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Why does the Torah (תורה) describe Yosef's sale with contradictory details—the Yishmaelim bringing him down, yet the Midyanim selling him? The shiur develops an innovative approach: Yosef was sold twice—once as a professional administrator (speculated on by merchants) and once as personal property to Potiphar. This dual transaction explains the complex peshat and why Yosef ended up in the Sar HaTavachim's service.
This shiur analyzes the textual difficulties in Parshas Vayeishev surrounding Yosef's sale to Egypt. The central problem is the apparent contradiction between the pesukim: one verse says the Yishmaelim brought Yosef down to Egypt, while another says the Midyanim sold him. Additionally, the Torah (תורה) provides seemingly redundant details about Potiphar's position as Sar HaTavachim and the circumstances of Yosef's service. Rabbi Zweig proposes that the sale of Yosef involved two distinct transactions operating on different levels. The Midyanim and other merchants engaged in commodity speculation—they purchased Yosef's future professional services without taking physical possession of him. They were essentially trading futures, speculating on what Yosef's administrative talents would be worth in the Egyptian market. This explains Rashi (רש"י)'s statement that Yosef was sold multiple times: these were speculative resales, not physical transfers.
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Bereishis 39:1-6 (Parshas Vayeishev)
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