Did you know that a Torah scroll is divided into paragraphs? Two kinds of paragraphs, in fact. But this Torah portion is one long unbroken paragraph – an extremely rare thing in the Torah. And what does a kiss have to do with watering sheep? We will also explore some unique things about Joseph’s name and a clever way Hebrew describes falsehood.
Vayeitzei is one long unbroken paragraph.
Genesis 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!
בו (bo) = “on it” or “on him”
John 1:51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Genesis 29:10 … Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and he watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
וישק (va’yishak) = “and he watered” or “and he kissed”
Genesis 29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
Genesis 30:23-24 She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away [אסף] my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph [יוסף], saying, “May Adonai add [יסף] to me another son!”
Genesis 31:20 And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he was fleeing.
ויגנב יעקב את לב (vayig’nov Ya’akov et lev) = “and he stole the heart of” (+ v.26)
REFERENCES:
Genesis 49:1 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather [אסף, asaph] yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.”
Exodus 34:22 You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering [אסיף, asiph] at the year’s end.
Genesis 31:26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by stealing my heart [ותגנב את לבבי, vatig’nov et l’vavi] and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword?”