Not just through a messenger, mind you, but also from his son, Ephraim, who was studying Torah with Jacob himself. Talk about a complicated family dynamic!
Joseph doesn't hesitate. He grabs his two sons, born in Egypt, and races to Goshen. But what was really driving him?
It wasn't just filial piety. According to Legends of the Jews, Joseph had five very specific questions burning in his mind. Five major anxieties.
First, would Jacob bless his Egyptian-born grandsons? And if so, would he elevate them to positions of tribal leadership? This was huge! Remember, lineage and tribal affiliation were everything.
Second, would Jacob grant Joseph the rights of the firstborn son? This was a big deal because it potentially meant stripping Reuben, Jacob’s actual firstborn, of his birthright. Can you feel the tension in the air? The stakes were incredibly high.
Finally, there was the lingering question of Rachel’s burial. Why, oh why, had Jacob buried his beloved Rachel by the wayside, instead of bringing her to the family tomb in Machpelah – the cave of the patriarchs and matriarchs? What was the real story behind that seemingly callous decision?