PEOPLE OF THE LAND
Selections from classical Torah sources
which express the special relationship between
the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

YOSEF -
Proud of His Origins

Why did Yosef merit to be buried in Eretz Yisrael while Moshe did not?

The Midrash (Devarim Rabbah 2:8) supplies a perspective by contrasting the reactions of these two to a mention of their origins. When the daughters of Yitro reported to their father that "an Egyptian saved us" (Shmot 2:19) Moshe made no effort to correct this false impression and stress his Hebrew origin.

Yosef, on the other hand, made no effort to deny his Hebrew origin when Potifar's wife (Bereishet 39:14) derided him as a "Hebrew brought here to make fun of us." In his request to the chief butler he proudly mentioned that he came from the land of the Hebrews.

"He who proudly admits that this was his land shall be buried in it," declared Hashem, "but he who did not do so shall not be buried in it."