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מקץ - "At the End"

Weekly parashah #10: Miketz

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Genesis 41:1

Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile.

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The Hebrew Word

מקץ (miketz) literally means "at an extremity". The Hebrew word qets (Strong's #7093) is a masculine noun that literally means "end". The word is used 69 times in 61 verses in the Tanakh. It comes from a Hebrew root (Strong's #7112) that means "to cut off" (and hence define an end or extremity).

First use in Scripture

The first time qets is used in Scripture is in Genesis 4:3.

Genesis 4:3

So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.

Literally translated this verse reads:

And it came to be at the end of a time went Cain with fruit [of] the soil [as] an offering to YHVH.

 

Last use in Scripture

The last time qets is used in Scripture is in Genesis 4:3.

Habakkuk 2:3

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal [the end] and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.


Parashah Outline

  • Pharaoh's dreams - Genesis 41:1
  • Yosef interprets Pharaoh's dreams - Genesis 41:14
  • Yosef is made a ruler of Egypt - Genesis 41:38
  • The sons of Yosef - Genesis 41:50
  • Yosef's brothers sent to Egypt - Genesis 42:1
  • Shimon is left as a hostage - Genesis 42:29
  • The return to Egypt - Genesis 43:1
  • Yosef sees Binyamin - Genesis 43:16
  • Yosef's brothers are brought back - Genesis 44:1


Portraits of Messiah

In this week's parashah we again see numerous pictures of Machiach. There are so many that they have been collected into a separate article.

As Yosef was, Mashiach was lifted up above his brothers to rule and reign (Revelation 12:5).

As Yosef's brothers did, Yeshua's brothers (i.e. the Jewish people) came to him but did not recognize him (John1:11, Luke 24:37). In the case of Yosef, he recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him. This is likely because of two things: 1) his appearance was greatly different than what they would have expected. He looked more like a Gentile than a Jew. 2)He hid his voice from his brothers by using an interpreter (Gen 42:23). In the same way Mashiach is today hidden from his brothers (the Jewish people) because He looks like a Gentile and his voice is masked by an interpreter (Christianity).

 

Verse by Verse Notes

 

Other Observations

Pharaoh had a dream of seven good cows and seven full ears of grain. The seven cows came from one river. The seven ears of grain came from one stalk. Seven is symbolic of completion or perfection. In both cases the seven symbolizes a complete blessing of abundant food. In the single source we can see a picture of every good thing coming from G-d... our single source of life and blessing.

Yosef is clothed in fine linen and is placed in a chariot (a picture of authority) in Genesis 41:42-43. Yeshua is also dressed in a robe (Matthew 27:28) and rides on a donkey (Matthew 21:7) also a picture of authority.

Of all his brothers only Binyamin is never mentioned among the brothers who hate him, throw him into the well, and sell him into slavery. Binyamin could be considered a picture of Messianic believers who have believed in Yeshua from the beginning and never rejected him. It is through Binyamin that Yosef brought the other brothers back to himself. In a similar manner Yeshua will likely use "Binyamin/Messianic believers" to bring the others to himself.

Pharaoh tells Yosef that "only in the throne will I be greater than you". (Genesis 41:40).
Yeshua has all authority under heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18) but even He "will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him..." (1 Corinthians 15:28).

Yosef puts his brothers in prison for three days (Genesis 42:17-18) and then tells them "Do this and live, for I fear G-d".
Yeshua said He would be killed and "rise three days later" (Matthew 9:31) and He did.

Israel did not trust Re'uven when he wanted to take responsibility for Binyamin (Genesis 42:37-38) likely because he had not repented of his sin of laying with Bilhah, his father's concubine (Genesis 35:22). Yehudah, on the other hand, had repented of his sin of sleeping with Tamar (Genesis 38:18, 38:26). Israel saw the righteousness of Yehudah's heart, his humility, and the honor with which he acted. In this we see a picture of a right relationship between ourselves and our Father in heaven when we confess our sins and repent (1 John 1:9).

Binyamin is given five portions of food from Yosef's table... five times as many as his brothers. Does that mean that there will be five times as many Jews who believe in Mashiach as do not or that they will receive five times the blessing? This is not clear.

 

Torah Portion

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Today is

Yom Shishi, 19 Adar II, 5784

Friday, March 29, 2024

 

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