Judah Goes Down While the Redeemer's Light Is Born

"And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down" (Genesis 38:1-2). It is written, "Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed" (Malachi 2:11). The verse says to him: You have denied, Judah; you have lied, Judah. "For Judah has profaned" (ibid.) — Judah has been made common; "the holiness of the LORD which He loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god" (ibid.). "And Judah went down from his brothers," as it is said, "I will yet bring to you, O inhabitant of Mareshah, the heir; the glory of Israel shall come to Adullam" (Micah 1:15). Rabbi Samuel bar Nachman opened: "For I know the thoughts" (Jeremiah 29:11). The tribes were occupied with the selling of Joseph; Reuben was occupied with his sackcloth and his fasting; and Judah went down to take himself a wife — and the Holy One, blessed be He, was bringing forth the light of the King Messiah. "Before she travailed, she brought forth" (Isaiah 66:7): before the first enslaver was born, the last redeemer was born. "And it came to pass at that time." What is written above in the matter? "And the Midianites sold him" (Genesis 37:36). Scripture needed only to say, "And Joseph was brought down to Egypt" (Genesis 39:1). Rabbi Yochanan said: it is in order to set descent next to descent. Rabbi Elazar said: it is in order to set the deed of Tamar next to the deed of Potiphar's wife — just as this one acted for the sake of Heaven, so that one acted for the sake of Heaven. For Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: she saw by her astrology that she was destined to raise up a son from him, but she did not know whether it would be from her or from her daughter. This is what is written, "Those who give knowledge at the new moons of the things that shall come upon you" (Isaiah 47:13) — "of the things," but not all the things. And likewise: "And they were not ashamed; now the serpent was cunning" (Genesis 2:25-3:1). Scripture needed only to say, "And the LORD God made for Adam and his wife coats of skin and clothed them" (Genesis 3:21). Rather, it is to make known to you from what sin this wicked one leaped upon them: because he saw them occupied in the way of the world, he lusted after them. Rabbi Yaakov of Kefar Hanan said: so as not to interrupt the section of the serpent. And likewise: "And those who walk in pride He is able to bring low" (Daniel 4:34), "Belshazzar the king made a great feast" (Daniel 5:1). And where is Evil-merodach? Rabbi Eliezer says: in order to set wicked next to wicked, cutter next to cutter, arrogant next to arrogant. Rav Samuel bar Nachman said: in order to set the cutting off of a kingdom next to the cutting off of a kingdom. And likewise: "That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain, and Darius the Mede received the kingdom" (Daniel 5:30, 6:1). And so too "In the third year" (Daniel 8:1) — so that none should say these are mere words of poetry, but that all should know he spoke them by the Holy Spirit. And the Rabbis say: to interweave through the whole book that he spoke by the Holy Spirit. They said: Come, let us scatter ourselves, for as long as we are gathered together the bond can be collected. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: ten men found in a theft — not one of them is seized on account of all. And since they were found in a theft, they said, "God has found out the iniquity of your servants" (Genesis 44:16) — the holder of the bond has found means to collect his debt, like one who drains the jug and stands it upon its lees. They said: Come, let us provide for ourselves. In the past Judah was occupied to marry us off to wives; now that he is occupied with his sackcloth and his fasting, is it not right that he should be occupied to marry us off to wives? They said to him: Judah, are you not the head? Go and provide for yourself. Immediately, "And he went down from his brothers." It was a going down for him, for he buried his wife and his sons. Whoever begins a commandment and does not complete it buries his wife and his sons. From whom do you learn this? From Judah. "And Judah said to his brothers" (Genesis 37:26) — he should have carried Joseph on his shoulders back to his father; instead he caused himself to bury his wife and his sons. Whoever begins a commandment and does not complete it, and another comes and completes it, it is called by the name of the latter. This is what is written, "And the bones of Joseph which the children of Israel brought up" (Joshua 24:32). But did not Moses bring them up, as it is said, "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him" (Exodus 13:19)? Rather, because it was decreed upon him that he should not enter the Land, and these others attended to it, therefore it is called by their name. A parable: to what is the matter like? To robbers who entered and took one jug. The owner of the wine looked upon them and said: May it be sweet to you and pleasant to you that you drank the wine; return the jug to its place. So the Holy One, blessed be He, said to the tribes: From Shechem you sold Joseph; return his bones to their place.