Jacob Records Joseph's Dreams and the Deep Counsel of Hebron

"And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind" (Genesis 37:11). He took a pen and wrote down on what day, at what hour, and in what place. As it is said, "and his father kept the matter," while the Holy Spirit was saying, "Keep the matter, for these matters are destined to touch you." Our father Jacob saw the matters drawing near and coming, and he said, "If my ledger has been examined [if a decree has been issued against me], what can I do?" "And his brothers went to pasture their father's flock in Shechem" (Genesis 37:12). Over the word "et" there are scribal dots, teaching that they went only to pasture themselves [to indulge themselves]. "And Israel said to Joseph" (Genesis 37:13). He treated him with the honor of a father's reverence resting upon the son. "And he said to him, Here I am." Whenever our father Jacob would later recall these matters, his innards would be cut to pieces: "You knew that your brothers hated you, yet you said, Here I am." "Go now, see" (Genesis 37:14). From here we learn that a disciple of the wise should not go out alone at night, and so forth, as it is written, "And Jacob was left alone" (Genesis 32:25). "And he sent him from the valley [emek] of Hebron." But surely Hebron lies on a mountain, and you say "from the valley of Hebron"? Rather, he went to fulfill the deep counsel [etzah amukah] that the Holy One, blessed be He, set between Himself and the dear companion buried there [Abraham], namely, "and they shall enslave them and afflict them." Similarly you say, "the pillar that is in the valley of the king [emek ha-melekh]" (2 Samuel 18:18) means the deep counsel of the King of the world: "Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house" (2 Samuel 12:11).