Notes 64: Judah pleads with Joseph (44:18-34)

SYNOPSIS: Judah speaks for the brothers and makes a moving speech and a plea to Joseph, still unaware that he is their lost brother. He respectfully reminds Joseph that it was his idea that they should bring their youngest brother with them, against their will because he is their father's youngest child who is especially dear to him and it will break his heart if anything happens to the youngster or they return home without him. Judah finishes by begging Joseph to let him remain as his servant in lieu of Benjamin, because, he says, "How can I present myself to my father and tell him that the boy is no longer with them? It will send him to the grave!"

• Text of the passage (in Nawat)

The speech by Judah addressing Joseph, with which the penultimate parasha of Genesis opens, is one of the longest monologues in the whole book (except for Joseph's own response which follows!), and is of interest for various reasons in its literary context. Within the flow of the Joseph narrative, at the beginning of "Act III", what Judah says provides the audience with a useful recap of the situation up to now and sums up in a nutsell the brothers' dilemma at this point. No matter whether or not we need to be reminded of these facts, it is a fine specimen of Hebrew oral prose and persuasive oratory, well constructed and polished. It resonates powerfully on an emotional level and we cannot help but commiserate with Judah as he pleads to Joseph, appealing to his reason and compassion, not asking him to let them all go free, but rather to accept Judah's own life to dispose of as he sees fit, but to release his youngest brother for the sake of their beloved father without realising that he is also Joseph's father! (The irony alarm is triggered yet again; when Joseph hears this he could hardly have avoided thinking: Too bad you weren't so considerate of my father when you returned home without me!)

There is a risk that our over-familiarity with the scene may make it hard for us to appreciate its full dramatic impact. The passage should be read with pondering and pathos. The humble and selfless last-ditch plea by the effective leader of Joseph's brothers at this point is doubly moving, in that it serves to bring both the audience and the protagonist to tears. In effect, Judah's plea precipitates events. it is more than Joseph can take. Overwhelmed, he puts an end to the farse. He responds to Judah by dropping his disguise, facing his eleven brothers in tears and crying out: ani yosef.