The story of Joseph, as retold in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, opens with just that kind of primal animosity.
Imagine the scene: Joseph, the favored son, approaches his brothers. But instead of a warm welcome, he's met with a chilling conspiracy. "When his brethren saw him afar off, they conspired against him, to slay him." It's harsh, brutal, and sets the stage for one of the most dramatic narratives in the Torah.
Their initial plan? To unleash dogs upon him. But the brothers, fueled by envy and resentment, quickly escalate their intentions. Simon turns to Levi, singling out Joseph as a danger, a threat to their way of life. "Behold, the master of dreams cometh with a new dream," Simon says, painting Joseph as a harbinger of unwelcome change. He even goes on to connect Joseph's lineage to Jeroboam, a future king who, according to Simon, will lead the people astray with the worship of Baal – a foreign deity.
It’s a stunning accusation, isn't it? They see Joseph not just as an annoying younger brother, but as a seed of future apostasy.
"Come now, therefore, and let us slay him," Simon urges, "that we may see what will become of his dreams." It's a chillingly pragmatic statement: kill the dreamer, kill the dream. Eliminate the threat before it takes root.
But here's where the story takes a divine turn. According to Legends of the Jews, God intervenes, subtly but powerfully. "Ye say, We shall see what will become of his dreams, and I say likewise, We shall see, and the future shall show whose word will stand, yours or Mine."
Think about that for a moment. It's not a direct command, not a thunderous decree. It’s a challenge, a promise, a declaration of divine will. God is essentially saying, "You think you can control destiny? Let's just see about that."
What's so captivating about this passage is the glimpse it gives us into the complex interplay between human intention and divine providence. The brothers plot, driven by their own fears and jealousies. They believe they hold the power to shape their future. But God's response reminds us that there are forces at play far beyond our understanding, that destiny is not always ours to control. The question remains: whose vision will ultimately prevail? The brothers, or God? And what does that say about the power – and the limits – of our own dreams?