Spiritual Ascent Beyond the Tribes

בפסוק וברצונם עקרו שור פרש"י רצו לעקור.

“In the verse ‘and in their will they uprooted an ox,’ Rashi explains: they wished to uproot.”

The Sefat Emet begins by citing Rashi’s interpretation that “uprooting the ox” refers to the brothers’ desire to uproot Joseph.

וי"ל כפשוטו ג"כ כי באמת הלכה כרבים וכיון שלא היו השבטים יכולים לדברו לשלום נתעקר מתוכם.

“And it may also be explained according to its plain meaning, for in truth the law follows the majority, and since the tribes could not speak peaceably with him, he was uprooted from among them.”

Here the Sefat Emet adds a literal explanation: since the majority of the brothers rejected Joseph, he was effectively removed from their midst.

אך כי נתעלה במדריגה שלמעלה מהם כידוע.

“However, he was elevated to a level above them, as is known.”

Joseph’s separation is reframed not as a fall but as an ascent—he rose to a spiritual stature beyond the brothers.

ונשאר הנהגה למטה לפי דרכיהם.

“And the governance that remained below followed their ways.”

While Joseph ascended, the ordinary leadership of the tribes continued according to their earthly mode.

וזה לשון עקרו שור.

“And this is the meaning of the phrase ‘they uprooted an ox.’”

The phrase now signifies the shift of Joseph out of their shared level and into a higher realm.

ועיין בזוה"ק בענין רבות בנות כו' ואת עלית ע"כ.

“And see the Zohar on the matter of ‘Many daughters... but you ascended above all of them.’”

The Zohar is invoked to support the idea of Joseph rising above his brothers.

[ועי"ז נתעלה מבחי' שור ובהמה לבחי' אדם.

“And through this he was elevated from the level of ox and animal to the level of human.”

Joseph transcended the symbolic level of ‘ox,’ representing brute force, attaining a higher human‑spiritual level.

ומקום שלו ניתן למנשה ואפרים.

“And his place was given to Manasseh and Ephraim.”

Joseph’s own elevated status meant that his earthly portion was expressed through his sons.

ויש לכוין זה בברכת מרע"ה שאמר בכור שורו כו' והם רבבות אפרים וה"א מנשה.

“And one may intend this in Moses our teacher’s blessing: ‘His firstborn ox,’ etc., referring to the multitudes of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.”

The verse in Moses’ blessing signals the transfer of the ‘ox’ symbolism to Joseph’s sons.

ואולי שזה הי' סיבה אח"כ לחטא העגל שעי"ז נשתנה שור לכרוב אלא שאין לי עסק בנסתרות].

“And perhaps this was later a cause of the sin of the Golden Calf, for through this the ox was transformed into a cherub—but I do not involve myself in hidden matters.”

The Sefat Emet cautiously hints that the spiritual dynamics surrounding the symbol of the ox may have influenced later history, but refrains from entering mystical speculation.

וז"ש אתם חשבתם כו' אלקים חשבה לטובה:

“And this is what is meant by: ‘You intended it... but God intended it for good.’”

The entire process—Joseph’s separation and elevation—was ultimately guided toward a divine good beyond human intention.

Summary: Joseph’s “uprooting” by his brothers reflects both their rejection and his ascent to a higher spiritual level. His elevated status shifted the symbolic role of the “ox” to his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Though these dynamics echo into later biblical history, the ultimate message is that divine providence transformed the brothers’ intentions into good.