Yosef is special for several reasons. To Yaakov, of course, he is special because he is the son of his beloved Rachel. In this favoritism, Yaakov unfortunately follows the model of his parents (who each had a favorite child) rather than his grandfather Avraham (who famously loved Ishmael as he loved Yitzchak).
But Yosef is also special in his generation for another reason. He is the only child of Yaakov with whom God communicates even indirectly. Yosef is the transitional figure between the Avot, who received direct guidance, and the succeeding generations who would be required to make their way in the world without direct reassurance from God (until Moshe's arrival).
We may debate how well or poorly Yosef behaves and his apparent values. My feeling is that the pendulum has swung rather heavily and unfairly against Yosef in the last 30-40 years as modernists and revisionists have had their run against the traditional "Yosef the Tzadik" interpretation. We can also debate whether Judah shows greater character (or greater growth) for his ability to grow morally without direct Divine communication. But on one fact the text is clear. Yosef regards himself as the tool of God's destiny, and he lives his life accordingly.
That God chose to interact with Yosef alone, among all the brothers, is certainly an important point. In focusing on the human elements in writing this, I missed that point.
And I agree that Yehudah has earned some respect here too. And he does get more than Gad, Asher, and Naftali in these final words, so I think the text thinks so too. :-)
But Yosef is also special in his generation for another reason. He is the only child of Yaakov with whom God communicates even indirectly. Yosef is the transitional figure between the Avot, who received direct guidance, and the succeeding generations who would be required to make their way in the world without direct reassurance from God (until Moshe's arrival).
We may debate how well or poorly Yosef behaves and his apparent values. My feeling is that the pendulum has swung rather heavily and unfairly against Yosef in the last 30-40 years as modernists and revisionists have had their run against the traditional "Yosef the Tzadik" interpretation. We can also debate whether Judah shows greater character (or greater growth) for his ability to grow morally without direct Divine communication. But on one fact the text is clear. Yosef regards himself as the tool of God's destiny, and he lives his life accordingly.
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That God chose to interact with Yosef alone, among all the brothers, is certainly an important point. In focusing on the human elements in writing this, I missed that point.
And I agree that Yehudah has earned some respect here too. And he does get more than Gad, Asher, and Naftali in these final words, so I think the text thinks so too. :-)
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