Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹⁵ Realizing that their father was dead, Yosef’s brothers said, “Yosef may hate us now and pay us back in full for all the suffering we caused him.” ¹⁶ So they sent a message to Yosef which said, “Your father gave this order before he died: ¹⁷ ‘Say to Yosef, “I beg you now, please forgive your brothers’ crime and wickedness in doing you harm.”’ So now, we beg of you, forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Yosef wept when they spoke to him; ¹⁸ and his brothers too came, prostrated themselves before him and said, “Here, we are your slaves.” ¹⁹ But Yosef said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You meant to do me harm, but God meant it for good — so that it would come about as it is today, with many people’s lives being saved. (vii) ²¹ So don’t be afraid — I will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he comforted them, speaking kindly to them.

²² Yosef continued living in Egypt, he and his father’s household. Yosef lived 110 years. (Maftir) ²³ Yosef lived to see Efrayim’s great-grandchildren, and the children of M’nasheh’s son Makhir were born on Yosef’s knees.

²⁴ Yosef said to his brothers, “I am dying. But God will surely remember you and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov.” ²⁵ Then Yosef took an oath from the sons of Isra’el: “God will surely remember you, and you are to carry my bones up from here.” ²⁶ So Yosef died at the age of 110, and they embalmed him and put him in a coffin in Egypt.

Haftarah Vayechi: M’lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 2:1–12

B’rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Vayechi: Acts 7:9–16 (specifically vv. 15–16); Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 11:21–22; 1 Kefa (1 Peter) 1:3–9; 2:11–17

Hazak, hazak, v’nit’chazek!

Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened!

⁵ The talmidim, in crossing to the other side of the lake, had forgotten to bring any bread. ⁶ So when Yeshua said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against the hametz of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim,” ⁷ they thought he said it because they hadn’t brought bread. ⁸ But Yeshua, aware of this, said, “Such little trust you have! Why are you talking with each other about not having bread? ⁹ Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you filled? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many baskets you filled? ¹¹ How can you possibly think I was talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the hametz of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim!” ¹² Then they understood — they were to guard themselves not from yeast for bread but from the teaching of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim.