That’s kind of the place Jacob was in. Years had passed since he last saw his beloved son, Joseph. He believed Joseph was dead, and the grief was a heavy cloak he wore every day. But his sons were about to return from Egypt with news that would shake him to his core.
According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, Jacob's sons knew they had to tread carefully. How could they just blurt out that Joseph was alive and well, ruling all of Egypt? Jacob was so fragile, so burdened by sorrow. They feared the shock might overwhelm him. Plus, Joseph himself had warned them not to startle their father with the joyous news.
So, what did they do? They hatched a plan. They enlisted the help of Serah, the daughter of Asher. She was known for her beauty, her wisdom, and her skill with the harp. They gave her a harp, and told her what to sing: "Joseph, my uncle, liveth, he ruleth over the whole of Egypt, he is not dead!"
Can you imagine the scene? Serah, sitting before Jacob, her fingers dancing across the strings, the melody lilting and hopeful. "Joseph, my uncle, liveth..." She repeats the words, and something begins to stir within Jacob. A flicker of joy. A spark of hope.
As we find in Midrash Rabbah, joy is a powerful catalyst. It awakens the Ruach HaKodesh, the holy spirit. For years, Jacob's prophetic visions had ceased, choked by his constant grief. But Serah's song, her melody of hope, rekindled that spirit within him. He knew she spoke the truth.
Jacob, overcome with gratitude, blessed Serah, "My daughter, may death never have power over thee, for thou didst revive my spirit." And according to tradition, that’s exactly what happened. Serah never died; she entered Paradise alive!
With Jacob softened by Serah's song, his sons finally appeared. They were arrayed in finery, laden with gifts from Joseph. "Glad tidings!" they proclaimed. "Joseph our brother liveth! He is ruler over the whole land of Egypt, and he sends thee a message of joy!"
Initially, Jacob was skeptical. After all, hadn’t they deceived him before? As the saying goes, "it is the punishment of the liar that his words are not believed even when he speaks the truth." But then, they showed him the presents, the tangible proof of Joseph's power and love. Still, a sliver of doubt remained.
Joseph, wise beyond his years, had anticipated this. He had instructed his brothers to remind Jacob of a specific moment: when Joseph had taken leave of him years ago to check on them, Jacob had been teaching him about the law of the eglah arufah (עגלה ערופה), the heifer whose neck is broken in the valley.
The moment they repeated this, the last vestige of doubt vanished. Jacob exclaimed, "Great is the steadfastness of my son Joseph. In spite of all his sufferings he has remained constant in his piety!"
Jacob prepared to journey to Egypt. But first, he needed to know if it was God's will. How could he leave the Eretz Yisrael (ארץ ישראל), the Land of Israel, the land of his fathers, the land where the Shechinah (שכינה), the Divine Presence, dwelled? How could he go to an impure land, a land of slaves?
He offered sacrifices, awaiting a Divine vision. He remembered his vision at Beth-el, and expressed his fears to God. Would he be repeating the mistakes of his father? Would his descendants be trapped in Egypt forever?
Then, the Shechinah addressed him, calling his name twice as a sign of love. God reassured him, telling him not to fear the Egyptian slavery. God would be with him. "I will go down into Egypt with thee."
Before leaving, Jacob went to Beer-sheba to cut down the cedar trees Abraham had planted there, taking them with him to Egypt. These trees, symbols of continuity and faith, would later be used to build the Tabernacle.
Judah was sent ahead to Goshen to prepare a dwelling and a Bet Midrash (בית מדרש), a house of study, so Jacob could immediately begin teaching his sons. He chose Judah for this task to atone for his earlier suspicions about Joseph's disappearance.
Finally, the moment arrived. Joseph, upon hearing of his father’s approach, prepared his chariot with his own hands, eager to greet his beloved father.
What a powerful story about hope, faith, and the enduring bonds of family! It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, joy can be rekindled, and that sometimes, the greatest blessings come after the most profound trials. And isn't that something we can all take comfort in?