Vayeishev 37:2 · unit 2

Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 37:2

The Complete Passuk

אֵ֣לֶּה תֹּלְד֣וֹת יַעֲקֹ֗ב יוֹסֵ֞ף בֶּן־שְׁבַֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ הָיָ֨ה רֹעֶ֤ה אֶת־אֶחָיו֙ בַּצֹּ֔אן וְה֣וּא נַ֗עַר אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בִלְהָ֛ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י זִלְפָּ֖ה נְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֑יו וַיָּבֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־דִּבָּתָ֥ם רָעָ֖ה אֶל־אֲבִיהֶֽם׃

These are the generations of Yaakov: Yosef, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers; and he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Yosef brought their evil report unto their father.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Bava Basra 123a.

Sefaria — Bava Basra 123a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן: רְאוּיָה הָיְתָה בְּכוֹרָה לָצֵאת מֵרָחֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹב יוֹסֵף״, אֶלָּא שֶׁקְּדָמַתָּהּ לֵאָה בְּרַחֲמִים.

English: Rabbi Yonasan said: The birthright was fit to issue from Rachel, as it is stated “These are the generations of Yaakov — Yosef,” but Leah preceded her through mercy.

On the daf / in context: Bava Basra 123a discusses the transfer of the birthright and the special status of Yosef as indicated by the verse’s phrasing.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The verse’s focus on Yosef is taken as evidence that the birthright properly belonged with Rachel’s line.

What Is Learned

The birthright was originally destined for Rachel’s firstborn. Leah’s earlier childbirth, granted through divine mercy, transferred it, yet the verse still marks Yosef as the primary “generations of Yaakov.”