Little does Jacob know the drama unfolding there, the accusations, the imprisonment of Simeon, and the demand to bring Benjamin, his youngest and most cherished son, back to Egypt. Jacob is understandably reluctant. He's already lost Joseph, or Yosef, as he is known in Hebrew. The thought of losing Benjamin is unbearable.
But necessity prevails. The family needs food. So Jacob sends his sons, including Benjamin, back to Egypt with gifts and a plea for mercy. But before they depart, Jacob delivers a powerful message to them – a message intended, in essence, for the ears of the Pharaoh.
"Knowest thou not, O king of Egypt, that the might of our God is with us, and that He always hearkens unto our prayers, and never forsakes us?" Jacob asks, rhetorically, of course. It’s a bold statement, a reminder of the divine power backing the house of Israel.
But here’s the truly intriguing part. Jacob continues, "Had I called upon God to rise up against thee when my sons told me how thou didst act toward them, thou and thy people, ye all would have been annihilated ere Benjamin could come down to thee." Think about that for a moment. Jacob believes, without a doubt, that he possesses the spiritual power to call down divine wrath upon Egypt and utterly destroy it. It is quite a threat!
Yet, he didn’t. Why?
"But I reflected that Simon my son was abiding in thy house, and perhaps thou wast doing kindnesses unto him, and therefore I invoked not the punishment of God upon thee." The Zohar, that foundational text of Jewish mysticism, would likely delve deep into the kabbalistic reasons for this restraint, but on the surface, it’s an act of profound compassion and strategic thinking. Jacob recognizes that even in the face of injustice, there might be mitigating circumstances, a chance for kindness to exist. He refuses to unleash his full power because of the potential harm it could inflict on his own son, and perhaps, on the Egyptians themselves.
This moment speaks volumes about Jacob’s character. He is not just a patriarch, but a leader who tempers justice with mercy, power with responsibility. He understands the weight of his influence and chooses to wield it with careful consideration.
And then comes a final word of caution and hope: "Now my son Benjamin goeth down unto thee with my other sons. Take heed unto thyself, keep thy eyes directed upon him, and God will direct His eye upon all thy kingdom." It’s a subtle warning, a reminder that divine judgment is always watching. As Ginzberg retells it in Legends of the Jews, Jacob's words carry the weight of prophecy.
What does this story tell us? Perhaps it’s a reminder that true strength lies not just in possessing power, but in knowing when—and when not—to use it. It's a lesson in restraint, in considering the consequences of our actions, and in recognizing the potential for goodness even in the most challenging of circumstances. It is something to consider in our own lives. How often do we react without considering the consequences? How often do we judge without seeking to understand? Jacob's story challenges us to strive for a higher standard, to temper our power with compassion and wisdom.