Spiritual Purpose of the Brothers

במדרש וישבו לאכל לחם להאכיל כו' עבירתן של שבטים כו' תקוה לעולם כו'.

In the Midrash: “They sat to eat bread — to feed... the transgression of the tribes... a hope for the world...”

The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash, which frames the episode of the brothers eating as containing both a flaw and a hidden hope for the future.

כי חלילה להבין כפשוטו שהיו חוטאים ח"ו.

For it is unthinkable to understand simply that they were sinners, Heaven forbid.

He clarifies that we must not interpret the tribes’ actions as outright sin in the ordinary sense.

וגם מה שאמרו חכמים ז"ל כי כל הגלות עי"ז החטא.

And also what the Sages said, that all the exile was because of this sin.

The tradition that exile resulted from their act must also be interpreted carefully.

ומי לא יבין כי אין הדברים כפשטן.

And who would not understand that these matters are not to be taken at face value?

He emphasizes that such statements are clearly meant in a deeper way.

והלא ידוע כי אדרבא כל קיום בני ישראל בגלות וקיום כל העולם בזכות השבטים כידוע.

For it is well known that, on the contrary, the entire survival of Israel in exile and the survival of the world is in the merit of the tribes.

The tribes are foundational pillars of Israel and creation, not the cause of its downfall.

אבל בודאי השבטים הכינו דרך בעבורינו.

But certainly the tribes prepared a path for us.

Their actions were intended to create a spiritual route for later generations.

והם ידעו והבינו כי לא נוכל להיות נמשך בהנהגה עליונה ורמה של יוסף הצדיק שנקרא נזיר אחיו.

And they knew and understood that we could not be drawn into the exalted and lofty mode of Joseph the righteous, who is called the “nazir” among his brothers.

Joseph’s spiritual level is too elevated for most of Israel to emulate directly.

לכן כיון שמכרוהו ישבו הם במקומו והכינו דרך במדריגה תחתונה קצת ממדרגות יוסף הצדיק שנוכל למצוא דרך זה גם בתוך הגלות.

Therefore, once they sold him, they themselves sat in his place and prepared a path on a somewhat lower level than Joseph’s, one that we could follow even within exile.

The sale allowed them to establish a spiritual approach accessible within the challenges of exile.

אמנם הכתוב מיחס להם לחטא כי היה להם להפליא מעשיהם למצוא דרך לתולדותיהם גם לפי הנהגה עליונה של יוסף הצדיק.

However, Scripture attributes sin to them because they should have elevated their deeds to find a path for their descendants even according to Joseph’s higher mode of divine conduct.

The “sin” is measured relative to their high spiritual potential, not wrongdoing in a literal sense.

כי הקב"ה מדקדק עם הצדיקים כחוט השערה והן שמים לא זכו בעיניו.

For the Holy One is exacting with the righteous to a hair’s breadth, and even the heavens are not pure in His eyes.

The standards applied to the righteous are extraordinarily exacting.

לכן מיחס להם החטא כאלו כל הגלות הי' על ידיהם.

Therefore the sin is attributed to them as though the entire exile came through them.

This attribution is hyperbolic, expressing the precision with which God judges the righteous.

אבל ודאי באופן זה שהי'. הי' המעשה זו תקוה לנו בגלות כדברי המדרש הנ"ל.

But certainly, in the manner it actually occurred, this deed became a hope for us in exile, as the Midrash stated.

In its deeper meaning, the act ultimately provided spiritual hope and direction for Israel throughout exile.

Summary: The Sefat Emet explains that the tribes did not sin in the ordinary sense. Their actions created a spiritual path suited for Israel’s future exile. Scripture’s attribution of “sin” reflects the exceedingly high standards applied to the righteous, while the deeper outcome of the episode was a lasting source of hope.