Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you G-d?

In his commentary on Bereishis 37:33, Rashi provides and answer to the question why Hashem didn't reveal the truth to Yaakov concerning the fate of his son Yosef.

Rashi explains that Yosef's brothers made an agreement amongst themselves not to reveal what they had done with their brother. It is mentioned that the brothers included Hashem in this agreement so that even Hashem was forbidden to reveal the truth.

How could this be?

How could Hashem be included in an agreement to keep the truth from Yaakov?

How could a human being have this power over Hashem?

Can anyone explain this to me? I am obviously missing something here.

Does anyone else have the same question?

3 Comments:

At November 30, 2004 at 9:22:00 AM EST, Blogger A Simple Jew said...

Thank you very much for your insight and good luck with your new blog!

 
At December 2, 2004 at 1:23:00 PM EST, Blogger Sobek said...

I'm not Jewish, but I would like to offer a possibility.

Perhaps it is improper to ask "how could another human being have this power over Hashem," because it was really Hashem exercising power over himself to honor his committment, regardless of the consequences. When we trust in God, and obey His righteous commandment to bear no false witness (i.e. keep our promises), we trust that He will make righteous consequences spring forth even from wickedness. Hashem's trust in God, therefore, was rewarded when Yosef was reunited with his family.

 
At November 20, 2008 at 9:44:00 AM EST, Anonymous Anonymous said...

i told them and they ignored me!!

 

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