This moment, fraught with tension and brotherly love disguised as animosity, is explored in a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah 93.
The story opens with a quote from Ecclesiastes (7:19): “Wisdom will fortify the wise more than ten rulers who were in a city.” But what does this have to do with Judah and Joseph? According to Rabbi Yoḥanan, this verse speaks directly to Joseph's righteous character and the incredible predicament he orchestrates.
Joseph, having risen to power in Egypt, tests his brothers by accusing Benjamin of stealing his goblet. He declares that Benjamin must remain as his slave, while the others can return to their father, Jacob, in peace. Can you imagine the horror? Judah, who had guaranteed Benjamin's safe return, refuses to accept this outcome.
Judah confronts Joseph, and that’s when things escalate dramatically. Bereshit Rabbah tells us that Judah roared in anger, a roar so powerful it traveled four hundred parsangs – an ancient unit of distance, roughly equivalent to a league – until it reached Ḥushim son of Dan. Now, Ḥushim wasn't just any guy; he was a formidable warrior himself. He immediately rushed to Judah's aid.
The text evokes a primal scene: “Both of them roared and the land of Egypt was on the verge of being upended.” It's a moment of pure, unadulterated rage and brotherly loyalty. The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) even draws a parallel to Job (4:10): “The roar of the lion and the voice of the great cat.” Judah is likened to a lion, as it is written, "Judah is a lion cub" (Genesis 49:9), and Ḥushim son of Dan is also likened to a lion. Talk about an intimidating pair!
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi adds that when the other brothers saw Judah's fury, they too were consumed by anger. They kicked the ground, creating furrows, like lions deprived of their prey. Judah, willing to risk his own life for Benjamin, fears he might be punished for his past deception of his father regarding Joseph's disappearance. He thinks, perhaps this act of self-sacrifice will atone for his previous sin.
What was Joseph's reaction to all this? He was shaken, alarmed by the signs of Judah's rage. The text offers some vivid descriptions: Some say blood flowed from Judah's eyes. Others say that when angered, a single hair over his heart would rip through five layers of armor!
In response, Joseph kicked the stone pillar he was seated upon, reducing it to pebbles. This display of strength astonished Judah, who recognized Joseph's superior power. Yet, when Judah tried to draw his sword, he couldn't. He understood then that Joseph must be a God-fearing man, thus echoing the verse: “Wisdom will fortify the wise” (Ecclesiastes 7:19). Here, "wisdom" is understood as yirat Hashem – fear of God.
What a powerful moment! It’s a testament to the strength of family bonds, the consequences of past actions, and the recognition of a higher power. It makes you wonder: what hidden strengths do we possess that are only revealed in moments of extreme pressure? And what does it truly mean to be both powerful and God-fearing?
Another matter, “Judah approached him” – this is what was stated through the Divine Spirit by Solomon: “Wisdom will fortify the wise [more than ten rulers who were in a city]” (Ecclesiastes 7:19). Corresponding to whom did Solomon say this verse? He said it only corresponding to Joseph the righteous. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: When Joseph the righteous seized Benjamin and said to his brothers: “The man in whose hand the goblet was found, he shall be my slave [and you, go up in peace to your father]” (Genesis 44:17), Judah said to him: ‘Benjamin, you are seized; can there be peace in Father’s household?’ Immediately, Judah grew angry and roared in a loud voice. His voice traveled four hundred parsangs, until Ḥushim son of Dan heard and leapt from the land of Canaan and came to Judah. Both of them roared and the land of Egypt was on the verge of being upended. In their regard Job said: “The roar of the lion and the voice of the great cat” (Job 4:10). “The roar of the lion” – this is Judah, in whose regard it is written: “Judah is a lion cub” (Genesis 49:9). “And the voice of the great cat” – this is Ḥushim son of Dan, as both of them were likened to a lion, as it is stated: “To Dan he said: Dan is a lion cub” (Deuteronomy 33:22). “The teeth of the young lions are broken” (Job 4:10) – these are Joseph’s warriors. When Judah grew angry, the teeth of all of them fell out. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When [the brothers] saw that Judah grew angry, they too, were filled with anger. They kicked the ground and caused it to be full of furrows, as it is stated: “The lion perishes for lack of prey” (Job 4:11) – this is Judah, who risked his life on Benjamin’s behalf. He said: ‘Perhaps, the Holy One blessed be He will forgive me for that iniquity of misleading my father and saying: I will bring him to you.’25Judah had guaranteed to return Benjamin, who was now being seized by Joseph. Judah was willing to risk his life in order to attempt to fulfill that guarantee, thinking that even if he was unsuccessful, perhaps he would at least not be held accountable for the sin of failing to fulfill his guarantee (Etz Yosef). Alternatively, it had been Judah who had misled Jacob about Joseph’s disappearance and caused him to think that Joseph was dead (Maharzu). At that moment he became filled with rage at Joseph. When Joseph saw the signs of Judah’s [rage], he was immediately shaken and alarmed. He said: ‘Woe is me, perhaps he will kill me.’ What were the signs [of rage] upon Judah? Those of the house of Shilo said: Blood flowed from his two eyes. Some say: He would wear five garments that were like warriors’ armor. When he would grow angry, there was one hair over his heart that would rip through them all. What did Joseph do at that moment? That stone pillar upon which he was seated, he kicked it and rendered it a heap of pebbles. At this Judah was astonished and said: ‘This one is mightier than I am.’ At that moment, Judah grasped his sword and sought to draw it from its scabbard, but it would not be drawn for him. Judah said: ‘This one must be a God-fearing man; that is why it is stated: “Wisdom will fortify the wise”’ (Ecclesiastes 7:19).26The midrash understands the term wisdom in this verse as a reference to fear of God, as in Job 28:28.
