Good Intentions

We learn from the Torah that Yosef married Osnat, the daughter of Potifar. She bore him two sons, Efraim and Menashe before the seven bad years.

The Alshich brings a story related to the birth of the great Amora, Shmuel. He founded the Yeshiva in the city of Pumbedita in Babylonia.

A harlot once was read her horoscope. She was told that if she successfully seduced the father of Shmuel, (This is how he was known in the Talmud) the son would be a great leader in Israel. The father of Shmuel learned of her “sincere” intentions and managed to resist the efforts of the harlot.

He realized that it was a sign that he was destined to have another child with his wife. The horoscope reading was correct but Shmuel was not destined to come from anyone but his father’s legitimate wife.

This was also the motivation of Potifar’s wife. She misread reading of a horoscope. She tried to seduce Yosef, because she believed that future tribes of Israel would come from their union. She did not realize that this would be fulfilled through her daughter. Efraim and Menashe were recognized as tribes of Israel.

The stories of the Torah are not to be taken at face value. They need to be studied more deeply to get a better insight as to its messages.