Torah Portion Summary
The tenth reading from the book of Genesis is named Miketz, which means "at the end." The title comes from the first verse of the reading, which says, "Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream" (Genesis 41:1). The portion begins with Pharaoh's portentous dreams, Joseph's interpretations, and his subsequent rise to power over Egypt. When a famine strikes the land of Canaan, his brothers come to Egypt seeking grain, but they do not recognize Joseph, who engineers a means by which he can test their character.
Haftarah Portion Summary
Note: This Haftarah is almost never read, since Miketz nearly always coincides with the festival of Chanukah (with a different portion read as Haftarah). It is included here in order to follow the traditional Torah-Haftarah reading schedule.
The background of the Haftarah is the elevation of Solomon as the King of Israel (and thereby, as a type of Mashiach, as ben Elohim). It begins with a dream in which the LORD asked Solomon what gift he would want most, and Solomon replying, "Give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?" Since he had chosen wisely, the LORD gave Solomon wisdom beyond that of every person who had preceded or would follow him, and great riches and honor as well.
The Haftarah continues by demonstrating the wisdom of the king. "Then came two female 'zonot' (prostitutes) before the King..." Both women had recently born children, but one had died during the night, and it was alleged by the mother whose child had died that the babies were switched. Now each woman claimed that the living baby was hers, and they were appealing to the King to settle the matter. Solomon shocked them by his verdict (i.e., to cut the living child in two and give half to each mother), in order to discern from their reactions who would have the greatest pity on the baby. The mother who displayed greater pity for the child was identified as the true mother, and was awarded the child.
B'rit Chadashah Portion Summary
The reading from the book of Romans concerns the Apostle Paul's desire to see all Israel come to saving faith in Yeshua as the Promised Mashiach and Savior of the world. In this regard, it is interesting to note some of the parallels between Yeshua and Joseph as a "type" or foreshadowing of the coming Mashiach of Israel.
Just as Joseph was finally revealed to the Jewish people as a mashiach and savior (though they had initially betrayed him and rejected him), so will the Jewish people come to see that Yeshua is indeed the promised Jewish Mashiach and the Savior of the world. Then will come true the hope of Rav Sha'ul (the Apostle Paul) who wrote, "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" (Rom. 11:30). For more on this, see "Mashiach ben Yosef."
| Torah | Haftarah | B'rit Chadashah |
|---|
| Genesis 41:1–44:17 | 1 Kings 3:15–4:1 | Matthew 27:15-46 |
| | Zechariah 3:1-4:6 | Romans 10:1-13 |