Vayeishev 37:25 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 37:25 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

וַיֵּשְׁבוּ֮ לֶֽאֱכׇל־לֶ֒חֶם֒ וַיִּשְׂא֤וּ עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙ וַיִּרְא֔וּ וְהִנֵּה֙ אֹרְחַ֣ת יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔ים בָּאָ֖ה מִגִּלְעָ֑ד וּגְמַלֵּיהֶ֣ם נֹֽשְׂאִ֗ים נְכֹאת֙ וּצְרִ֣י וָלֹ֔ט הוֹלְכִ֖ים לְהוֹרִ֥יד מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃

Then theybthey Aside from those who tended the flock, including Reuben; cf. Bekhor Shor. sat down to a meal. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, their camels bearing gum, balm, and ladanum to be taken to Egypt.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Bereshis Rabbah 84:17.

Sefaria — Bereshis Rabbah 84:17

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַיִּשְׂאוּ עֵינֵיהֶם וַיִּרְאוּ וְהִנֵּה אֹרְחַת יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים — לְעוֹלָם אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַכֶּה אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן בּוֹרֵא לָהֶם רְפוּאָה תְּחִלָּה.

English: “And they lifted their eyes and saw, and behold, a caravan of Yishme’eilim” — the Holy One never strikes Yisrael unless He first creates a remedy for them.

In context: The caravan appears as the prepared path of survival even as the crime unfolds.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bereshis Rabbah) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Coincidence of the caravan is read as prior divine provision.

What Is Learned

Even in the moment of betrayal, the caravan is already there as Yosef’s path of survival toward Mitzrayim.