 21:2

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

R. Yose said: Immediately he began to take [counsel with] the tribes who would go up with him, as it is said (Genesis 35:3), "Let us arise and go up." They said to him: To where? He said to them: To the place that my Creator told me, "Arise, go up to Bethel," and so forth (Genesis 35:1). R. Aha said: Jerusalem is built only by virtue of the tribes, as it is said (Psalms 122:3), "Jerusalem that is built up as a city that is joined together." What is written after it? "For there the tribes went up," and so forth (Psalms 122:4).

Themes

TribesJacobPatriarchsHumorWit

Biblical References

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