Vayeitzei 31:46 · EXTRA 1

EXTRA · Side-ring · Parashas Vayeitzei · Passuk 31:46

This page is an EXTRA derasha. It is not part of the main-ring PREV/NEXT chain.

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֤ב לְאֶחָיו֙ לִקְט֣וּ אֲבָנִ֔ים וַיִּקְח֥וּ אֲבָנִ֖ים וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־גָ֑ל וַיֹּ֥אכְלוּ שָׁ֖ם עַל־הַגָּֽל׃

And Yaakov said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap.

Source Citation

Classical sources beyond the TT-numbered main ring: Rashi on 31:46 citing Bereishis Rabbah 74:13.

Lemma: לאחיו.

Core Text of Chazal / Classical Meforshim

Core Text
לְאֶחָיו – הֵם בָּנָיו שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ כְּאַחִים, נִגָּשִׁים אֵלָיו לְצָרָה וּלְמִלְחָמָה.

English: “To his brethren” — these were his sons, who were like brothers to him, for they stood by him in trouble and in battle.

On the daf / in context: Bereishis Rabbah (cited by Rashi) explains that “his brethren” refers to Yaakov’s own sons. They are called brethren because they joined him as equals in a moment of danger and confrontation.

Type of Learning

Derash / classical peirush — not a formal named middah of the 13. The term “brethren” is applied to sons on the basis of shared risk and loyalty.

What Is Learned

Yaakov’s sons are described as “brethren” because they stood with him as partners in the face of threat, elevating the filial bond to the level of fraternal solidarity.