Va-Yehi (Genesis 47:28-50:26)
LA JOLLA, California — This essay covers Joseph’s oath to Jacob of his burial in Machpelah; Jacob’s ‘adoption’ of Joseph’s two sons; Jacob’s crossed arms preferential blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh; Jacob’s testament to Judah. I have chosen four passages, for hoped-for comparison via the internet with writings attributed to ancient Israel’s neighbors.
I. Genesis 47:29-30 “…Israel summoned…Joseph and said…’place your hand under my thigh as a pledge…do not bury me in Egypt…bury me (with my fathers)…in their burial place.’”
This procedure is regarded as a Hebrew Biblical method of sealing a pledge or business contract. Biblical commentators give various explanations. (1) The thigh refers to the genital organ, which is circumcised, ergo the pledge of the covenant. (2) The thigh is the seat of procreative powers. The gesture then would involve future generations in the implementation of the instructions. (3) There is a curse implied for failure to observe the agreement. (4) The thigh was considered the source of posterity in the ancient world, or more properly the ‘loins’ or the testicles, i.e. the source of one’s seed. Of interest, the English word testify is related to the word testicles. [1] [2]
However, my internet inquiries yielded no such pagan practice. To my inquiry: “Ancient practice of sealing agreements via placement of contractor’s hand under the thigh of the other party?” The answer was None, representing a screen of 4,680,000 results.
II. Genesis 48:5 “(Jacob said to Joseph)…your two sons…born…in….Egypt …shall be mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine no less than Reuben and Simeon.”
To me, this is awkward logic!
My inquiry of the internet: “Any ancient practice whereby grandsons become the ’sons’ of their grandfather?” yielded None, representing a screen of 953,000 results.
My further inquiry: “Any ancient practice whereby grandsons officially ‘become’ recognized as the sons of their grandfather?” yielded —None, representing a screen of 809,000 results.
Conclusion: This practice appears to be an original, only appearing in the Hebrew Bible.
III.Genesis 48:13-14 “Joseph took…Ephraim…to Israel’s left…and Manasseh…to Israel’s right—and brought them close to him. But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head—thus crossing his hands (for their blessings).
This event demonstrated the more favored blessing to go to the younger brother.
My inquiry of the internet: “Any ancient record of blessing two persons with crossed arms?” yielded None, representing a screen of about 32,100,000 results.
I further inquired: “Ancient practice of crossing arms to bless two people?” Result: None, representing about 27,600,000 results.
Conclusion: This procedure appears to be an original, only appearing in the Hebrew Bible.
IV. Genesis 49:9 “Judah is a lion’s whelp; On prey, my son, have you grown. He crouches, lies down like a lion, Like the king of beasts—who dare rouse him?”
This verse, one of many, by Jacob is/are in descriptions of and foretelling of the 12 tribes’ futures, when on his death bed.
My inquiry of the internet: “Ancient attribution of a person as ‘like a lion’?” Result: None found, representing about 5,840,000 results.
Conclusion: Though lit seems likely such a ‘complementary’ simile occurred to pagan persons, apparently no non-Israelite wrote this one down. Or perhaps the internet failed me on this inquiry.
This inquiry however led me, tangentially, to the subject of anthropomorphism, defined as the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities, organic or non-organic. Its application is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology, a convention certainly used in storytelling since ancient times. [3]
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[1] The JPS Torah Commentary, Genesis, The Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia, New York, Jerusalem, 1989, Nachum Sarna, pp. 162, 167
[2] Got Questions: Your Questions, Biblical Answers, Why did oaths involve putting a hand under someone’s thigh?’
[3] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who delights in Torah analysis. He often delivers a drosh at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, and at his chavurah.