Source 2 · Rishonim
VerifiedRamban on Bereishit
Ramban on Genesis 37:3
Ramban discusses why the Torah emphasizes Yaakov's love for Yosef and questions the behavior of the brothers. He suggests Yaakov saw in Yosef signs of greatness and prophetic destiny, not merely birth order, that caused him to treat him differently.
וְאֵינֶנּוּ נָכוֹן בְּעֵינַי כִּי הַכָּתוּב אָמַר שֶׁאָהַב אֶת יוֹסֵף מִכָּל בָּנָיו בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁהוּא בֶּן זְקוּנִים וְגַם כָּל בָּנָיו נוֹלְדוּ לוֹ בִּזְקוּנָיו, וְהִנֵּה יִשָּׂשׂכָר וּזְבוּלוּן אֵינָם גְּדוֹלִים מִיּוֹסֵף רַק כְּשָׁנָה אוֹ שְׁנָתַיִם. וְהַנִּרְאֶה בְּעֵינַי כִּי מִנְהַג הַזְּקֵנִים שֶׁיִּקְחוּ אֶחָד מִבְּנֵיהֶם הַקְּטַנִּים לִהְיוֹת עִמּוֹ לְשָׁרְתוֹ, וְהוּא נִשְׁעָן עַל יָדוֹ תָּמִיד לֹא יִפָּרֵד מִמֶּנּוּ, וְהוּא נִקְרָא לוֹ בֶּן זְקוּנָיו בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁיְּשָׁרְתוֹ לִזְקוּנָיו. וְהִנֵּה לָקַח יַעֲקֹב אֶת יוֹסֵף לַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְהָיָה עִמּוֹ תָּמִיד, וְעַל כֵּן לֹא יֵלֵךְ עִם הַצֹּאן בִּרְעוֹתָם בְּמָקוֹם רָחוֹק.
The correct interpretation appears to me to be that it was the custom of the elders to take one of their younger sons to be with them to attend them. He would constantly lean on his arm, never being separated from him, and he would be called ben z’kunav because he attended him in his old age. Now Jacob took Joseph for this purpose, and he was with him constantly. He therefore did not accompany the flock when they went to pasture in distant places.
Why it matters — The Ramban's explanation that Yaakov's love was rooted in divine perception of Yosef's inner greatness.
Source 3 · Rishonim
VerifiedRashi on Bereishit
Rashi on Genesis 37:3
Rashi (citing Onkelos and the Targum) explains 'ben zekunim' as indicating that Yaakov transmitted to Yosef all the wisdom (חכמה) he had acquired, and that Yosef's face resembled his own. He also notes the coat reflects this special relationship.
בן זקנים. שֶׁנּוֹלַד לוֹ לְעֵת זִקְנָתוֹ. וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם בַּר חַכִּים הוּא לֵהּ – כָּל מַה שֶּׁלָּמַד מִשֵּׁם וָעֵבֶר מָסַר לוֹ. דָּ"אַ, שֶׁהָיָה זִיו אִיקוֹנִין שֶׁלוֹ דּוֹמֶה לוֹ:
בן זקנים THE SON OF HIS OLD AGE — because he was a wise son to him” — all that he had learnt from Shem and Eber he taught him (Genesis Rabbah 84:8). Another explanation of בן זקנים— his facial features were similar to his (Jacob’s) (Genesis Rabbah 84:8).
Why it matters — Rashi's classic Rishon explanation of why Yaakov loved Yosef more — both the intellectual and physical dimensions of their bond.
Source 4 · Rishonim
VerifiedSforno on Bereishit
Sforno on Genesis 37:3
Sforno explains that Yosef was especially dear to Yaakov because he was born of Rachel, Yaakov's primary wife, and because Yosef possessed superior intellect and virtue (sekhel), making him closest to Yaakov's spiritual level.
לְאוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הוּא הַמַּנְהִיג בַּבַּיִת וּבַשָּׂדֶה, כְּעִנְיַן "וְהִלְבַּשְׁתִּיו כֻּתָּנְתֶּךָ" (ישעיהו כב:כא), וְכְאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בבא קמא יא.) בִּגְדוֹל אָחִי כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלִשְׁתַּמְעָן מִילֵיהּ.
The Talmud Baba Kama 11 also confirms that authority is signalled by the attire worn by people possessing it. [there the brothers who had paid extra for their leader to represent them and to appear well dressed are quite content seeing that their representative while attired in costly garments will indirectly confer benefits upon them through their brother being listened to in the councils of the city.
Why it matters — Sforno's dual explanation combining the Rachel dimension with Yosef's intellectual and spiritual excellence.
Source 5 · Rishonim
VerifiedRashbam on Bereishit
Rashbam on Genesis 37:3
Rashbam explains 'ben zekunim' literally — Yosef was born to Yaakov in his old age and was therefore the youngest at home (Binyamin having been born just before), making him especially dear as a late-life child.
בן זקונים - כי אחרון היה לי"א בנים, אבל בנימין לא נולד אחרי כן עד זמן מרובה והרבה קודם שנולד בנימין, היה לו בן זקונים והתחיל לאוהבו.
בן זקונים, he was the most recently born of 11 children. There had been a considerable interval before Binyamin, the last of Yaakov’s children was born. Yaakov’s inordinate love for Joseph developed long before Binyamin was born.
Why it matters — A peshat Rishon interpretation of the literal meaning of Yaakov's love rooted in Yosef's status as a child of old age.
Source 6 · Rishonim
VerifiedZohar – Vayeshev
Zohar, Vayeshev 180a
The Zohar explains that Yaakov saw the Shekhinah resting upon Yosef uniquely among his sons, and that Yosef embodied the covenant of holiness (brit kodesh). Yaakov's love flowed from his recognition of this divine light within Yosef.
וַיָּבֹא רֹגֶז, דָּא רוּגְזָא וְעִרְבּוּבְיָא דְיוֹסֵף דְּאִיהוּ קַשְׁיָא מִכֻּלְּהוּ, מִגּוֹ רְחִימוּתָא דְיַעֲקֹב לְגַבֵּי דְיוֹסֵף דְּאִיהוּ רָזָא דִבְרִית, עָאל בְּמִצְרַיִם. בְּגִין דִּלְבָתַר כְּתִיב, (שמות ו׳:ה׳) וָאֶזְכֹּר אֶת בְּרִיתִי, לְאִשְׁתַּכָּחָא שְׁכִינְתָּא (נ"א שמש) תַּמָּן בַּהֲדֵיהּ.
“but trouble came”, to wit, the trouble and confusion of the loss of Joseph, which was the worst of all, on account of his love for Joseph.’
Why it matters — The Zohar's mystical perspective: Yaakov's love for Yosef was a response to perceiving the Shekhinah and the light of Yesod dwelling within him.