RAV KOOK ON THE PARSHA PARSHAS VAYECHI

Translated and abridged by Rabbi Chanan Morrison Parshat Vayichi "Jacob called for his sons. He said, 'Gather together, and I will tell you what will happen in the end of days.'" (Gen. 49:1) In fact, Jacob never did reveal to his sons when the final redemption would take place. According to the Midrash, this esoteric knowledge was hidden from Jacob. The Midrash uses a parable to explain what happened between Jacob and his sons. The Parable of the Devoted Servant "It is like the devoted servant whom the king trusted with all that he possessed. When the servant realized his end was near, he assembled his sons in order to set them free and inform them where their will and deed were located. The king, however, found out and stood over him. When he saw the king, the servant backtracked from what he had planned to tell his sons. The servant began to entreat his sons, 'Please, remain servants of the king! Honor him just as I have honored him all my days.'"