In parshas VaYechi Yaakov avinu knows that he will die shortly. He demands that Yosef promise not to bury him in Egypt, rather he is to bury him in the family graveyard in the Double (מכפלה-Machpelah) cave. To add emphasis he has him swear by his crotch. The idea is that burying his father in Egypt is effectively castrating him by destroying his descendants.
The oath is directed against Pharaoh because Yaakov believes that if buried in Egypt he will be added to their pantheon of deities. This would be a high honor in what was the world’s most advanced society and spurning it would be a great violation of their norms. He anticipates that Pharaoh will not be happy about, his decision. However, he also knows that because Yosef actually swore a formal oath, he will try very hard to keep it. As a result, when the time comes, after a lengthy period of formal mourning, Pharaoh goes along with this deal.
Again violating traditional procedures, Yaakov gives Menashe and Efraim the status of full fledged tribes in what is emerging as his nation. This means that Yosef will have two votes national councils. Two of his sons, Shimon and Levy, are to be scattered, therefore they will have none. Exaggerating this Efraim, the younger, will be placed ahead in the roll call before his older brother, Menashe.
If anyone was to receive a double portion, it would be expected to be Reuven, who is the oldest, but his tribe will have one vote like the other tribes. It would also be expected that this would be the royal tribe. Instead it is Yehuda, whose camp will travel first and be first among the groups carrying Jacob's coffin in the funeral procession.
Jacob knew exactly what he was doing. He saw correctly that popular etiquette was a useful device for arriving at the correct decision, but it was not infallible and at times needed adjustment. The destiny of Israel and even the position of his large extended family was greater than that of Egypt. Yosef had the intelligence and perception to clearly understand this but the other children not so much. He could lose everything by being deified in Egypt while being buried with Abraham and Isaac made the point.
Likewise Yosef’s towering excellence in wisdom and righteousness would greatly benefit the nation as such his voice should be strengthened. Shimon and Levi’s predisposition to the sword would cause much pain and suffering so it was appropriate to freeze them out of discussions of the great issues. Efraim was more able than Menashe, therefore he should be heard first.
To say things like this timing can be very important. One of the unique times is when a person is about to depart from this world. In Deuteronomy 1:3 as Rashi explains we learn this, “From Jacob, who rebuked his sons only a short while before his death. He said, “Reuben, my son, I will tell you why I have not reproved you during all these years. It was so you would not leave me and join my brother, Esau. And for four reasons, one should not reprimand a person except shortly before one’s death: So that one should not rebuke and again have to rebuke him, so as not to cause his friend to feel ashamed when he sees him; [so that he will not bare a grudge against him, and so that he will depart from him in peace as rebuke brings peace]”.
לע"נ הסבא אהרן בן יוסף ז"ל נלב"ע כז טבת תשכו
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