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09 – Parashat Vayashav (וַיֵּשֶׁב) — “And Ya’aqov Dwelt”– 3rd Month 6th thru 3rd Month 12th — (05/30/2026)

May 24th thru May 30th, 2026

09 – Parasha Vayashav Ya’aqov (וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יַעֲקֹ֤ב) — “And Ya’aqov Dwelt” – 3rd Month 6th thru 3rd Month 12th— (05/30/2026)

09 – Parsha Vayashav Ya’aqov (וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יַעֲקֹ֤ב) — “And Ya’aqov Dwelt”

May 24th thru May 30th, 2026
Torah Portion: Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 37:1 – 40:23
Haftarah: Amos 2:1 – 3:15
Brit Ha’dasha: Mattithyahu (Matthew) 1:18-25

Daily Readings

1stday (Sunday) – Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 37:1-11 – Ya’aqov dwells in the land of Kena’an where his father sojourned; Yoceph, being seventeen years old, shepherds the flock of his father Ya’aqov with his brothers and brings an evil report concerning them to their father; Yashar’el loves Yoceph more than all his children because he is the son of his old age and makes him a coat of many colors; Yoceph’s brothers hate him and cannot speak peaceably to him; Yoceph dreams a dream that their sheaves bow down to his sheaf in the field and his brothers hate him even more; Yoceph dreams again that the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow down to him; Ya’aqov rebukes him yet guards the saying in his heart, while his brothers envy him.

2ndday (Monday) – Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 37:12-22 – Yoceph’s brothers go to feed their father’s flock in Shekem; Yashar’el sends Yoceph from the valley of Chevron to see whether it is well with his brothers and the flock; A man finds Yoceph wandering in the field and directs him to Dothan; When Yoceph approaches, his brothers conspire against him to slay him and cast him into a pit, saying that an evil beast devoured him; Re’uven hears it and seeks to deliver Yoceph out of their hands so that he might restore him to Ya’aqov later; Re’uven tells them not to shed blood but to cast him alive into the pit in the wilderness.

3rdday (Tuesday) – Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 37:23-36 – Yoceph arrives to his brothers and they strip him of his coat of many colors and cast him into an empty pit with no water; They sit down to eat bread and see a company of Yishma’e’liym coming from Gil’ad carrying spices and myrrh into Mitsrayim; Yahudah suggests selling Yoceph instead of killing him, for he is their brother and their flesh; The Midyaniym merchants draw Yoceph from the pit and sell him for twenty pieces of silver; Yoceph is brought into Mitsrayim; Re’uven returns to the pit and rends his garments when he finds Yoceph gone; The brothers dip Yoceph’s coat in the blood of a goat and deceive their father; Ya’aqov mourns many days and refuses to be comforted; Meanwhile Yoceph is sold in Mitsrayim to Potiyphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

4thday (Wednesday) – Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 38:1-30 – Yahudah departs from his brothers and joins himself to an Adullamiy named Chiyrah; Yahudah takes a Kena’aniy woman to wife and fathers Er, Onan, and Shelach; Er is wicked before Yahuah and Yahuah slays him (fist mention of a person killed by Yahuah directly); Onan refuses to raise up seed for his brother and Yahuah also slays him for his wickedness; Tamar remains a widow in her father’s house waiting for Shelach; Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute and Yahudah lies with her, leaving his seal, bracelets, and staff as a pledge to pay her for her services; Tamar conceives by Yahudah; When Yahudah learns Tamar is with child, he first calls for judgment against her (as is prescribed in Torah), but when presented with his pledge he confesses that she has been more righteous than he because he withheld Shelach from her; Tamar bears twins, Perets and Zerach.

5thday (Thursday) – Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 39:1-23 – Yoceph is brought down into Mitsrayim and purchased by Potiyphar, an officer of Pharaoh; Yahuah is with Yoceph and causes all that he does to prosper; Potiyphar makes Yoceph overseer over his house and all that he has; Yahuah blesses the Mitsriy’s house for Yoceph’s sake; Yoceph is handsome in form and appearance, and Potiyphar’s wife casts her eyes upon him and seeks to entice him; Yoceph refuses to sin against Elohiym and flees from her presence, leaving his garment in her hand; Potiyphar’s wife falsely accuses Yoceph and he is cast into prison; Yet Yahuah remains with Yoceph, shows him mercy, and grants him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison; The keeper commits all the prisoners into Yoceph’s hand because Yahuah makes all that Yoceph does to prosper.

6thday (Friday) – Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 40:1-23 – Pharaoh’s chief butler and chief baker offend their master and are cast into the prison where Yoceph is confined; Yoceph ministers unto them; Each man dreams a dream in one night and is troubled because there is no interpreter; Yoceph declares that interpretations belong to Elohiym and asks them to tell him their dreams; Yoceph interprets the chief butler’s dream, saying that within three days Pharaoh will restore him to his office; Yoceph asks the butler to remember him and show kindness by mentioning him to Pharaoh, for he was stolen from the land of the Ivriym (Hebrews) and has done nothing worthy of imprisonment; Yoceph interprets the baker’s dream, saying that within three days Pharaoh will lift up his head from off him and birds will eat his flesh; On Pharaoh’s birthday all comes to pass exactly as Yahuah gave Yoceph the interpretation Yet the chief butler forgets Yoceph and does not remember him.

Main Themes & Commandments

Yahuah Uses Affliction and Rejection to Fulfill His Purpose

Though Yoceph was hated by his brothers, rejected, stripped of his robe and sold into bondage, Yahuah was establishing His greater purpose through suffering. What man intended for evil, Yahuah would later turn for deliverance and His yeshu’a (salvation).

Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 37:3-4 – “Now Yashar’el loved אֶת Yoceph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.”
Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 37:23-24 & 28 – “And it came to pass, when Yoceph was come unto his brethren, that they stript אֶת Yoceph out of אֶת his coat, אֶת his coat of many colours that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 28. Then there passed by Midyaniym merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up אֶת Yoceph out of the pit, and sold אֶת Yoceph to the Yishma’e’liym for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought אֶת Yoceph into Mitsrayim.”
Tehilliym (Psalms) 105:16-17 & 19 – “Moreover He called for a famine upon the land: He brake the whole staff of bread. He sent a man before them, even Yoceph, who was sold for a servant: 19. Until the time that his word came: the word of Yahuah tried him.”
Ma’asiym (Acts) 7:9-10 – “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Yoceph into Mitsrayim: but Elohiym was with him, And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Mitsrayim; and he made him governor over Mitsrayim and all his house.”
Romiym (Romans) 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love Elohiym, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

**Yahuah often allows trials, rejection and suffering in order to refine His people and position them for His greater purpose. Yoceph’s suffering was not evidence that Yahuah had abandoned him, but proof that Yahuah was guiding every step of his life. In the same way, believers today must remain faithful through affliction, trusting that Yahuah is working all things together for His purpose and for the yeshu’a (salvation) of many.

Jealousy, Hatred and Envy Lead to Sin and Destruction

Yoceph’s brothers allowed jealousy and hatred to grow in their hearts until it produced conspiracy, violence, deception and grief. Scripture continually warns that envy opens the door to many sins.

Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 37:4-5 – “And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Yoceph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.”
Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 37:18 & 20 – “And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.”
Mishlei (Proverbs) 14:30 – “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.”
Ya’aqov (James) 3:16 – “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
1st Qorintiym (Corinthians) 13:4-5 – “Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.”

**Jealousy and envy corrupt the heart and destroy relationships. Yoceph’s brothers could no longer speak peaceably because hatred had overtaken them. Yahuah commands His people to walk in love, humility and contentment rather than allowing envy to grow within us. If left unchecked, jealousy can lead to greater sins and bring destruction upon families, assemblies and communities.

Yahuah Calls His People to Purity and Faithfulness

Yoceph refused the temptation of Potiyphar’s wife because he feared Elohiym more than the desires of the flesh. Though obedience caused him to suffer unjustly, Yoceph remained faithful to righteousness.

Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 39:7-9 – “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast אֶת her eyes upon Yoceph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against Elohiym?”
Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 39:12 – “And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:14 – “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
Mishlei (Proverbs) 6:27-28 – “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?”
1st Qorintiym (Corinthians) 6:18-20 – “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Ruach Ha’Qodesh which is in you, which ye have of Elohiym, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify Elohiym in your body, and in your ruach, which are Elohiym’s.”

**Yoceph teaches that obedience to Yahuah must come before pleasure, comfort or reputation. Even when no one else is watching, Yahuah sees all things. Yoceph fled from temptation rather than entertaining it, showing believers that the proper response to sexual immorality is immediate separation from it. Purity is not merely avoiding sin outwardly, but honoring Yahuah with both body and ruach.

Yahuah Remains With the Righteous in Every Circumstance

Whether in slavery, false accusation or prison, Yahuah never departed from Yoceph. His outward circumstances changed, but Yahuah’s presence remained constant.

Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 39:2-3 – “And Yahuah was with Yoceph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Mitsriy. And his master saw that Yahuah was with him, and that Yahuah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”
Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 39:21 & 23 – “But Yahuah was with Yoceph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.& 23. The keeper of the prison looked not to אֶת any thing that was under his hand; because Yahuah was with him, and that which he did, Yahuah made it to prosper..”
Yahusha (Joshua) 1:9 – “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for Yahuah Elohayka is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Ivriym (Hebrews) 13:5 – “For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Yochanon (John) 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

**The presence of Yahuah is not dependent upon favorable circumstances. Yoceph experienced betrayal, bondage and imprisonment, yet Yahuah remained with him through it all. Believers today are likewise called to remain faithful in every season, trusting that Yahuah does not forsake His people even in hardship, suffering or waiting.

Hebrew Link Words

Vayashav (way·yê·šeḇ) וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב — “And Dwelt” — Strong’s Hebrew Word 3427 [e] 
The Hebrew word וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב (Vayashav) “And Dwelt“ is a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. In ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry — (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle), (down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.
Where are you dwelling? Are you trying to dwell in the house and land of Yahuah for eternity or are you just saying this and not really understanding what it means to dwell in Yahuah’s house forever?

Yahusha Ha’Mashiach in the Torah Portion

  1. Yahusha Ha’Mashiach is revealed throughout Parashat Vayashav Ya’aqov as the rejected and beloved Son who was sent by Father Yahuah unto His brethren.
  2. He is the Son whom Father Yahuah loves above all and upon whom the special robe is placed.
  3. Mashiach Yahusha is the righteous One hated without cause by His own brethren.
  4. He is the One conspired against, cast into the pit and sold for silver.
  5. He is the One conspired against, cast into the pit and sold for silver.
  6. He is אֶת who was with Yoceph in the pit, in the house, and in the prison.
  7. Mashiach Yahusha is the hidden Redeemer working through every event of the portion to preserve the covenant seed and accomplish the purpose of Yahuah.

Reflection & Self-Study Questions

  1. What are your thoughts on Yoceph being loved above his brethren and receiving the coat of many colors from Ya’aqov? Do you think Ya’aqov showed favoritism toward Yoceph, and if so, what effect did that have upon the family?
  2. Why do you think Yoceph shared his dreams with his brethren even though he already knew they hated him?
  3. Yoceph’s brothers hated him because of his dreams and words. Have you ever experienced rejection, jealousy or persecution for speaking truth or walking in obedience to Yahuah?
  4. Why do you think Re’uven sought to save Yoceph secretly rather than openly confronting his brothers?
  5. What are your thoughts on Yahudah suggesting that Yoceph be sold instead of killed? Do you see guilt, compromise or partial mercy in his actions?
  6. How serious do you believe jealousy and envy are in the eyes of Yahuah? Have you ever seen envy destroy relationships, assemblies or families?
  7. Why do you think Ya’aqov discerned the bloodied coat as evidence that Yoceph was dead rather than seeking further understanding from Yahuah?
  8. Why do you think the account of Yahudah and Tamar is placed directly in the middle of Yoceph’s account?
  9. Do you think that it was Yahudah’s disobedience to the commandment not to intermarry with women of the land of Kena’an that brought death to his sons?
  10. Why do you think Yahudah declared Tamar more righteous than himself after discovering the truth?
  11. What does the birth of Perets and Zerach reveal about Yahuah’s ability to work through broken and sinful situations to accomplish His covenant purposes?
  12. Yoceph refused the advances of Potiyphar’s wife even though nobody else appeared to be watching. What does this teach about fearing Elohiym and walking in righteousness in private?
  13. When Yoceph said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against Elohiym?”, what does this reveal about his understanding of sin?
  14. Do you believe modern society treats sexual immorality lightly compared to how scripture presents it?
  15. Yoceph fled from temptation rather than lingering near it. What practical lessons can believers apply from Yoceph’s response to temptation?
  16. Have you ever experienced being falsely accused or misunderstood while trying to do what is right? How did you respond?
  17. Why do you think Yahuah allowed Yoceph to suffer unjust imprisonment even after he obeyed and fled from sin?
  18. Do you believe Yahuah can still prosper and bless a person spiritually even while they are in affliction or hardship?
  19. Why do you think Yoceph immediately gave glory to Elohiym when interpreting dreams for the butler and baker instead of taking credit for himself?
  20. In what ways does Yoceph’s life foreshadow Yahusha Ha’Mashiach as the beloved Son who was rejected, betrayed and later exalted?