Pharaoh dreams of seven fat cows that are swallowed up by seven lean cows, and of seven fat ears of grain swallowed by seven lean ears. Yosef iscalled out of the prison cell and interprets his dreams. He tells tham that seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of hunger, and advises Pharaoh to prepare the grain during the first seven years. Pharaoh senses that Yosef is speaking truth and appoints Yosef to be the governor of Egypt. Yosef then marries Osnat, and they have two sons, Menassheh and Ephraim.
As the seven years of famine begin and intensify, Yosef’s ten brothers come to buy food in Egypt along with the myriads of other hungry people.the youngest brother, Binyamin, is left at home out of Yaacov’s concern for his safety, the last reamaining child of Rachel. Yosef immediately recognizes his brothers, but they never expected to ever meet Yosef again and they do not recognize him; Yosef accuses them of being spies, and demands that they bring Benjamin and in the meantime imprisons the volatile Shimon who our sages explain was one of the more active brothers in the plan to harm Yosef.The brothers return to Yaacov and on the discover the money they paid for their provisions has been mysteriously been put into their bags. Yaacov is adamant not to send Binyamin but as the famine increases threatening the whole family he accepts Yehudah’s( Judah) assmption of responsibility for Binyamin’s safety and the brothers return to Egypt. Yosef receives them kindly, releases Shimon, and invites them to an eventful dinner at his home. Yet when they leave Yosef plants a silver goblet in Binyamin’s bags. The next morning Yosef’s guards cath them on the way search their bags and arrest Bibyamin. Yehudah attempts to be taken in his stead. And the story continues in next weeks portion, but the parameters have all been set into place.
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