“The Children of Israel were fruitful, teemed.…” (1:7)
Rashi quotes the Midrash that learns from the above verse “The Children of Israel were fruitful, teemed, increased, and became strong – very, very much so” that Hashem made a miracle that whenever a woman gave birth, she gave birth to six children. The Midrash says that the verse is hinting to this because the verse uses six expressions of increase. “פָּרוּ– fruitful, וַיִּשְׁרְצוּ– teemed, וַיִּרְבּוּ– increased, וַיַּעַצְמוּ –became strong, בִּמְאֹד – very,מְאֹד – very much so.”
I would like to share with you an incredible thought based off the Rabbeinu Bechaya and the Kli Yakar. When Yosef was in prison, he was joined by Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker, who had each violated Pharaoh’s wishes (Bereishis 40:1).
The Torah relates that one morning, they were both troubled by their dreams they had the night before. The cupbearer told Yosef that in his dream he saw a grapevine that seemed to have budded, and its blossom bloomed. Yosef interpreted the dream as a positive message to the cupbearer.
In reality, this dream referred to far more than the cupbearer’s future; it also hinted to the future of Klal Yisroel (the Jewish nation). When the verse says that the vineyard budded and blossomed it hints that there will come a time in which the Jews will “blossom”: to be fruitful and to multiply. This vision has indeed fulfilled a litter later on in history – in this week’s Parsha (1:7).
The lesson is very meaningful: When Yosef was in prison and everything seemed bleak and dark, Hashem sent him a message through the dream of the cupbearer that his people will one day prosper, they would be fruitful and multiply. This teaches us that we are never alone. Hashem has all types of messengers and messages to uplift us and to bring us comfort. Never despair!
