Vayeishev 37:2 · unit 3

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 Avos d’Rabbi Nasan, chapter 2.

Sefaria — Avos d’Rabbi Nasan 2

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְהַלֹּא הָיָה רָאוּי לוֹמַר אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹב רְאוּבֵן, וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר יוֹסֵף? אֶלָּא כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנּוֹלַד יַעֲקֹב מָהוּל כָּךְ נוֹלַד יוֹסֵף מָהוּל.

English: Was it not fitting to say “These are the generations of Yaakov — Reuven”? Why does it say Yosef? Rather, just as Yaakov was born circumcised, so Yosef was born circumcised.

On the daf / in context: Avos d’Rabbi Nasan links the unusual prioritization of Yosef in the verse to a shared physical distinction with Yaakov.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (midrashic sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The unexpected naming of Yosef instead of Reuven is explained by a parallel physical trait.

What Is Learned

The verse begins the generations of Yaakov with Yosef rather than Reuven because both Yaakov and Yosef were born already circumcised.