Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Musar for Genesis 42:1

וַיַּ֣רְא יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ לְבָנָ֔יו לָ֖מָּה תִּתְרָאֽוּ׃

Now Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, and Jacob said unto his sons: ‘Why do ye look one upon another?’

Shenei Luchot HaBerit

למה תתראו . The Talmud Taanit 10b, on which Rashi bases his first explanation comments that although Jacob and his family were not short of provisions, Jacob told his sons not to arouse the envy of their neighbors by appearing to have ample supplies. The Zohar feels that by provoking one's neighbors envy one also provokes Heavenly judgment.
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