בס”ד
A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT VAYIGASH 5785
1. Jacob’s Response to Pharaoh’s Question
It seems that Jacob had visibly aged, with his gray hair and worn appearance drawing Pharaoh’s attention. His appearance sparked astonishment, as people of that time generally lived much shorter lives than the generations before. Amazed by what he saw, Pharaoh asked him, “How many are the days of the years of your life? Never in my entire kingdom have I seen a man who looks as old as you.”
| 8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob: ‘How many are the days of the years of thy life?’ | ח וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה, אֶל-יַעֲקֹב: כַּמָּה, יְמֵי שְׁנֵי חַיֶּיךָ. |
Jacob replied that he was 130 years old but told Pharaoh not to be astonished by his age. He emphasized that his years were few compared to the much longer lifespans of his ancestors. However, he also explained why he appeared so old: the years of his life had been hard, filled with trials and suffering. These years of toil and sorrow had taken their toll, causing him to turn gray and seem prematurely aged.
| 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh: ‘The days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty years; few and bad have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojournings.’ | ט וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב, אֶל-פַּרְעֹה, יְמֵי שְׁנֵי מְגוּרַי, שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה: מְעַט וְרָעִים, הָיוּ יְמֵי שְׁנֵי חַיַּי, וְלֹא הִשִּׂיגוּ אֶת-יְמֵי שְׁנֵי חַיֵּי אֲבֹתַי, בִּימֵי מְגוּרֵיהֶם. |
Rather than providing a straightforward answer, Jacob highlighted the hardships and brevity of his life. This response invites deeper reflection on what he truly valued.1
2. A Life of Sojourning
What is Jacob really saying here? It seems that instead of simply stating his age, he refers to his life as a journey—a series of sojourns. Jacob was acutely aware that his stay in Egypt was temporary, but his words suggest something deeper: a lifelong sense of being a stranger on Earth.
Jacob’s soul longed for a spiritual home, a connection to the Eternal. Because of this longing, he never felt truly at peace in his earthly life. Despite living 130 years, his days seemed filled with sorrow and hardship. He measures his life not in years, but in terms of its spiritual struggles and trials.
3. Longing for a Higher Home
According to the Midrash2, G-d responded to these words with criticism:
“I saved you from Esau and Lavan, I returned your daughter Dina to you, as well as your son Joseph. And yet you describe your life in negative terms before Pharaoh? Now I will ensure that your words come true by shortening your lifespan so that you indeed live fewer years than your father and grandfather.”
G-d therefore deducted one year for every word in Jacob’s response—33 words in total. As a result, Jacob passed away at the age of 147, exactly 33 years younger than his father Isaac, who lived to 180.
Jacob’s reply, however, reveals more than a simple complaint. He did not view his life in terms of quantity but rather in terms of quality. Despite his advanced age, he felt like a stranger on earth, acutely aware of the fleeting nature of earthly life. His longing for a better, eternal reality was profound. The challenges and trials he faced left a deep impression on his soul and weighed heavily on his physical being.
4. The Impact of Mindset on Longevity
This profound spiritual yearning and sense of being a “stranger” on earth may have had a significant impact on Jacob’s outlook on life, shaping how he viewed his existence. Jacob’s awareness of the fleeting nature of earthly life led him to perceive his days as few and full of hardship. Interestingly, this reflects a concept explored in modern science. Research has shown that people with a negative outlook—such as those experiencing depression or feelings of worthlessness—often have shorter lifespans.3
A key symptom of depression is the belief that one’s life lacks meaning or value, either to one’s family or to society at large. Jacob’s reflection on his “few and evil” days echoes this sentiment. His longing for another, better world may have contributed to his view of life as burdensome and fleeting, potentially influencing his overall well-being and even shortening his days.
5. Living by Days, Not Years
While Jacob’s life was marked by hardship and a sense of longing for something beyond this world, the Bible also encourages us to focus on the value of each day, rather than counting years. Instead of dwelling on what was lacking, we are called to recognize and appreciate the blessings we have in the present moment. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, a 19th-century Jewish thinker, emphasized this mindset by stating4:
“If you count by years, you no longer count the days. Only with a few exceptional people is each day full of meaning and recognized as such. A truly righteous person does not live by years, but by days.”
This perspective invites us to see the opportunity in each day—to grow, to contribute, and to embrace the goodness in our lives. By shifting the focus from the quantity of time to the quality of each day, we can cultivate a deeper sense of purpose and gratitude, not just for what we lack, but for all the good we already have.
6. Counting Our Days with Purpose
In the great Psalm of Moses (Psalm 90:12) , the fleeting nature of human life is likened to a dream. It concludes with the plea:
| 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom. | יב לִמְנוֹת יָמֵינוּ, כֵּן הוֹדַע; וְנָבִא, לְבַב חָכְמָה. |
This verse urges us to find meaning not in the length of our lives, but in the purpose and wisdom we cultivate each day. Each day is a chance to learn, to grow, and to align our actions with divine will.
7. Viewing Each Day as a Gift from the Eternal
We should see each day as a precious gift from the Eternal. It is an opportunity to reflect His light into the world, to serve others, and to deepen our understanding of His presence.
Even amid sorrow, illness, or hardship, we can find joy by trusting that everything works together for good. By cherishing each day, we affirm that life’s value lies not in the years we accumulate but in the meaning we create within each moment.
As Proverbs 13:7 reminds us:
| 7 There is that pretendeth himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that pretendeth himself poor, yet hath great wealth. | ז יֵשׁ מִתְעַשֵּׁר, וְאֵין כֹּל; מִתְרוֹשֵׁשׁ, וְהוֹן רָב. |
True wealth lies in living with purpose, gratitude, and connection to the Eternal.
By Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to Rabbi Tuvia Serber for his feedback
Sources:
- See Ramban on Genesis 47:9 ↩︎
- See Da’at Zekenim on Genesis 47:8 ↩︎
- This does not mean that when someone is depressed, G-d necessarily shortens their days. ↩︎
- Aish.com Article: Life Or Existence? by Rabbi Stephen Baars ↩︎
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