Miketz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Miketz or Mikeitz (מקץ – Hebrew for “at the end,” the second word – and first distinctive word – of the parshah) is the tenth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis 41:1–44:17. Jews in the Diaspora read it the tenth Sabbath after Simchat Torah. Generally, it is read on the Sabbath of Hanukkah. When Hanukkah contains two Sabbaths, it is read on the second. In some years, however, Miketz is read on the Sabbath after Hanukkah.

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream (painting by Peter von Cornelius)

1 Summary
2 Commandments
3 Haftarah
4 Further reading
5 External links

[edit] Summary

Main article: Genesis

Pharaoh was troubled by dreams that no one was able to interpret. His butler drew attention to Joseph. The Egyptians thereupon brought Joseph before Pharaoh. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams to mean that seven years of abundance would be followed by seven years of famine. Joseph advised the king to make provision accordingly. Pharaoh empowered Joseph to take the necessary steps and appointed him second in the kingdom. Joseph married Asenath, the daughter of the priest Poti-pherah, by whom he had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

When the famine came, it was felt even in Canaan. Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy food. The brothers appeared before Joseph. Joseph recognized them, but did not reveal himself. Joseph proved them on this and on a second journey.

[edit] Commandments

According to Maimonides and Sefer ha-Chinuch, there are no commandments in the parshah.

[edit] Haftarah

The haftarah for the parshah is 1 Kings 3:15–4:1.. It is the famous story of King Solomon and the two women, one with a dead baby and one with a live baby. As Miketz is usually read, however, during Hanukkah, a special haftarah for Hanukkah is read. Additionally, if Miketz occurs on the New Month or its eve, some congregations read additional verses in honor of the days. (The month of Tevet always begins during Hanukkah.)

[edit] Further reading

The parshah has parallels or is discussed in these classical sources:

Epic of Gilgamesh 6:92-113 (James B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, 84-85. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969.)
Daniel 2:1–49; 4:1–5:31.
Josephus, Antiquities 2:5:4–2:6:8.
Babylonian Talmud: Berachot 55b, 56b; Shabbat 105a, 139a; Pesachim 2a, 7b; Ta’anit 9a, 10b, 11a; Megillah 13b; Yevamot 17b, 22a, 88a; Ketubot 27b, 30a; Nazir 5a; Sotah 13b; Baba Metzia 39a, 53b; Baba Batra 4a, 15a, 173b; Sanhedrin 63b, 92a, 112b; Makkot 11a, 11b, 19b; Chullin 85a, 91a, 95b.
Qur'an 12:43–79.
Genesis Rabbah 89:1–92:9.
Zohar 1:25a, 145a, 175a, 183a, 193a–205a, 206a; 2:198a; 3:22b, 62b, 268a.