Jacob lived (Vayechi) in the land of Egypt seventeen years (Gen. 47:28)
“The best years of Jacob’s life were equal to the numerical equivalent of the word “vayechi,” which is thirty-four. These were the seventeen years from Joseph’s birth until he was sold, and the seventeen years Jacob spent in Egypt. (Baal HaTurim)”
I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel (Gen. 48:14)
“There are no poor, scribes or teachers of young children except from the tribe of Shimon,” comments Rashi, the great Torah commentator. Jacob did not intend this only as a punishment, but as an antidote to Shimon’s undesirable character trait of insolence. Jacob worried that if Shimon and Levi were wealthy, no one would be able to oppose them. He therefore decreed that they be poor, forcing them to come to their brethren for assistance and thereby curbing their arrogance. (Kli Chemda)
And Joseph went up to bury his father (Gen. 50:7)
A person is judged with the same yardstick he uses to judge others. Joseph, the most respected of the brothers, involved himself personally in the burial of his father. He thereby merited that none other than Moses himself would later carry his bones back to the land of Israel. (Sotah, 9:4)
Gather together and I will tell you what will happen to you at the end of days (Gen. 49:1)
The Talmud relates that Jacob wished to reveal the end (of the exile) but it was concealed from him. The literal meaning, however, is that Jacob wished to “reveal, i.e., manifest and bring about, the end.”
In this context there is an important moral for every Jew. We are to follow in the footsteps of Jacob, and wish and pray for the manifestation of the ultimate end -- the final Geula. Seeking and contemplating this will of itself assist our service of G-d, inspiring us to attain our ultimate goal of Moshiach. (Likutei Sichot, Vol. XX)
