The number of Yaakov's sons who descended to Egypt

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1. These are the Names of the Children of Israel – Names and Numbers

   Parashat Vayigash

   Rabbi Yaakov Medan

   Parashat Vayigash counts Yaakov's sons who descend to Egypt. 69 people are named; why, then, does the Torah state that 70 of Yaakov's descendants went to Egypt? Additionally, women are rarely mentioned in the list - is it possible that no daughters were born to the House of Yaakov? And how did Yehuda's family grow so fast in such a short amount of time? Apparently the number 70 is not realistic. The number is symbolic, and its purpose is to compare the descendants to Egypt with the settlers of the land and the nations of the world.

2. Parshat HaShavua Parshat Vayigash - Groups of Sons

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 34 minutes

   Parashat Vayigash lists the seventy souls who came to Egypt with Yaakov. What is the significant difference between this list and the one in Parashat Vayishlach? One detail that jumps out is that one refers to Yaakov and the other one mentions Yisrael. But is there more than that? We examine the list of Esav's descendants, as well as the names for other family groupings (such as "Yehuda and his brothers") and find meaning in these distinctions.

3. Vayigash: Yaakov's "Sons" Hetzron and Hamul

   Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 18 minutes

   Parashat Vayechi is filled with family reunions, love within family, loss within family, trying to move on from loss, beginning from a seemingly minor point and getting to a point of greater significance. There is one pasuk describing Yehuda's "five" sons, mentioning the death of Er and Onan, and saying that the sons of Peretz are Hetzron and Hamul. We analyze this section in the midst of the list of Yaakov's 70 children. Why are Hetzron and Hamul here? Do they posthumously replace Er and Onan?  Through our investigation, we gain perspective on Tamar's actions, as well.