BH
The Ten Sons of Binyamin and Their Deeper Meaning
In Parshas VaYigash, the Torah details Yaakov’s descent into Egypt with his family, listing the 70 souls that accompanied him. Among them, the ten sons of Binyamin are explicitly named: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Achi, Rosh, Mupim, Chupim, and Ared (Bereishis 46:21).
When Yosef met Binyamin after many years, he asked about his family. Binyamin shared the names of his ten sons, explaining their profound meanings. Each name reflected either Yosef’s greatness or the pain of his separation:
- Bela: “Swallowed up,” referring to Yosef being lost among the nations.
- Becher: Recognizing Yosef as the “firstborn” in prominence.
- Ashbel: “Imprisoned,” symbolizing Yosef’s captivity.
- Gera: “Sojourner,” reflecting Yosef’s unsettled life in Egypt.
- Naaman: Yosef’s pleasantness and grace.
- Achi and Rosh: Emphasizing Yosef as a brother and leader.
- Mupim and Chupim: Mourning the missed chuppahs (weddings)—Binyamin didn’t see Yosef’s, and Yosef didn’t see Binyamin’s.
- Ared: “He went down,” referring to Yosef’s descent into Egypt.
The Maharal of Prague explains that these names are divided equally: five highlighting Yosef’s stature and five expressing his suffering.
The Mysterious Source of Binyamin’s Ten Sons
The Gemara (Sota 36b) presents an extraordinary explanation for why Binyamin had more sons than any other of Yaakov’s children. Yosef was originally destined to father 12 sons, mirroring Yaakov. However, he had only two: Ephraim and Menashe. What happened to the other ten?
When Yosef resisted the temptation of Potiphar’s wife, he dug his toes into the ground to distract himself from the test. The Gemara reveals that ten drops of seed emerged—not from a normal place, but through the knuckles of his fingers. These ten drops represented the ten sons he was meant to have but lost. As a result, these ten souls were born to Binyamin, symbolically fulfilling Yosef’s loss.
The Connection to Tikkun HaKlali
Rebbe Nachman’s teachings on the Tikkun HaKlali shed light on this event. The Tikkun HaKlali involves reciting ten specific chapters of Tehillim (16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, and 150), corresponding to the ten types of melodies used in composing Tehillim. Each melody is tied to a specific spiritual energy, and all are played with the fingers, emphasizing the connection between Yosef’s fingers and the ten lost souls.
The Role of Song and Rectification
The ten melodies and their corresponding Tehillim chapters emphasize the power of music and spiritual rectification. Yosef’s struggle and the redemptive role of Binyamin’s ten sons symbolize the transformation of loss into spiritual elevation.
Yosef’s Test and the Ten Drops of Seed
Yosef’s great test with Potiphar’s wife is well-known for his extraordinary self-control. Although Yosef avoided the actual sin, this event symbolized a spiritual loss. The seed, destined to create ten souls, was “wasted.” These ten souls were later born to Yosef’s brother, Binyamin, who had ten sons, thus rectifying the loss.
The Role of the Fingers in Rectification
Rebbe Nachman explains that the fingers are symbolic in rectifying the blemish of wasted seed. They correspond to the ten types of melody—spiritual energies expressed through the ten chapters of Tehillim in the Tikkun HaKlali. Music, played with the fingers, is a powerful tool for simcha (joy) and spiritual healing, especially for rectifying blemishes in holiness.
In Rebbe Nachman’s last tale from the Sippurei Ma’asiyot, the beggar with no hands uses his fingers to heal a princess afflicted by ten poisoned arrows. This story symbolizes the redemptive power of the ten types of melody, corresponding to the ten fingers. Yosef’s loss through his fingers underscores the connection between melody, simcha, and rectification.
Binyamin’s Role in Rectification
Binyamin, the only one of Yaakov’s sons born in Eretz Yisrael, is uniquely associated with simcha, joy, and melody. His name, meaning “son of the right side,” reflects the qualities of light, kindness, and holiness.
The Beit HaMikdash, the ultimate place of joy and melody, was located on land belonging to Binyamin. Both the First and Second Temples, as well as the future Third Temple, stand on his portion of land. In this week’s Parsha, Yosef cries on Binyamin’s “necks” (plural), symbolizing the two destroyed Temples.
Yosef’s Enthusiasm and Binyamin’s Stability
Yosef represents hitlahavut—fiery enthusiasm in serving Hashem, essential for confronting challenges like those posed by Esav. However, Yosef’s enthusiasm lacked the grounding joy found in Eretz Yisrael, symbolized by Binyamin.
This is why the Beit HaMikdash was built on Binyamin’s land and not Yosef’s. While Yosef achieved greatness as a Tzaddik, his spiritual journey remained incomplete without the stability and joy represented by Binyamin.
The Interplay Between Yosef and Binyamin
Binyamin’s connection to Eretz Yisrael made him the ideal vessel to receive and rectify the ten lost drops of Yosef. The relationship between the two brothers highlights the balance needed between fiery enthusiasm and stable joy in serving Hashem.
The Five and Five: Balancing Joy and Trials
The ten names of Binyamin’s sons reflect two aspects of Yosef’s life: five names signify his grandeur and stature, while the other five represent his struggles and suffering. This duality aligns with the five voices of joy from the verse: Kol Sason, Kol Simcha, Kol Chatan, Kol Kala, Kol Omrim Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov.
These five voices of joy highlight the stages of delight, celebration, and gratitude that are central to Jewish life. They are paralleled by the five positive attributes of Yosef, which were refined through his trials.
The Dual Role of Melody
Rebbe Nachman explains in Likutey Moharan Part 2, Lesson 92, that the ten types of melody rectify spiritual blemishes. These ten melodies are split into two groups:
- Five Majestic Melodies: Taken from the book of Psalms, these are pure, uplifting, and transformative. They instantly elevate a person without needing to first remove negativity.
- Five Transformative Melodies: Taken from the book of Proverbs and Job, these melodies connect with sadness and melancholy, gently pushing out negativity before uplifting the person into joy.
The interplay of these ten melodies mirrors Yosef’s journey: a life of trials that eventually leads to elevation and joy.
Binyamin’s Role in Rectification
Binyamin, the only son of Yaakov born in Eretz Yisrael, embodies joy, holiness, and the power of melody. His ten sons symbolize the completion of Yosef’s potential, rectifying the loss of Yosef’s ten drops of seed.
The Beit HaMikdash, built on Binyamin’s portion of land, represents the ultimate joy and melody found in Eretz Yisrael. Binyamin’s inherent connection to simcha made him the ideal vessel to carry Yosef’s rectification.
Yosef and Binyamin: A Unique Bond
Yosef’s deep emotional connection with Binyamin is highlighted in this week’s Parsha. Yosef’s longing to meet Binyamin underscores their shared mission. As sons of Rachel, their relationship reflects Yosef’s need for Binyamin’s grounding in the joy and holiness of Eretz Yisrael.
When Yosef asked Binyamin about his sons and their names, the emotional weight of their bond moved Yosef to tears. This interaction symbolizes Yosef’s recognition of Binyamin’s role in completing the spiritual mission of their shared lineage.
Activating the Joy of Eretz Yisrael
The lessons of Parshas VaYigash emphasize the transformative power of joy and melody. By connecting to the joy symbolized by Binyamin and the melodies that uplift the soul, we can strengthen our connection to holiness, speed the coming of Mashiach, and bring about a deeper redemption for ourselves and the world.
Shabbat Shalom. May we always be besimcha, activating the power of melody and joy to transform our lives.
This article also appears on the BRI breslov.org website: https://breslov.org/the-10-sons-songs-of-binyamin/
For a video presentation of this article: https://youtu.be/CLg92ATHFGk
Shabbat Shalom
Meir Elkabas
No comments:
Post a Comment