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עקידת יצחק — וישב יעקב / וישנאו אתו

Q (the cluster): If Yosef's descent to Egypt was God's plan to save the family, why are the brothers culpable? Why does the Torah dwell on the dreams, the coat, and the sale? How can divine decree and human guilt coexist? A (the unifying chiddush): God's overarching purposes do not compel the particular acts that individuals freely choose — "the general decree does not force the specific deed." Th

הכוונות האלהיות בהגעת הענינים הכוללים לא יכריחו הפעולות החלקיות אשר מיד האנשים

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עקידת יצחק

Akeidat Yitzchak 28:1

Q — If Yosef's descent to Egypt was God's plan to save the family, why are the brothers culpable? Why does the Torah dwell on the dreams, the coat, and the sale? How can divine decree and human guilt coexist?

A — God's overarching purposes do not compel the particular acts that individuals freely choose — "the general decree does not force the specific deed." The descent to Egypt was decreed, but the brothers chose their hatred and sale freely and are judged for the choice, not for serving the plan. Providence weaves free human choices into its design without removing their freedom or their accountability; the dreams and the coat are the natural occasions through which both the decree and the brothers' bechirah played out.

הכוונות האלהיות בהגעת הענינים הכוללים לא יכריחו הפעולות החלקיות אשר מיד האנשים

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