Miketz - Forethoughts And Afterthoughts

Miketz (Genesis 41-44)

41:45 And Pharaoh called his [Yosef?s / Joseph?s] name Tzafnas Paneach and he gave him Osnas, daughter of Poti-Phera priest of On, for a wife. And Yosef went forth over the land of Egypt.

The Medrash provides the amazing background story of Yosef?s wife Osnas.

Recall that Yaakov?s daughter Dina was violated by Shechem. (34:2).

Osnas was the product of that union.

Apparently, the tragedy and associated trauma had its toll in many ways and eventually drove Yaakov to the conclusion that Osnas needed to be separated from the family. He wrote her a special amulet with Hebrew letters, placed it around her neck and sent her away. She wound up by the walls of Egypt and began to cry over her lot.

Potifar ?happened? to be passing by and heard her. Upon learning that she had no family he decided to take her into his home and raise her as his daughter, for his wife was not able to have children.

Note that this is the same Potifar who was Yosef?s master in the previous Torah reading. It is not clear whether Yosef and Osnas were in his home at the same time.

So here we have two people, both having been involuntarily separated from Yaakov?s home, both Jewish and wanting a Jewish spouse but having no idea where they would find one in the land of Egypt.

The story I heard was that this very young, handsome, and very eligible newly appointed viceroy of Egypt named Tzafnas Paneach (Yosef) was constantly accosted by young women wherever he went. They would pelt him with their jewelry in hopes that he would he would take notice of them.

Osnas was nearby during one of these encounters. She joined in and threw her amulet towards Yosef. Of all the unidentified flying objects that Yosef was trying to avoid, for ?some? reason this one caught his eye. He was stunned by the Hebrew lettering and decided to investigate further.

Mazal Tov Yosef and Osnas.

And now we know what compelled Yaakov to make this strange decision. Or rather, now we have a reason for the One who compelled Yaakov to make this strange decision.

It is so remarkable that these once rejected people came to enjoy the highest prestige among Yaakov?s family. It was they who Yaakov?s family relied upon for their sustenance and they fulfilled this charge very well.

The stone that the builders had rejected became the cornerstone. (Psalms 118:22)

========================= Courtesy of JewishAmerica http://www.JewishAmerica.com