Why the Eye and Ear Render No Account in Jacob's Reunion

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz 5:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Gen. 42:1:) "Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt." This is what Scripture says (Prov. 20:12): "(A seeing eye and a hearing ear) [A hearing ear and a seeing eye], the LORD has made them both." What did Solomon see, that he should say this? And did the Holy One, blessed be He, not make the whole body, that he should speak about the ear and about the eye? Rather, all the members of a person are destined to render account, except for the ear and the eye. Why? Because this eye sees not by a person's good will, and the ear hears not by a person's good will; but the hands, if one does not wish, one does not steal, and so too the feet. Therefore it is said, "A seeing eye and a hearing ear," etc. Come and see: all that time during which Joseph had been sold, Jacob and his sons did not know that Joseph was alive; and when the appointed time arrived, the Holy One, blessed be He, gave authorization to the eyes and to the ears, as it is said, "Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt," etc.; "And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt."

Themes

Divine ProvidencePatriarchsJacobEgyptRain

Biblical References

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