Vayechi 48:2 · EXTRA 1
Parashas Vayechi · Passuk 48:2 · side-ring
The Complete Passuk
וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה בִּנְךָ֥ יוֹסֵ֖ף בָּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יךָ וַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הַמִּטָּֽה׃
And one told Yaakov, and said: Behold, thy son Yosef cometh unto thee. And Yisrael strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
Source
Bereishis Rabbah / parallel midrashim on “vayischazek”
Core Text of Chazal
Core Text
וַיִּתְחַזֵּק יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּשֶׁב עַל הַמִּטָּה — אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיָה חוֹלֶה, נִתְחַזֵּק מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד יוֹסֵף.
English: “And Yisrael strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed” — even though he was ill, he strengthened himself out of respect for Yosef.
In context: The midrash notes that Yaakov made the effort to sit up in honour of the office Yosef held.
Type of Learning
Midrash on the verb “vayischazek”.
What Is Learned
Yaakov rose and sat despite illness in order to show honour to Yosef.