Vayigash 47:27 · unit 1

Parashas Vayigash · Passuk 47:27

The Complete Passuk

וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גֹּ֑שֶׁן וַיֵּאָחֲז֣וּ בָ֔הּ וַיִּפְר֥וּ וַיִּרְבּ֖וּ מְאֹֽד׃

And Yisrael settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; they acquired holdings in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to classical sources on the language “vayeshev” as a harbinger of trouble.

TT lemma: וישב ישראל.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיֵּשֶׁב״ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן צַעַר. ״וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן״ — כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ ״וַיִּקְרְבוּ יְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָמוּת״.

English: Rabbi Yochanan said: Wherever Scripture says “vayeshev” it is an expression of trouble. “And Yisrael settled in the land of Goshen” — immediately afterward it is written “and the days of Yisrael drew near to die.”

On the daf / in context: The same observation is made at the opening of Vayeishev; settlement language is often followed by crisis.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (midrash / Bavli style) — not a formal named middah of the 13.

What Is Learned

The word “vayeshev” signals impending trouble; here it is immediately followed by the approach of Yaakov’s death.