The Untold Story of Serach, Daughter of Asher

In this week's Torah portion (Vayigash), Serach, daughter of Asher, is mentioned. Chapter 44, verse 17 states, "The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah; and Serach, their sister." In this portion, Serach is also noted for telling Jacob that Joseph was still alive. In the Midrash, she is remembered as a wise woman, sought after by the great leaders for advice. Here are seven fascinating facts you might not have known about Serach, who knew the secret of redemption.

1. After years of believing his beloved son Joseph was devoured by wild beasts, Jacob's brothers encountered Joseph as ruler of Egypt. Joseph asked them to bring their elderly father quickly. Worried about the shock, they sent Serach, daughter of Asher, Jacob's granddaughter, to break the news gently.

According to "Midrash Hagadol," Serach waited until Jacob began his prayers and then recited in rhyme: "Is Joseph in Egypt? On his knees were born Manasseh and Ephraim?" These words touched Jacob's heart, and when he saw the wagons sent by Joseph, he realized his son was indeed alive.

In "Sefer HaYashar," it is told that Serach played her harp for Jacob and sang that Joseph was alive and ruling in Egypt.

2. Jonathan ben Uzziel, in his translation of the Torah, writes that "because Serach informed Jacob that Joseph lived, she was rewarded by entering paradise alive." In the Midrashim collection, it states: "For telling Jacob 'Joseph lives,' Jacob blessed her, saying: 'The mouth that brought me this news will never taste death.'"

3. Serach, daughter of Asher, lived a long life and was the only one who could testify about Joseph's coffin. In the Babylonian Talmud (Sotah, page 13a), it says: "See how cherished the commandments were to Moses, for while all of Israel was occupied with booty, he was concerned with a commandment... How did Moses know where Joseph was buried? They said: Serach, daughter of Asher, survived from that generation, and Moses approached her. 'Do you know where Joseph is buried?' She answered, 'The Egyptians made a metal coffin and placed it in the Nile to bless its waters. So Moses went and stood by the Nile's bank, etc.'"

4. Regarding Serach's long life, Pesikta de-Rav Kahana reports: In the house of study, the sages were recounting the story of the Exodus. Rabbi Yochanan expounded on the verse "and the waters were a wall unto them," explaining that the waters became a solid wall. Serach, daughter of Asher, observed and said: "I was there, and the waters were like a clear, radiant glass wall."

5. Serach knew the secret of redemption. In Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer (chapter 47), it's stated that the secret of redemption was that the redeemer would appear with the words 'I have remembered you.' This secret was passed from Abraham to Isaac, Isaac to Jacob, Jacob to Joseph, Joseph to his brothers, and Asher to his daughter Serach. After centuries of exile in Egypt, when Moses and Aaron performed signs before the elders, they went to Serach, saying, 'A man came to us and performed signs, saying "I have remembered you."' She replied, 'He is the man who will redeem Israel from Egypt, as I heard from my father.' And they believed immediately."

6. In Bereshit Rabbah, it is noted that Serach completed the count of those who went down to Egypt, numbering 70 souls.

7. In the Book of Samuel, during King David's time, a wise woman negotiated with Joab, son of Zeruiah, identifying herself as Serach, daughter of Asher. She is hinted at in her words during negotiations: "I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel!" She was the very Serach who 'completed' the number of Israelites to 70 souls.