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Why was Yosef sold multiple times between Ishmaelites, Midianites, and Midyanites? The shiur explains that the Ishmaelites bought Yosef for themselves as a capable manager, while the Midyanites took him on consignment and devised a devastating sales strategy—selling him into arayos to Potiphar. This wasn't just commerce; it was spiritual warfare aimed at destroying Yosef's self-respect and disqualifying him from malchus, the very nisayon that later echoes in the Midianite strategy with Kozbi and Zimri.
This shiur presents a comprehensive analysis of the mechanics and deeper meaning behind the sale of Yosef, following Rashi (רש"י)'s approach exclusively and extracting profound implications about kingship, self-worth, and spiritual warfare. Rabbi Zweig begins by addressing the textual difficulties in the narrative of Mechiras Yosef. The Torah (תורה) states that the brothers planned to sell Yosef to the Ishmaelites, then mentions Midianite merchants passing by, and later refers to both Midyanites and Midyanites selling him. Most Rishonim struggle with these contradictions, but Rashi maintains a consistent narrative: the brothers sold Yosef to the Ishmaelites, who then sold him to the Midyanites, who sold him to the Midyanites, who finally sold him in Egypt. The challenge is reconciling this with pesukim that state Potiphar bought him "miyad haYishmaelim" (from the hand of the Ishmaelites), suggesting the Ishmaelites retained ownership throughout.
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Bereishis 37:20-36, 39:1-6
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