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£ReconciliationReconciliationReconciliation twelve tribes were exiled by the Assyrians), this historical fact does
not seem to be an accident of history. Judah had a profound impact
££
as a leader and progenitor of the Jewish nation. Similarly, King
David had a profound impact, for he not only achieved teshuvah for
“And Isaac expired and died and he was gathered to his people, himself, praising God all the while, but also taught all subsequent
old and satiated in days; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him” generations how to do this.
(Genesis 35:29). The Torah depicts a similar picture when Abraham
died: “And Abraham expired and died at a good old age, old and Even though the Sages explain that technically David was not
satiated, and he was gathered to his people. And his sons, Isaac and guilty of either adultery or murder, his exact sin is still open to some
Ishmael buried him” (Genesis 25:8-9). debate. David certainly felt he had done something wrong and spent
his entire life repenting for it. In an attempt to explain how David
Considering the enmity between Esau and Jacob and between could have done what he did, the Sages explain that these actions
Ishmael and Isaac, it is somewhat surprising that they buried their were so not in character that on some level these events only came to
fathers together. Perhaps the Torah is prophetically alluding to pass “in order to teach the individual how to do teshuvah” (Avodah
the Messianic End of Days when quarrelling brothers will reconcile Zarah 4b). Many commentaries explain that in some mysterious way
and warring nations will make peace. The prophet Isaiah, with this God “arranged” the entire incident, not only to provide David with a
vision in mind, famously declared that “nation will not lift up sword test that could lead to his spiritual advancement but, should he fail,
against nation” (Isaiah 2:4) and “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb” to provide a model for the Jewish people of how to repent and return
(Isaiah 11:6-7). At that time brothers will unite, not only to bury to God’s good graces.
their dead but to celebrate a life of brotherhood and peace.
The idea that God “orchestrates” such predicaments is echoed in
Judah’s earlier confession: “She is more righteous than I.” Rashi
explains that the sentence can be split in two and read as “She is
more righteous – from me,” the latter part intimating that Judah
was responsible for impregnating her (“she is pregnant from me”).
Rashi continues with the words of the Sages who explain that first
Judah declared “she is more righteous” to attest to the truth of her
words, and then a voice from heaven separately declared: “[It is]
from Me [God, that this whole affair came about so that from their
union future kings in Israel would descend.]”

Another Midrash, echoing the same notion that God orchestrates
events, explains that when the Torah uses the phrase, “It came
to pass at that time” (Genesis 38:1), it is alluding to a number of
simultaneous events: At the time that the brothers were busy selling
Joseph; Joseph, Jacob, and Reuben were all in mourning – wearing
sackcloth and fasting – because of the events surrounding Joseph’s
sale; Judah was occupied in finding a wife; and God, at the very
same time, was busy preparing the light of the Mashiach (Bereishit

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