Vayeishev 37:22 · unit 1

Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 37:22

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֣ם רְאוּבֵן֮ אַל־תִּשְׁפְּכוּ־דָם֒ הַשְׁלִ֣יכוּ אֹת֗וֹ אֶל־הַבּ֤וֹר הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְיָ֖ד אַל־תִּשְׁלְחוּ־ב֑וֹ לְמַ֗עַן הַצִּ֤יל אֹתוֹ֙ מִיָּדָ֔ם לַהֲשִׁיב֖וֹ אֶל־אָבִֽיו׃

And Reuven said unto them: Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him — that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Midrash Ruth Rabbah 5 (and parallel teachings on publicizing a mitzvah).

Sefaria — Ruth Rabbah 5

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
מִכָּאן שֶׁרָאוּי לִכְתֹּב וּלְפַרְסֵם אֶת הָעוֹשֶׂה מִצְוָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי הַתּוֹרָה פִּרְסְמָה מִצְוַת רְאוּבֵן שֶׁחָשַׁב לְהַצִּיל אֶת יוֹסֵף וּלְהָשִׁיבוֹ אֶל אָבִיו.

English: From here we learn that it is proper to write and publicize one who performs a mitzvah, for the Torah itself publicized the mitzvah of Reuven who intended to save Yosef and restore him to his father.

On the daf / in context: The midrash notes that Scripture records Reuven’s inner intention to rescue Yosef, thereby teaching the value of making known acts of righteousness.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (midrashic sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The explicit statement of Reuven’s purpose is taken as a model for publicizing good deeds.

What Is Learned

It is appropriate to record and make known the performance of a mitzvah. The Torah itself did so by revealing Reuven’s plan to save Yosef.