Parashah 9 Vayeshev: פָּרָשָׁה וַיֵּשֶׁב The Evil Report/Ethiopian Hebrew WordSoundPower

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Shalom! During this Sabbath Study Parashah “Portion” W(v)ayesheb(v) “and He dwelt/and He sat: Was Enthroned” (He referring to Jacob), we are introduced to two Hebrew spiritual principles that are observable, everyday, in the physical plane of reality. The first is known as Dibbah Ra (דִּבָּה רַע)  “Evil Report” (Genesis 37:2) which is related to Lashown Hara (לשון הרע) “The Evil Tongue”. Let’s define “evil” (Ra רַע: bad, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery), displeasing, unkind (vicious in disposition), in general, of persons, of thoughts, deeds, actions,evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity. (Evil is mentioned 663 times in the bible and translated variously as wickedness, mischief, bad, harm, etc. To study “evil” in context please see KJV Count Translation section in link:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H7451&t=KJV

We are admonished of taking heed not to fall victim to the “evil tongue” in Psalms 34:13 “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” In a modern sense, this would equate to slander, gossip, backbiting and speech of such nature with the intent to cause animosity, jealousy, hurt, etc in or to another human being without the sincere intent of correction based in love “charity” (agape ἀγάπη affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love) for the person, whom the speech is directed at (see Leviticus 19:16). Also, in Mark 11:12-14, Yeshua HaMashiakh demonstrates the “Power of Speech”, though these verses contain much more to be discerned this particular principle is certainly obvious. This speech is not limited to the words that are uttered but also pertains to our internal dialogue. The “Evil Report” is actually a symptomatic manifestation of dis-ease, in the “soul/mind” nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ), which has metastasized to the point of effecting the “heart” leb (לֵב). The root cause of this condition is referred to as yetzer hara (יֵצֶר הַרַע‎)  “The Evil Inclination” (see Genesis 6:5/8:21). The principle of the “Evil Inclination” is depicted, in this Torah study, through the “hate/contempt” (sane שָׂנֵא) Joseph’s brothers held in their heart towards him, either due to ignorance, error or envy. Either way the conviction is established (see Genesis 37: 4,5,8: NOTE: “and they hated” weysenaw’ (וַֽיִּשְׂנְאוּ) mentioned 3 times compare with Deuteronomy 19:15 “Two or Three Witness Rule” of interpretation). Many times this “evil inclination is no more than a thought (either real or imagined/perceived or projected) that the “devil” (diabolos διάβολος: prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely/from the root diaballō διαβάλλω: to throw over or across, to send over ) casts into our minds to stir up division amongst humanity. Thus, we would be wise to practice discerning, through study of The Living Word contained within the Bible, whether our thoughts are based on Truth or delusion. There are many passages in the Bible that teaches us to be vigilant in guarding against this “Evil Inclination”, first in ourselves only then will we be able to see others in the proper light.  Perhaps, the verse that is most straightforward in admonishing us can be found in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Remember, we are under His Grace in and through Yeshua HaMashiakh “Jesus Christ”, so just recognize!! Don’t stress thyself too much. To quote, the Honorable President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy “A wise man once said a mistake doesn’t become an error (sin) until one refuses to correct it” . (hmmmm..wonder who that “wise man” could have been? Was it Haile Selassie I?)

In proceeding with this line of reasoning, we  begin by scrutinizing Genesis 37:2. First, it should be noted that in the Hebrew Nuance the Dibbah Ra “Evil Report” that “Joseph brought to His Father Jacob” wasn’t actually a fault ascribed to Joseph, but rather to his brothers Dan and Naphtali the Sons of Bilhah, along with Gad and Asher the Sons of Zilpah. This is evident when “evil report” is translated into Hebrew as et dibatam (אֶת־דִּבָּתָם), “the word Dibbah ending in the (am/kametz vowel pointing & mem suffix) is indicative of third person masculine plural possessive.

So then, why would Joseph’s Brothers possess an “evil report”? One possibility may be that Joseph was given an office of authority over his brothers.  Joseph having attained a position of prominence is evident when we examine the Hebrew translation for the word “lad” used to describe Joseph which na’ar (נַעַר). A full analysis of this word, in Scripture, being one used to designate a significant person of Divine election is beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say that the word na’ar, in this sense, is also used to describe Joshua and David. The designation of na’ar is also crucial is discerning the person’s of Mashiakh Ben Yosef “Messiah Son of Joseph” as Yeshua HaMashiakh and Mashiakh Ben David “Messiah Son of David” as Qedamawi Haile Sellassie. YAH Willing RasTafari Talmud will bring forward an explication, in due time.

Psalm 19:14 :Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O YHWH, my strength, and my redeemer.

Considering Joseph’s brothers response to his “Dreams” (note Jacob also had dreams), the contempt against Joseph could very well have been due to mere competition amongst siblings. However, by interpreting the “Name” shem (שֵׁם) of each of Joseph’s brothers and their mothers we are able to gain additional insight as to the principle that Torah is setting forth, as an object lesson. In Torah, there is no triviality as to specific names being mentioned as applied, respectively, to each circumstance described. In continuing, let us keep in mind that symbolically a female character often represents the soul and that children often reflect the condition of that soul. Thus, Joseph was with the Sons of Bilhah (בִּלְהָה:”Troubled”) and the Sons of Zilpah (זִלְפָּה: “A Tricking”). The Sons of Bihah are Dan (דָּן: “judge” from the root diyn [דִּין]: to judge, contend, plead: to be at strife, quarrel)  and Naphatali (נַפְתָּלִי: “wrestling” from the root patal [פָּתַל] to twist). The Sons of Zilpah are Asher (אָשֵׁר: “happy”) and Gad (גָּד: “troop” from the root guwd [גּוּד]: to invade or attack). Within the context of the verse mentioned above it may be interpreted that the “Evil Report” was actually conveying the spiritual principle of Sowing and Reaping, or what “modern science” refers to as Cause and Effect/Stimuli and Response etc. etc.. This principle is pronounced throughout Torah, Scriptural Writings, The Prophets, Gospel and Epistles. From this perspective we can deduce that when a soul is troubled (Bilhah) it may tend to act in judgment (Dan) according to strife without correct weighing and balancing of the person or matter being judged. In addition, the speech that is produced thereby may be twisted or very far from the Truth. Furthermore, the trickling (Zilpah) of malevolent speech although it may produce temporary unwarranted happiness (Asher) it will inevitably result in a onslaught/troop (Gad) of retaliation, whether human or Divine, to our own harm. More alarming, is the possible outcome illustrated in the remainder of Genesis Chapter 37, as the intent, on behalf of Joseph’s brothers save Rueben, was a manifestation of the “Evil Inclination” produced by the “Evil Report”. There are many mystical midrashim explicating the metaphysics of Sowing and Reaping that with in depth analysis on  biorhythms, vibrations, energies etc., which is all good and well! However, we need not delve very far into mysticism to discover this fundamental Truth. NAY! If we are able to consciously observe the interactions of people and even our own past experiences, we will surely be able to discern this principle in effect all around us. Do we not ever find ourselves frustrated by an insignificant annoyance that we choose to give heed to and we soon find ourselves overwhelmed with the urge to become partakers in an “Evil Report”? Have we ever noticed that by reacting with an “Evil Tongue” that we soon find ourselves victims of an “Evil Inclination” and in a very unfavorable situation or “feeling some type of way”?

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

RasTafari Talmud bids all Shalom in The Name His Majesty Qedamawi Haile Sellassie and HIS Christ Iyesus! And for final thoughts we leave the dear reader with the contemplation according James 3 to REFLECT in:

3 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. ² For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. ⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: ⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. ¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? ¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. ¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. ¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.