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Shabbat, 9 Tevet, 5787 · 19 December, 2026
18Then Judah approached him and said, "Please, my lord, let now your servant speak something into my lord's ears, and let not your wrath be kindled against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh.
יחוַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלָ֜יו יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֘ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִי֒ יְדַבֶּר־נָ֨א עַבְדְּךָ֤ דָבָר֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְאַל־יִ֥חַר אַפְּךָ֖ בְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֥י כָמ֖וֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹֽה:
Then…approached him… something into my lord’s ears.
Let my words enter your ears. [From Gen. Rabbah 83:6]
וַיִּגַּשׁ אֵלָיו וגומר … דָבָר בְּאָזְנֵי אֲדֹנִי.
יִכָּנְסוּ דְּבָרַי בְּאָזְנֶיךָ:
and let your wrath not be kindled.
From here you learn that he spoke to him harshly.
וְאַל־יִחַר אַפְּךָ.
מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁדִּבֵּר אֵלָיו קָשׁוֹת:
for you are like Pharaoh.
You are esteemed in my eyes like Pharaoh, this is its simple meaning. Its midrashic meaning is, however: You will ultimately be punished with צָרַעַת because of him, just as Pharaoh was punished because of my great-grandmother Sarah for the one night that he detained her (Gen. 12:17). Another explanation: Just as Pharaoh issues decrees and does not carry them out, makes promises and does not fulfill them, so do you. Now, is this the “setting of an eye,” concerning which you said [that you wanted] “to set your eye upon him” ? [See verse 21.] Another explanation: For like you, so is Pharaoh-if you provoke me, I will kill you and your master. [From Gen. Rabbah 93:6]
כִּי כָמוֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹֽה.
חָשׁוּב אַתָּה בְעֵינַי כְּמֶלֶךְ, זֶהוּ פְשׁוּטוֹ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ סוֹפְךָ לִלְקוֹת עָלָיו בְּצָרַעַת כְּמוֹ שֶׁלָּקָה פַרְעֹה עַל יְדֵי זְקֵנָתִי שָׂרָה עַל לַיְלָה אַחַת שֶׁעִכְּבָהּ (בראשית רבה). דָּבָר אַחֵר מַה פַּרְעֹה גוֹזֵר וְאֵינוֹ מְקַיֵּם, מַבְטִיחַ וְאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה, אַף אַתָּה כֵן; וְכִי זוֹ הִיא שִׂימַת עַיִן שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ לָשׂוּם עֵינְךָ עָלָיו? דָּבָר אַחֵר, כִּי כָּמוֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹה, אִם תַּקְנִיטֵנִי אֶהֱרֹג אוֹתְךָ וְאֶת אֲדוֹנֶךָ (בראשית רבה):
19My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father or a brother?'
יטאֲדֹנִ֣י שָׁאַ֔ל אֶת־עֲבָדָ֖יו לֵאמֹ֑ר הֲיֵשׁ־לָכֶ֥ם אָ֖ב אוֹ־אָֽח:
My lord asked his servants.
From the beginning, you came upon us with a pretext. Why did you have to ask all these [questions]? Were we looking to [marry] your daughter, or were you looking to [marry] our sister? Nonetheless, “we said to my lord” (verse 20). We did not conceal anything. [From Gen. Rabbah 93:8]
שָׁאַל אֶת־עֲבָדָיו.
מִתְּחִלָּה בַעֲלִילָה בָאתָ עָלֵינוּ, לָמָּה הָיָה לְךָ לִשְׁאֹל כָּל אֵלֶּה? בִּתְּךָ הָיִינוּ מְבַקְּשִׁים? אוֹ אֲחוֹתֵנוּ אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ? וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא כִחַדְנוּ מִמְּךָ דָּבָר (בראשית רבה)
20And we said to my lord, 'We have an old father and a young child of his old age, and his brother is dead, and he is left alone of his mother, and his father loves him.'
כוַנֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֔י יֶשׁ־לָ֨נוּ֙ אָ֣ב זָקֵ֔ן וְיֶ֥לֶד זְקֻנִ֖ים קָטָ֑ן וְאָחִ֣יו מֵ֔ת וַיִּוָּתֵ֨ר ה֧וּא לְבַדּ֛וֹ לְאִמּ֖וֹ וְאָבִ֥יו אֲהֵבֽוֹ:
and his brother is dead.
Out of fear, he made a false statement. He said [to himself], “If I tell him that he is alive, he will say, ‘Bring him to me.’” [from Gen. Rabbah 93:8]
וְאָחִיו מֵת.
מִפְּנֵי הַיִּרְאָה הָיָה מוֹצִיא דְּבַר שֶׁקֶר מִפִּיו, אָמַר אִם אוֹמַר לוֹ שֶׁהוּא קַיָּם, יֹאמַר הֲבִיאוּהוּ אֶצְלִי:
alone of his mother.
From that mother, he has no other brother. [From Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel]
לְבַדּוֹ לְאִמּוֹ.
מֵאוֹתוֹ הָאֵם אֵין לוֹ עוֹד אָח:
21And you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me, and I will set my eye[s] upon him.'
כאוַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ הֽוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ אֵלָ֑י וְאָשִׂ֥ימָה עֵינִ֖י עָלָֽיו:
22And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father, for if he leaves his father, he will die.'
כבוַנֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֔י לֹֽא־יוּכַ֥ל הַנַּ֖עַר לַֽעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־אָבִ֑יו וְעָזַ֥ב אֶת־אָבִ֖יו וָמֵֽת:
for if he leaves his father, he will die.
If he leaves his father, we are worried lest he die on the way, for his mother died on the way. [after Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel]
וְעָזַב אֶת־אָבִיו וָמֵֽת.
אִם יַעֲזֹב אֶת אָבִיו, דּוֹאֲגִים אָנוּ שֶׁמָּא יָמוּת בַּדֶּרֶךְ, שֶׁהֲרֵי אִמּוֹ בַּדֶּרֶךְ מֵתָה:
23And you said to your servants, 'If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.'
כגוַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ אִם־לֹ֥א יֵרֵ֛ד אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן אִתְּכֶ֑ם לֹ֥א תֹֽסִפ֖וּן לִרְא֥וֹת פָּנָֽי:
24And it came to pass when we went up to your servant, my father, and we told him the words of my lord,
כדוַֽיְהִי֙ כִּ֣י עָלִ֔ינוּ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ֖ אָבִ֑י וַנַּ֨גֶּד־ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי:
25that our father said, 'Go back, buy us a little food.'
כהוַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָבִ֑ינוּ שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־אֹֽכֶל:
26But we said, 'We cannot go down; [only] if our youngest brother is with us will we go down, for we cannot see the man's face if our youngest brother is not with us.'
כווַנֹּ֕אמֶר לֹ֥א נוּכַ֖ל לָרֶ֑דֶת אִם־יֵשׁ֩ אָחִ֨ינוּ הַקָּטֹ֤ן אִתָּ֨נוּ֙ וְיָרַ֔דְנוּ כִּי־לֹ֣א נוּכַ֗ל לִרְאוֹת֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ וְאָחִ֥ינוּ הַקָּטֹ֖ן אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אִתָּֽנוּ:
27And your servant, my father, said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two [children].
כזוַיֹּ֛אמֶר עַבְדְּךָ֥ אָבִ֖י אֵלֵ֑ינוּ אַתֶּ֣ם יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם כִּ֥י שְׁנַ֖יִם יָֽלְדָה־לִּ֥י אִשְׁתִּֽי:
28The one went away from me, and I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces, and I have not seen him since."
כחוַיֵּצֵ֤א הָֽאֶחָד֙ מֵֽאִתִּ֔י וָֽאֹמַ֕ר אַ֖ךְ טָרֹ֣ף טֹרָ֑ף וְלֹ֥א רְאִיתִ֖יו עַד־הֵֽנָּה:
29Now if you take this one too away from me, and misfortune befalls him, you will bring down my hoary head in misery to the grave.'
כטוּלְקַחְתֶּ֧ם גַּם־אֶת־זֶ֛ה מֵעִ֥ם פָּנַ֖י וְקָרָ֣הוּ אָס֑וֹן וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם אֶת־שֵֽׂיבָתִ֛י בְּרָעָ֖ה שְׁאֹֽלָה:
and misfortune befalls him.
For Satan accuses at the time of danger. [From Gen. Rabbah 91:9]
וְקָרָהוּ אָסוֹן.
שֶׁהַשָּׂטָן מְקַטְרֵג בִּשְׁעַת הַסַּכָּנָה (בראשית רבה):
you will bring down my hoary head in misery, etc..
Now that he is with me, I comfort myself over [the loss of] his mother and over [the loss of] his brother, but if this one [too] dies, it will seem to me as if the three of them died in one day. [From Gen. Rabbah 93:8]
וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּם אֶת־שֵֽׂיבָתִי וגו'.
עַכְשָׁו כְּשֶׁהוּא אֶצְלִי, אֲנִי מִתְנַחֵם בּוֹ עַל אִמּוֹ וְעַל אָחִיו, וְאִם יָמוּת זֶה, דּוֹמֶה עָלַי שֶׁשְּׁלָשְׁתָּן מֵתוּ בְּיוֹם אֶחָד:
30And now, when I come to your servant, my father, and the boy is not with us [since] his soul is attached to his (the boy's) soul,
לוְעַתָּ֗ה כְּבֹאִי֙ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ֣ אָבִ֔י וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתָּ֑נוּ וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ קְשׁוּרָ֥ה בְנַפְשֽׁוֹ:
31it will come to pass, when he sees that the boy is gone, he will die, and your servants will have brought down the hoary head of your servant, our father, in grief to the grave.
לאוְהָיָ֗ה כִּרְאוֹת֛וֹ כִּי־אֵ֥ין הַנַּ֖עַר וָמֵ֑ת וְהוֹרִ֨ידוּ עֲבָדֶ֜יךָ אֶת־שֵׂיבַ֨ת עַבְדְּךָ֥ אָבִ֛ינוּ בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֹֽלָה:
it will come to pass, when he sees that the boy is not here, he will die.
His father will die because of his calamity [of the loss of his son].
וְהָיָה כִּרְאוֹתוֹ כִּי־אֵין הַנַּעַר וָמֵת.
אָבִיו מִצָּרָתוֹ:
32For your servant assumed responsibility for the boy from my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him to you, I will have sinned against my father forever.'
לבכִּ֤י עַבְדְּךָ֙ עָרַ֣ב אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר מֵעִ֥ם אָבִ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־לֹ֤א אֲבִיאֶ֨נּוּ֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְחָטָ֥אתִי לְאָבִ֖י כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים:
For your servant assumed responsibility for the boy.
Now if you ask why I enter the fray more than my other brothers, [I will reply that] they are all [standing] from the outside [without commitment], while I have bound myself with a strong bond to be an outcast in both worlds. [From Gen. Rabbah 93:8]
כִּי עַבְדְּךָ עָרַב אֶת־הַנַּעַר.
וְאִם תֹּאמַר, לָמָּה אֲנִי נִכְנָס לַתִּגָּר יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁאָר אַחַי? הֵם כֻּלָּם מִבַּחוּץ וַאֲנִי נִתְקַשַּׁרְתִּי בְקֶשֶׁר חָזָק לִהְיוֹת מְנֻדֶּה בב' עוֹלָמוֹת:
33So now, please let your servant stay instead of the boy as a slave to my lord, and may the boy go up with his brothers.
לגוְעַתָּ֗ה יֵֽשֶׁב־נָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַנַּ֔עַר עֶ֖בֶד לַֽאדֹנִ֑י וְהַנַּ֖עַר יַ֥עַל עִם־אֶחָֽיו:
please let your servant stay.
I am superior to him in all respects: in strength, in battle, and in service. [From Gen. Rabbah 93:8]
8And now, you did not send me here, but God, and He made me a father to Pharaoh, a lord over all his household, and a ruler over the entire land of Egypt.
חוְעַתָּ֗ה לֹֽא־אַתֶּ֞ם שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם אֹתִי֙ הֵ֔נָּה כִּ֖י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיְשִׂימֵ֨נִי לְאָ֜ב לְפַרְעֹ֗ה וּלְאָדוֹן֙ לְכָל־בֵּית֔וֹ וּמשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
a father.
A colleague and a protector. [From Gen. Rabbah 93:10]
לְאָב.
לְחָבֵר וּלְפַטְרוֹן:
9Hasten and go up to my father, and say to him, 'So said your son, Joseph: "God has made me a lord over all the Egyptians. Come down to me, do not tarry.
טמַֽהֲרוּ֘ וַֽעֲל֣וּ אֶל־אָבִי֒ וַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ בִּנְךָ֣ יוֹסֵ֔ף שָׂמַ֧נִי אֱלֹהִ֛ים לְאָד֖וֹן לְכָל־מִצְרָ֑יִם רְדָ֥ה אֵלַ֖י אַל־תַּֽעֲמֹֽד:
and go up to my father.
The land of Israel is higher than all [other] lands. [From Kidd. 69a, b]
וַֽעֲלוּ אֶל־אָבִי.
אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל גְּבוֹהָה מִכָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת:
10And you shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children and your grandchildren, and your flocks and your cattle and all that is yours.
יוְיָֽשַׁבְתָּ֣ בְאֶֽרֶץ־גּ֗שֶׁן וְהָיִ֤יתָ קָרוֹב֙ אֵלַ֔י אַתָּ֕ה וּבָנֶ֖יךָ וּבְנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑יךָ וְצֹֽאנְךָ֥ וּבְקָֽרְךָ֖ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ:
11And I will sustain you there for there are still five years of famine lest you become impoverished, you and your household and all that is yours." '
יאוְכִלְכַּלְתִּ֤י אֹֽתְךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם כִּי־ע֛וֹד חָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים רָעָ֑ב פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵ֛שׁ אַתָּ֥ה וּבֵֽיתְךָ֖ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ:
28And Israel said, "Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
כחוַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֛ב עֽוֹד־יוֹסֵ֥ף בְּנִ֖י חָ֑י אֵֽלְכָ֥ה וְאֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ בְּטֶ֥רֶם אָמֽוּת:
Enough! My son Joseph is still alive.
I have enough happiness and joy, since my son Joseph is still alive. [From Targum Onkelos, Targum Jonathan]
רַב.
רַב לִי עוֹד שִׂמְחָה וְחֶדְוָה הוֹאִיל וְעוֹד יוֹסֵף בְּנִי חַי:
1And Israel and all that was his set out and came to Beer sheba, and he slaughtered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
אוַיִּסַּ֤ע יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּאֵ֣רָה שָּׁ֑בַע וַיִּזְבַּ֣ח זְבָחִ֔ים לֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י אָבִ֥יו יִצְחָֽק:
to Beer-sheba.
Heb. בְּאֵרָה שָׁבַע, like לִבְאֵר שָׁבַע, to Beer-sheba. The “hey” at the end of the word takes the place of the “lammed” at its beginning. [From Yeb. 13b]
בְּאֵרָה שָּׁבַע.
כְּמוֹ לִבְאֵר שֶׁבַע; הֵ"א בְּסוֹף תֵּבָה בִּמְקוֹם לָמֶ"ד בִּתְּחִלָּתָהּ:
to the God of his father Isaac.
One is required to honor his father more than he is required to honor his grandfather. Therefore, the sacrifices are associated with Isaac and not with Abraham. [From Gen. Rabbah 94:5]
לֵֽאלֹהֵי אָבִיו יִצְחָֽק.
חַיָּב אָדָם בִּכְבוֹד אָבִיו יוֹתֵר מִבִּכְבוֹד זְקֵנוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ תָּלָה בְּיִצְחָק וְלֹא בְאַבְרָהָם:
2And God said to Israel in visions of the night, and He said, "Jacob, Jacob!" And he said, "Here I am."
בוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֤ים | לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֙ל בְּמַרְאֹ֣ת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב | יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי:
8And these are the names of the children of Israel who were coming to Egypt: Jacob and his sons Jacob's firstborn was Reuben.
חוְאֵ֨לֶּה שְׁמ֧וֹת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הַבָּאִ֥ים מִצְרַ֖יְמָה יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב וּבָנָ֑יו בְּכֹ֥ר יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב רְאוּבֵֽן:
who were coming to Egypt.
Heb. הַבָּאִים. Relative to that time [when they were migrating to Egypt, the text] calls them “coming” [in the present tense], and [therefore] there is no reason to wonder why it is not written: “who came” (אֲשֶׁר בָּאוּ).
הַבָּאִים מִצְרַיְמָה.
עַל שֵׁם הַשָּׁעָה קוֹרֵא לָהֶם הַכָּתוּב בָּאִים, וְאֵין לִתְמֹהַּ עַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא כָתַב אֲשֶׁר בָּאוּ:
9And the sons of Reuben were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.
טוּבְנֵ֖י רְאוּבֵ֑ן חֲנ֥וֹךְ וּפַלּ֖וּא וְחֶצְרֹ֥ן וְכַרְמִֽי:
10And the sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, and Zohar, and Saul the son of the Canaanitess.
יוּבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֗וֹן יְמוּאֵ֧ל וְיָמִ֛ין וְאֹ֖הַד וְיָכִ֣ין וְצֹ֑חַר וְשָׁא֖וּל בֶּן־הַכְּנַֽעֲנִֽית:
the son of the Canaanitess.
The son of Dinah, who had been possessed by a Canaanite. When they killed Shechem, Dinah did not want to leave until Simeon swore to her that he would marry her - [Gen. Rabbah (80:11)].
בֶּן־הַכְּנַֽעֲנִֽית.
בֶּן דִּינָה שֶׁנִּבְעֲלָה לִכְנַעֲנִי; כְשֶׁהָרְגוּ אֶת שְׁכֶם לֹא הָיְתָה דִּינָה רוֹצָה לָצֵאת עַד שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע לָהּ שִׁמְעוֹן שֶׁיִּשָּׂאֶנָּה (בראשית רבה):
11And the sons of Levi were Gershon, Kehath, and Merari.
יאוּבְנֵ֖י לֵוִ֑י גֵּֽרְשׁ֕וֹן קְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי:
28He sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to direct him to Goshen, and they came to the land of Goshen.
כחוְאֶת־יְהוּדָ֞ה שָׁלַ֤ח לְפָנָיו֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף לְהוֹרֹ֥ת לְפָנָ֖יו גּ֑שְׁנָה וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה גּֽשֶׁן:
to direct him.
Heb. לְהוֹרֹת לְפָנָיו, as the Targum renders (לְפַנָאָה קֳדָמוֹהִי), to clear a place for him and to show him how to settle in it.
לְהוֹרֹת לְפָנָיו.
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, לְפַנּוֹת לוֹ מָקוֹם, וּלְהוֹרוֹת הֵיאַךְ יִתְיַשֵּׁב בָּהּ:
him.
[Lit., ahead of him.] Before he would arrive there. The Aggadic interpretation of [לְהוֹרֹת] is [that there should be teaching]: to establish for him a house of study, from which teaching would emanate. [From Tanchuma Vayigash 11]
לְפָנָיו.
קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּגִּיַע לְשָׁם. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה לְהוֹרוֹת לְפָנָיו – לְתַקֵּן לוֹ בֵּית תַּלְמוּד שֶׁמִּשָּׁם תֵּצֵא הוֹרָאָה:
29And Joseph harnessed his chariot, and he went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and he appeared to him, and he fell on his neck, and he wept on his neck for a long time.
כטוַיֶּאְסֹ֤ר יוֹסֵף֙ מֶרְכַּבְתּ֔וֹ וַיַּ֛עַל לִקְרַאת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אָבִ֖יו גּ֑שְׁנָה וַיֵּרָ֣א אֵלָ֗יו וַיִּפֹּל֙ עַל־צַוָּארָ֔יו וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ עַל־צַוָּארָ֖יו עֽוֹד:
And Joseph harnessed his chariot.
He personally harnessed the horses to the chariot to hasten to honor his father. [From Mechilta, Beshallach section 1]
וַיֶּאְסֹר יוֹסֵף מֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ.
הוּא עַצְמוֹ אָסַר אֶת הַסּוּסִים לַמֶּרְכָּבָה לְהִזְדָּרֵז לִכְבוֹד אָבִיו:
and he appeared to him.
Joseph presented himself to his father.
וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו.
יוֹסֵף נִרְאָה אֶל אָבִיו:
11Joseph settled his father and his brothers, and he gave them property in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had mandated.
יאוַיּוֹשֵׁ֣ב יוֹסֵף֘ אֶת־אָבִ֣יו וְאֶת־אֶחָיו֒ וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֤ם אֲחֻזָּה֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּמֵיטַ֥ב הָאָ֖רֶץ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ רַעְמְסֵ֑ס כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֥ה פַרְעֹֽה:
Rameses.
That is [part] of the land of Goshen.
רַעְמְסֵס.
מֵאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן הִיא:
12And Joseph sustained his father and his brothers and his father's entire household [with] bread according to the young children.
יבוַיְכַלְכֵּ֤ל יוֹסֵף֙ אֶת־אָבִ֣יו וְאֶת־אֶחָ֔יו וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יו לֶ֖חֶם לְפִ֥י הַטָּֽף:
[with] bread according to the young children.
According to what was required for all the members of their household.
לְפִי הַטָּֽף.
לְפִי הַצָּרִיךְ לְכָל בְּנֵי בֵיתָם:
13Now there was no food in the entire land, for the famine had grown exceedingly severe, and the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan were exhausted because of the famine.
יגוְלֶ֤חֶם אֵין֙ בְּכָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּֽי־כָבֵ֥ד הָֽרָעָ֖ב מְאֹ֑ד וַתֵּ֜לַהּ אֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ וְאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן מִפְּנֵ֖י הָֽרָעָֽב:
Now there was no food in the entire land.
It (Scripture) returns to the earlier topic, to the beginning of the famine years. [From Gen. Rabbah 89:9]
וְלֶחֶם אֵין בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ.
חוֹזֵר לָעִנְיָן הָרִאשׁוֹן – לִתְחִלַּת שְׁנֵי הָרָעָב:
were exhausted.
An expression of exhaustion, as the Targum renders ואשתלהי, and similar to this is “Like one who wearies himself shooting firebrands” (Prov. 26:18).
25They replied, "You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in my lord's eyes, and we will be slaves to Pharaoh."
כהוַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ הֶֽחֱיִתָ֑נוּ נִמְצָא־חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְהָיִ֥ינוּ עֲבָדִ֖ים לְפַרְעֹֽה:
Let us find favor.
that you should do this for us, as you have said.
נִמְצָא־חֵן.
לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ זֹאת כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ:
and we will be slaves to Pharaoh.
to pay him this tribute every year as a statute that will not be repealed.
וְהָיִינוּ עֲבָדִים לְפַרְעֹֽה.
לְהַעֲלוֹת לוֹ הַמַּס הַזֶּה בְּכָל שָׁנָה:
26So Joseph made it a statute to this day concerning the farmland of Egypt for the one fifth. Only the farmland of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.
כווַיָּ֣שֶׂם אֹתָ֣הּ יוֹסֵ֡ף לְחֹק֩ עַד־הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה עַל־אַדְמַ֥ת מִצְרַ֛יִם לְפַרְעֹ֖ה לַחֹ֑מֶשׁ רַ֞ק אַדְמַ֤ת הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ לְבַדָּ֔ם לֹ֥א הָֽיְתָ֖ה לְפַרְעֹֽה:
27And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt in the land of Goshen, and they acquired property in it, and they were prolific and multiplied greatly.
כזוַיֵּ֧שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גּ֑שֶׁן וַיֵּאָֽחֲז֣וּ בָ֔הּ וַיִּפְר֥וּ וַיִּרְבּ֖וּ מְאֹֽד:
And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt.
Where? In the land of Goshen, which is [part] of the land of Egypt.
וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם.
וְהֵיכָן? בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן שֶׁהִיא מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם:
and they acquired property in it.
Heb. וַיֵאָחִזוּ בָהּ, [which is] an expression of אִחֻזָה, holding.
Haftarah: (Ezekiel 37:15 - 28)
Please note: These Haftarah texts follow Chabad custom. Other communities could possibly read more, less, or a different section of the Prophets altogether. Please consult with your rabbi.
15And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
טווַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר:
16"And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write upon it, 'For Judah and for the children of Israel his companions'; and take one stick and write upon it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.'
טזוְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם קַח־לְךָ֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְתֹ֚ב עָלָיו֙ לִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְלִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָ֑יו (כתיב חֲבֵרָ֑ו) וּלְקַח֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְת֣וֹב עָלָ֗יו לְיוֹסֵף֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְכָל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָֽיו (כתיב חֲבֵרָֽו) :
And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write upon it, ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel his companions’.
These four words write upon it, to say that this stick is Judah’s and the tribe of Benjamin’s, who joined him.
ואתה בן אדם קח לך עץ אחד וגו'.
וכתוב עליו ליהודה ולבני ישראל חבריו. ארבע תיבות הללו כתוב עליו לאמר עץ זה ליהודה ולשבט בנימין שנלוה עליו:
and take one stick and write upon it.
This is for Joseph: the stick of Ephraim and the remaining nine tribes, which followed Jeroboam, who was of the tribe of Ephraim.
ולקח עץ אחד וכתיב עליו.
זה ליוסף עץ אפרי' ושאר תשעה שבטים שהיו אחרי ירבע' שהיו משבט אפרי':
17And bring them close, one to the other into one stick, and they shall be one in your hand.
יז
Text, translation and commentary: Chabad.org. English translation: Judaica Press.
יֵֽשֶׁב־נָא עַבְדְּךָ וגו'.
לְכָל דָּבָר אֲנִי מְעֻלֶּה מִמֶּנּוּ, לִגְבוּרָה וּלְמִלְחָמָה וּלְשַׁמֵּשׁ (בראשית רבה):
34For how will I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? Let me not see the misery that will befall my father!"
לדכִּי־אֵיךְ֙ אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה אֶל־אָבִ֔י וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתִּ֑י פֶּ֚ן אֶרְאֶ֣ה בָרָ֔ע אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִמְצָ֖א אֶת־אָבִֽי:
1Now Joseph could not bear all those standing beside him, and he called out, "Take everyone away from me!" So no one stood with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
אוְלֹֽא־יָכֹ֨ל יוֹסֵ֜ף לְהִתְאַפֵּ֗ק לְכֹ֤ל הַנִּצָּבִים֙ עָלָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָ֕א הוֹצִ֥יאוּ כָל־אִ֖ישׁ מֵֽעָלָ֑י וְלֹא־עָ֤מַד אִישׁ֙ אִתּ֔וֹ בְּהִתְוַדַּ֥ע יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶל־אֶחָֽיו:
Now Joseph could not bear all those standing.
He could not bear that Egyptians would stand beside him and hear his brothers being embarrassed when he would make himself known to them. [From Tanchuma Vayigash 5]
וְלֹֽא־יָכֹל יוֹסֵף לְהִתְאַפֵּק לְכֹל הַנִּצָּבִים.
לֹא הָיָה יָכוֹל לִסְבֹּל שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מִצְרִים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו וְשׁוֹמְעִין שֶׁאֶחָיו מִתְבַּיְּשִׁין בְּהִוָּדְעוֹ לָהֶם:
2And he wept out loud, so the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
בוַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ בִּבְכִ֑י וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע בֵּ֥ית פַּרְעֹֽה:
and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Heb. פַּרְעֹה בֵּית, the house of Pharaoh, namely his servants and the members of his household. This does not literally mean a house, but it is like “the house of Israel” (Ps. 115:12), “the house of Judah” (I Kings 12:21), mesnede in Old French, household. [From Targum Onkelos]
וַיִּשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעֹֽה.
בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל פַּרְעֹה, כְּלוֹמַר, עֲבָדָיו וּבְנֵי בֵיתוֹ, וְאֵין זֶה לְשׁוֹן בַּיִת מַמָּשׁ, אֶלָּא כְמוֹ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בֵּית יְהוּדָה, מישנ"דה בְּלַעַז:
3And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" but his brothers could not answer him because they were startled by his presence.
גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֤ף אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ אֲנִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף הַע֥וֹד אָבִ֖י חָ֑י וְלֹא־יָֽכְל֤וּ אֶחָיו֙ לַֽעֲנ֣וֹת אֹת֔וֹ כִּ֥י נִבְהֲל֖וּ מִפָּנָֽיו:
they were startled by his presence.
Because of embarrassment. [From Tanchuma Vayigash 5]
נִבְהֲלוּ מִפָּנָֽיו.
מִפְּנֵי הַבּוּשָׁה:
4Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come closer to me," and they drew closer. And he said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
דוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֧ף אֶל־אֶחָ֛יו גְּשׁוּ־נָ֥א אֵלַ֖י וַיִּגָּ֑שׁוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֲנִי֙ יוֹסֵ֣ף אֲחִיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י מִצְרָֽיְמָה:
Please come closer.
He saw them drawing backwards. He said, “Now my brothers are embarrassed” (Tanchuma Vayigash 5). He called them tenderly and pleadingly and showed them that he was circumcised (Gen. Rabbah 93:10).
גְּשׁוּ־נָא אֵלַי.
רָאָה אוֹתָם נְסוֹגִים לְאָחוֹר, אָמַר עַכְשָׁו אַחַי נִכְלָמִים, קָרָא לָהֶם בְּלָשׁוֹן רַכָּה וְתַחֲנוּנִים, וְהֶרְאָה לָהֶם שֶׁהוּא מָהוּל (בראשית רבה):
5But now do not be sad, and let it not trouble you that you sold me here, for it was to preserve life that God sent me before you.
הוְעַתָּ֣ה | אַל־תֵּעָ֣צְב֗וּ וְאַל־יִ֨חַר֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֣י לְמִחְיָ֔ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים לִפְנֵיכֶֽם:
to preserve life.
Heb. לְמִחְיָה, to be to you a preserver of life. [From Targum Jonathan]
לְמִחְיָה.
לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם לְמִחְיָה:
6For already two years of famine [have passed] in the midst of the land, and [for] another five years, there will be neither plowing nor harvest.
וכִּי־זֶ֛ה שְׁנָתַ֥יִם הָֽרָעָ֖ב בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעוֹד֙ חָמֵ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵֽין־חָרִ֖ישׁ וְקָצִֽיר:
For already two years of famine.
have passed of the [total] years of the famine.
כִּי־זֶה שְׁנָתַיִם הָֽרָעָב.
עָבְרוּ מִשְּׁנֵי הָרָעָב:
7And God sent me before you to make for you a remnant in the land, and to preserve [it] for you for a great deliverance.
זוַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהִים֙ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם לָשׂ֥וּם לָכֶ֛ם שְׁאֵרִ֖ית בָּאָ֑רֶץ וּלְהַֽחֲי֣וֹת לָכֶ֔ם לִפְלֵיטָ֖ה גְּדֹלָֽה:
lest you become impoverished.
Heb. פֶּן-תִּוָּרֵשׁ, [which Onkelos renders:] דָּלְמָא תִתְמַסְכַּן, lest you become impoverished, [which is] an expression similar to “impoverishes (מוֹרִישׁ) and makes rich” (I Sam. 2:7).
פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵשׁ.
דִּלְמָא תִּתְמַסְכַּן, לְשׁוֹן מוֹרִישׁ וּמַעֲשִׁיר:
12And behold, your eyes see, as well as the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth speaking to you.
יבוְהִנֵּ֤ה עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ רֹא֔וֹת וְעֵינֵ֖י אָחִ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ין כִּי־פִ֖י הַֽמְדַבֵּ֥ר אֲלֵיכֶֽם:
And behold, your eyes see.
my glory and that I am your brother, for I am circumcised like you, and moreover, that it is my mouth that is speaking to you in the holy tongue (Gen. Rabbah 93:10).
וְהִנֵּה עֵֽינֵיכֶם רֹאוֹת.
בִּכְבוֹדִי, וְשֶׁאֲנִי אֲחִיכֶם שֶׁאֲנִי מָהוּל כָּכֶם, וְעוֹד, כי פי המדבר אליכם בִּלְשׁוֹן הַקֹּדֶשׁ (בראשית רבה):
as well as the eyes of my brother Benjamin.
He compared them all together, saying that “just as I harbor no hatred against my brother Benjamin, for he did not participate in selling me, neither do I have any hatred in my heart against you.” [from Meg. 16b]
וְעֵינֵי אָחִי בִנְיָמִין.
הִשְׁוָה אֶת כֻּלָּם יַחַד לוֹמַר, שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין לִי שִׂנְאָה עַל בִּנְיָמִין אָחִי, שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא הָיָה בִמְכִירָתִי, כָּךְ אֵין בְּלִבִּי שִׂנְאָה עֲלֵיכֶם:
13And you shall tell my father [of] all my honor in Egypt and all that you have seen, and you shall hasten and bring my father down here."
יגוְהִגַּדְתֶּ֣ם לְאָבִ֗י אֶת־כָּל־כְּבוֹדִי֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר רְאִיתֶ֑ם וּמִֽהַרְתֶּ֛ם וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־אָבִ֖י הֵֽנָּה:
14And he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
ידוַיִּפֹּ֛ל עַל־צַוְּארֵ֥י בִנְיָֽמִן־אָחִ֖יו וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וּבִ֨נְיָמִ֔ן בָּכָ֖ה עַל־צַוָּארָֽיו:
And he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept.
for the two sanctuaries which were destined to be in Benjamin’s territory and would ultimately be destroyed. [From Meg. 16b]
וַיִּפֹּל עַל־צַוְּארֵי בנימין אָחִיו וַיֵּבְךְּ.
עַל שְׁנֵי מִקְדָּשׁוֹת שֶׁעֲתִידִין לִהְיוֹת בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל בִּנְיָמִין וְסוֹפָן לֵחָרֵב:
and Benjamin wept on his neck.
for the Tabernacle of Shiloh, which was destined to be in Joseph’s territory yet would ultimately be destroyed. [From Meg. 16b, Gen. Rabbah 93:12]
ובנימין בָּכָה עַל־צַוָּארָֽיו.
עַל מִשְׁכַּן שִׁילֹה שֶׁעָתִיד לִהְיוֹת בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף וְסוֹפוֹ לֵחָרֵב (שם):
15And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and afterwards his brothers spoke with him.
טווַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ק לְכָל־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּ֣בְךְּ עֲלֵהֶ֑ם וְאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן דִּבְּר֥וּ אֶחָ֖יו אִתּֽוֹ:
and afterwards.
After they saw him weeping and that he was wholehearted with them.
וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן.
מֵאַחַר שֶׁרָאוּהוּ בוֹכֶה וְלִבּוֹ שָׁלֵם עִמָּהֶם:
his brothers spoke with him.
whereas previously they had felt shame before him.
דִּבְּרוּ אֶחָיו אִתּוֹ.
שֶׁמִּתְּחִלָּה הָיוּ בוֹשִׁים מִמֶּנּוּ:
16And the voice was heard [in] Pharaoh's house, saying, "Joseph's brothers have come!" And it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.
טזוְהַקֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמַ֗ע בֵּ֤ית פַּרְעֹה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֖אוּ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וּבְעֵינֵ֖י עֲבָדָֽיו:
And the voice was heard [in] Pharaoh’s house.
Heb. בֵּית פַּרְעֹה, equivalent to בְּבֵית פַּרְעֹה, and this is an expression [denoting] an actual house. [From Targum Onkelos]
וְהַקֹּל נִשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעֹה.
כְּמוֹ בְּבֵית פַּרְעֹה, וְזֶהוּ לְשׁוֹן בַּיִת מַמָּשׁ:
17And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, 'Do this load up your beasts and go, enter the land of Canaan.
יזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֱמֹ֥ר אֶל־אַחֶ֖יךָ זֹ֣את עֲשׂ֑וּ טַֽעֲנוּ֙ אֶת־בְּעִ֣ירְכֶ֔ם וּלְכוּ־בֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן:
load up your beasts.
with grain.
טַֽעֲנוּ אֶת־בְּעִירְכֶם.
תְּבוּאָה:
18And take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and [you will] eat the fat of the land.'
יחוּקְח֧וּ אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֛ם וְאֶת־בָּֽתֵּיכֶ֖ם וּבֹ֣אוּ אֵלָ֑י וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה לָכֶ֗ם אֶת־טוּב֙ אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וְאִכְל֖וּ אֶת־חֵ֥לֶב הָאָֽרֶץ:
the best of the land of Egypt.
[I.e.,] the land of Goshen. He prophesied but did not know what he was prophesying. They (the Israelites) would eventually make it (Egypt) like the depths of the sea, which have no fish. [From Avoth d’Rabbi Nathan, second version, ch. 43; Ber. 9b]
אֶת־טוּב אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם.
אֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן, נִבָּא וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מַה נִּבָּא, סוֹפָם לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ כִּמְצוּלָה שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ דָּגִים:
the fat of the land.
Heb. חֵלֶב הָאָרֶץ. Every [instance of] חֵלֶב is an expression meaning the best. [From Targum Onkelos]
חֵלֶב הָאָֽרֶץ.
כָּל חֵלֶב לְשׁוֹן מֵיטַב הוּא:
19And you [Joseph] have been commanded [to tell them], 'Do this: take yourselves wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and for your wives, and you shall carry your father and come.
יטוְאַתָּ֥ה צֻוֵּ֖יתָה זֹ֣את עֲשׂ֑וּ קְחֽוּ־לָכֶם֩ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ מִצְרַ֜יִם עֲגָל֗וֹת לְטַפְּכֶם֙ וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם וּנְשָׂאתֶ֥ם אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֖ם וּבָאתֶֽם:
And you [Joseph] have been commanded.
By me to say to them. [From Targum Jonathan]
וְאַתָּה צֻוֵּיתָה.
מִפִּי, לוֹמַר לָהֶם:
Do this.
So shall you say to them, that it is in my power [to provide for you].
זֹאת עֲשׂוּ.
כָּךְ אֱמֹר לָהֶם, שֶׁבִּרְשׁוּתִי הוּא:
20And let your eye not be concerned about your utensils, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.' "
כוְעֵ֣ינְכֶ֔ם אַל־תָּחֹ֖ס עַל־כְּלֵיכֶ֑ם כִּי־ט֛וּב כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לָכֶ֥ם הֽוּא:
21And the sons of Israel did so, and Joseph gave them wagons by Pharaoh's orders, and he gave them provisions for the way.
כאוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֥ם יוֹסֵ֛ף עֲגָל֖וֹת עַל־פִּ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֥ן לָהֶ֛ם צֵדָ֖ה לַדָּֽרֶךְ:
22He gave them all, to each one [several] changes of clothes, and to Benjamin he gave three hundred [pieces of] silver and five changes of clothes.
כבלְכֻלָּ֥ם נָתַ֛ן לָאִ֖ישׁ חֲלִפ֣וֹת שְׂמָלֹ֑ת וּלְבִנְיָמִ֤ן נָתַן֙ שְׁל֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת כֶּ֔סֶף וְחָמֵ֖שׁ חֲלִפֹ֥ת שְׂמָלֹֽת:
23And to his father he sent the following: ten he donkeys carrying of the best of Egypt, and ten she donkeys carrying grain, bread, and [other] food, for his father for the way.
כגוּלְאָבִ֞יו שָׁלַ֤ח כְּזֹאת֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה חֲמֹרִ֔ים נֹֽשְׂאִ֖ים מִטּ֣וּב מִצְרָ֑יִם וְעֶ֣שֶׂר אֲתֹנֹ֡ת נֹֽ֠שְׂאֹ֠ת בָּ֣ר וָלֶ֧חֶם וּמָז֛וֹן לְאָבִ֖יו לַדָּֽרֶךְ:
he sent the following.
Heb. כְּזֹאת, lit., like this, [meaning:] according to this amount. And what is the amount? Ten he-donkeys, etc.
שָׁלַח כְּזֹאת.
כַּחֶשְׁבּוֹן הַזֶּה, וּמַהוּ הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן? עשרה חמרים וגו':
of the best of Egypt.
We find in the Talmud (Meg. 16b) that he sent him aged wine because elderly people find contentment with it. [I.e., the fact that wine improves with age often affords contentment to the elderly.] According to the Midrash Aggadah (Gen. Rabbah 94:2 on verse 18), however, this refers to pounded beans [which have a soothing effect on a troubled spirit].
מִטּוּב מִצְרָיִם.
מָצִינוּ בַתַּלְמוּד שֶׁשָּׁלַח לוֹ יַיִן יָשָׁן שֶׁדַּעַת זְקֵנִים נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ, וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה גְּרִיסִין שֶׁל פּוּל:
grain, bread.
As the Targum renders.
בָּר וָלֶחֶם.
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:
and [other] food.
Things eaten with bread.
וּמָזוֹן.
לִפְתָּן:
24And he sent off his brothers, and they went, and he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way."
כדוַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַל־תִּרְגְּז֖וּ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ:
Do not quarrel on the way.
Heb. אַל-תִּרְגְזוּ בַּדָּרֶךְ. Do not engage in a halachic discussion lest the way cause you to stray. Another explanation: Do not walk with large steps, and enter the city while the sun is shining (Ta’anith 10b). According to the simple meaning of the verse, we can say that since they were ashamed, he (Joseph) was concerned that they would perhaps quarrel on the way about his being sold, debating with one another, and saying, “Because of you he was sold. You slandered him and caused us to hate him.”
אַל־תִּרְגְּזוּ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ.
אַל תִּתְעַסְּקוּ בִּדְבַר הֲלָכָה שֶׁלֹּא תִרְגַּז עֲלֵיכֶם הַדֶּרֶךְ, דָּבָר אַחֵר אַל תַּפְסִיעוּ פְסִיעָה גַסָּה וְהִכָּנְסוּ בַחַמָּה לָעִיר; וּלְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא יֵשׁ לוֹמַר, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ נִכְלָמִים, הָיָה דוֹאֵג, שֶׁמָּא יָרִיבוּ בַדֶּרֶךְ עַל דְּבַר מְכִירָתוֹ, לְהִתְוַכֵּחַ זֶה עִם זֶה וְלוֹמַר עַל יָדְךָ נִמְכַּר, אַתָּה סִפַּרְתָּ לָשׁוֹן הָרָע עָלָיו, וְגָרַמְתָּ לָנוּ לִשְׂנֹאתוֹ:
25So they went up from Egypt, and they came to the land of Canaan, to their father, Jacob.
כהוַיַּֽעֲל֖וּ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אֲבִיהֶֽם:
26And they told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive," and [they told him] that he ruled over the entire land of Egypt, and his heart changed, for he did not believe them.
כווַיַּגִּ֨דוּ ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר ע֚וֹד יוֹסֵ֣ף חַ֔י וְכִי־ה֥וּא משֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֣פָג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י לֹא־הֶֽאֱמִ֖ין לָהֶֽם:
and [they told him] that he ruled.
Heb. וְכִי הוּא משֵׁל, and that he rules.
וְכִי־הוּא משֵׁל.
וַאֲשֶׁר הוּא מוֹשֵׁל:
and his heart changed.
Heb. וַיָפָג לִבָּוֹ. His heart changed and went away from believing. His heart did not turn to [believe] these words. [וַיָפָג is] a term similar to “their taste changes” (מְפִיגִין טַעְמָן) in the language of the Mishnah (Bezah 14a), and “without respite (הֲפֻגוֹת)” (Lam. 3:49). Also “and its bouquet did not change” (Jer. 48: 11) is translated [into Aramaic] as וְרֵיחֵיה לֹא פָג.
וַיָּפָג לִבּוֹ.
נֶחֱלַף לִבּוֹ וְהָלַךְ מִלְּהַאֲמִין, לֹא הָיָה לִבּוֹ פוֹנֶה אֶל הַדְּבָרִים, לְשׁוֹן מְפִיגִין טַעֲמָן בִּלְשׁוֹן מִשְׁנָה וּכְמוֹ מֵאֵין הֲפֻגוֹת (איכה ג'), וְרֵיחוֹ לֹא נָמָר (ירמיהו מ"ח), מְתַּרְגְּמִינַן וְרֵיחֵיהּ לָא פָג:
27And they told him all of Joseph's words that he had said to them, and he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, and the spirit of their father Jacob was revived.
כזוַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו אֵ֣ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֤י יוֹסֵף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֲגָל֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח יוֹסֵ֖ף לָשֵׂ֣את אֹת֑וֹ וַתְּחִ֕י ר֖וּחַ יַֽעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶֽם:
all of Joseph’s words.
He (Joseph) gave them a sign, viz., in what topic he was engaged when he (Joseph) separated from him (Jacob). [That was] the section dealing with the heifer that was to be beheaded (עֶגְלָה עִרוּפָה) (Deut. 21), and this is what [Scripture] says, “and he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent,” and it (Scripture) does not say, “that Pharaoh had sent.” [from Gen. Rabbah 94:3]
אֵת כָּל־דִּבְרֵי יוֹסֵף.
סִימָן מָסַר לָהֶם בַּמֶּה הָיָה עוֹסֵק כְּשֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ – בְּפָרָשַׁת עֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה, זֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וירא את העגלות אשר שלח יוסף, וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר אֲשֶׁר שָׁלַח פַּרְעֹה:
and the spirit of…Jacob was revived.
The Shechinah, which had separated from him [because of his grief], rested upon him [once again]. [From Avoth d’Rabbi Nathan , ch. 30, Targum Onkelos , Targum Jonathan]
וַתְּחִי רוּחַ יַֽעֲקֹב.
שָׁרְתָה עָלָיו שְׁכִינָה, שֶׁפֵּרְשָׁה מִמֶּנּוּ:
“Jacob, Jacob!”.
An expression of affection. [From Sifra, Vayikra 1, Toseftas Ber. 1:15] [The repetition of his name is an expression of affection.]
יַֽעֲקֹב יַֽעֲקֹב.
לְשׁוֹן חִבָּה:
3And He said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.
גוַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָֽנֹכִ֥י הָאֵ֖ל אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אַל־תִּירָא֙ מֵֽרְדָ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יְמָה כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֥ שָֽׁם:
Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt.
[God encouraged him] because he was troubled at being compelled to leave the Holy Land.
אַל־תִּירָא מֵֽרְדָה מִצְרַיְמָה.
לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה מֵצֵר עַל שֶׁנִּזְקָק לָצֵאת לְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ:
4I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up, and Joseph will place his hand on your eyes.
דאָֽנֹכִ֗י אֵרֵ֤ד עִמְּךָ֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה וְאָֽנֹכִ֖י אַֽעַלְךָ֣ גַם־עָלֹ֑ה וְיוֹסֵ֕ף יָשִׁ֥ית יָד֖וֹ עַל־עֵינֶֽיךָ:
and I will also bring you up.
He promised him (Jacob) that he would be interred in the [Holy] Land. — [from Yerushalmi Sotah 1:10]
וְאָֽנֹכִי אַֽעַלְךָ.
הִבְטִיחוֹ לִהְיוֹת נִקְבָּר בָּאָרֶץ:
5And Jacob arose from Beer sheba, and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their young children and their wives, in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
הוַיָּ֥קָם יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיִּשְׂא֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב אֲבִיהֶ֗ם וְאֶת־טַפָּם֙ וְאֶת־נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם בָּֽעֲגָל֕וֹת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח פַּרְעֹ֖ה לָשֵׂ֥את אֹתֽוֹ:
6And they took their livestock and their possessions that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.
ווַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶת־מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם וְאֶת־רְכוּשָׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָֽכְשׁוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ מִצְרָ֑יְמָה יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב וְכָל־זַרְע֥וֹ אִתּֽוֹ:
that they had acquired in the land of Canaan.
But of what he had acquired in Padan-Aram he gave everything to Esau [in payment] for his share in the Cave of Machpelah. He said, “Possessions [acquired] outside the Land (of Israel) are inappropriate for me.” This is the meaning of“which I acquired for myself with heaps (כָּרִיתִי)” (Gen. 50:5). He placed before him stacks of gold and silver like a heap [of grain] (כְּרִי) and said to him,“Take these.” [from Tanchuma Buber, Vayishlach 11]
אֲשֶׁר רָֽכְשׁוּ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן.
אֲבָל מַה שֶּׁרָכַשׁ בְּפַדַּן אֲרָם נָתַן הַכֹּל לְעֵשָׂו בִּשְׁבִיל חֶלְקוֹ בִּמְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה; אָמַר נִכְסֵי חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ אֵינָן כְּדַאי לִי, וְזֶהוּ אֲשֶׁר כָּרִיתִי לִי, הֶעֱמִיד לוֹ צִבּוּרִין שֶׁל זָהָב וָכֶסֶף כְּמִין כְּרִי וְאָמַר לוֹ טֹל אֶת אֵלּוּ:
7His sons and his sons' sons with him, his daughters and his sons' daughters and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.
זבָּנָ֞יו וּבְנֵ֤י בָנָיו֙ אִתּ֔וֹ בְּנֹתָ֛יו וּבְנ֥וֹת בָּנָ֖יו וְכָל־זַרְע֑וֹ הֵבִ֥יא אִתּ֖וֹ מִצְרָֽיְמָה:
his sons’ daughters.
Serah the daughter of Asher and Jochebed the daughter of Levi.
וּבְנוֹת בָּנָיו.
סֶרַח בַּת אָשֵׁר וְיוֹכֶבֶד בַּת לֵוִי:
12And the sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. Now Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan; and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
יבוּבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה עֵ֧ר וְאוֹנָ֛ן וְשֵׁלָ֖ה וָפֶ֣רֶץ וָזָ֑רַח וַיָּ֨מָת עֵ֤ר וְאוֹנָן֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ בְנֵי־פֶ֖רֶץ חֶצְרֹ֥ן וְחָמֽוּל:
13And the sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvvah, Iob, and Shimron.
יגוּבְנֵ֖י יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר תּוֹלָ֥ע וּפֻוָּ֖ה וְי֥וֹב וְשִׁמְרֹֽן:
14And the sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
ידוּבְנֵ֖י זְבֻל֑וּן סֶ֥רֶד וְאֵל֖וֹן וְיַחְלְאֵֽל:
15These are the sons of Leah, that she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, and Dinah his daughter. All the souls of his sons and daughters were thirty three.
טואֵ֣לֶּה | בְּנֵ֣י לֵאָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָֽלְדָ֤ה לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙ בְּפַדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת דִּינָ֣ה בִתּ֑וֹ כָּל־נֶ֧פֶשׁ בָּנָ֛יו וּבְנוֹתָ֖יו שְׁלשִׁ֥ים וְשָׁלֽשׁ:
These are the sons of Leah …and Dinah his daughter.
The males are attributed to Leah and the females to Jacob, to teach you that if the woman emits seed first, she gives birth to a male, but if the male emits seed first, she (the woman) gives birth to a female. [From Niddah 31a]
אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי לֵאָה וְאֵת דִּינָה בִתּוֹ.
הַזְּכָרִים תָּלָה בְלֵאָה וְהַנְּקֵבוֹת תָּלָה בְיַעֲקֹב, לְלַמֶּדְךָ, אִשָּׁה מַזְרַעַת תְּחִלָּה יוֹלֶדֶת זָכָר, אִישׁ מַזְרִיעַ תְּחִלָּה יוֹלֶדֶת נְקֵבָה:
thirty-three.
But if you count them individually, you find only thirty-two. This [missing one] is Jochebed, who was born between the walls when they entered the city, as it is said: “whom she bore to Levi in Egypt” (Num. 26:59). Her birth was in Egypt, but her conception was not in Egypt. [From Num. Rabbah 13:20]
שְׁלשִׁים וְשָׁלֽשׁ.
וּבִפְרָטָן אִי אַתָּה מוֹצֵא אֶלָּא שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁנַיִם, אֶלָּא זוֹ יוֹכֶבֶד שֶׁנּוֹלְדָה בֵין הַחוֹמוֹת בִּכְנִיסָתָן לָעִיר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה אֹתָהּ לְלֵוִי בְּמִצְרָיִם – לֵדָתָהּ בְּמִצְרַיִם וְאֵין הוֹרָתָהּ בְּמִצְרַיִם:
16And the sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.
טזוּבְנֵ֣י גָ֔ד צִפְי֥וֹן וְחַגִּ֖י שׁוּנִ֣י וְאֶצְבֹּ֑ן עֵרִ֥י וַֽאֲרוֹדִ֖י וְאַרְאֵלִֽי:
17And the sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Briah, and Serah, their sister; and the sons of Briah were Heber and Malkiel.
יזוּבְנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֗ר יִמְנָ֧ה וְיִשְׁוָ֛ה וְיִשְׁוִ֥י וּבְרִיעָ֖ה וְשֶׂ֣רַח אֲחֹתָ֑ם וּבְנֵ֣י בְרִיעָ֔ה חֶ֖בֶר וּמַלְכִּיאֵֽל:
18These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah, and she bore these to Jacob, sixteen souls.
יחאֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י זִלְפָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָבָ֖ן לְלֵאָ֣ה בִתּ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֤לֶד אֶת־אֵ֨לֶּה֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב שֵׁ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה נָֽפֶשׁ:
19The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife, were Joseph and Benjamin.
יטבְּנֵ֤י רָחֵל֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב יוֹסֵ֖ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן:
The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife.
Concerning none of them does it say [Jacob’s] “wife,” but [the meaning is] that she was the mainstay of the household. [From Gen. Rabbah 73:2] Cf. Gen 31:33.
בְּנֵי רָחֵל אֵשֶׁת יַֽעֲקֹב.
וּבְכֻלָּן לֹא נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶן אֵשֶׁת, אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיְתָה עִקָּרוֹ שֶׁל בַּיִת:
20And to Joseph were born in the land of Egypt, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the governor of On, bore to him: Manasseh and Ephraim.
כוַיִּוָּלֵ֣ד לְיוֹסֵף֘ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֒יִם֒ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָֽלְדָה־לּוֹ֙ אָֽסְנַ֔ת בַּת־פּ֥וֹטִי פֶ֖רַע כֹּהֵ֣ן אֹ֑ן אֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־אֶפְרָֽיִם:
21And the sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Na'aman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
כאוּבְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֗ן בֶּ֤לַע וָבֶ֨כֶר֙ וְאַשְׁבֵּ֔ל גֵּרָ֥א וְנַֽעֲמָ֖ן אֵחִ֣י וָרֹ֑אשׁ מֻפִּ֥ים וְחֻפִּ֖ים וָאָֽרְדְּ:
22These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.
כבאֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י רָחֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻלַּ֖ד לְיַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כָּל־נֶ֖פֶשׁ אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר:
23And the sons of Dan: Hushim.
כגוּבְנֵי־דָ֖ן חֻשִֽׁים:
24And the sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.
כדוּבְנֵ֖י נַפְתָּלִ֑י יַחְצְאֵ֥ל וְגוּנִ֖י וְיֵ֥צֶר וְשִׁלֵּֽם:
25These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel, and she bore these to Jacob, all the souls were seven.
כהאֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י בִלְהָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָבָ֖ן לְרָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֧לֶד אֶת־אֵ֛לֶּה לְיַֽעֲקֹ֖ב כָּל־נֶ֥פֶשׁ שִׁבְעָֽה:
26All the souls coming to Egypt with Jacob, those descended from him, excluding the wives of Jacob's sons, all the souls were sixty six.
כוכָּל־הַ֠נֶּ֠פֶשׁ הַבָּאָ֨ה לְיַֽעֲקֹ֤ב מִצְרַ֨יְמָה֙ יֹֽצְאֵ֣י יְרֵכ֔וֹ מִלְּבַ֖ד נְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵי־יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כָּל־נֶ֖פֶשׁ שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וָשֵֽׁשׁ:
All the souls coming…with Jacob.
Who left the land of Canaan to come to Egypt. Now this [word] הַבָּאָה is not the past tense but the present tense, similar to “In the evening she would come (בָאָה)” (Esther 2:14), and like “and behold, his daughter Rachel is coming (בָּאָה) with the sheep” (Gen. 29:6). Therefore, its accent is below (i.e., at the end of the word), on the “aleph,” because when they left to come from the land of Canaan, they were only 66 [excluding Jochebed, Joseph, and his two sons]. The second [instance of הַבָּאָה, however,] “all the souls of the house of Jacob who came (הַבָּאָה) to Egypt were seventy,” is in the past tense; therefore, its accent is above (i.e., on an earlier syllable), on the “beth,” because when they came there they were seventy, for there they found Joseph and his two sons, and Jochebed was added to them between the walls. According to the one who says that twin sisters were born with [each of the progenitors of] the tribes (37: 35), we must say that they died before their descent to Egypt, for they were not counted here. I found in Leviticus Rabbah (4:6): Esau had six souls [in his family], and the text calls them נַפְשׁוֹת בֵּיתוֹ,“the souls of his household” (Gen. 36:6) in the plural, because they worshipped many gods [in his family, each his or her own deity]. Jacob had seventy (souls), but the text calls them נֶפֶשׁ [in the singular] because they [all] worshiped one God.
כָּל־הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַבָּאָה לְיַֽעֲקֹב.
שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מֵאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לָבֹא לְמִצְרַיִם; וְאֵין "הַבָּאָה" זוֹ לְשׁוֹן עָבָר אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן הוֹוֶה, כְּמוֹ בָּעֶרֶב הִיא בָאָה (אסתר ב' ד'), וּכְמוֹ וְהִנֵּה רָחֵל בִּתּוֹ בָּאָה עִם הַצֹּאן (בראשית כ"ט), לְפִיכָךְ טַעְמוֹ לְמַטָּה בָּאָלֶ"ף, לְפִי שֶׁכְּשֶׁיָּצְאוּ לָבֹא מֵאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לֹא הָיוּ אֶלָּא שִׁשִּׁים וָשֵׁשׁ, וְהַשֵּׁנִי, כָּל הַנֶּפֶשׁ לְבֵית יַעֲקֹב הַבָּאָה מִצְרַיְמָה שִׁבְעִים – הוּא לְשׁוֹן עָבָר, לְפִיכָךְ טַעְמוֹ לְמַעְלָה בַּבֵּי"ת, לְפִי שֶׁמִּשֶּׁבָּאוּ שָׁם הָיוּ שִׁבְעִים, שֶׁמָּצְאוּ שָׁם יוֹסֵף וּשְׁנֵי בָנָיו, וְנִתּוֹסְפָה לָהֶם יוֹכֶבֶד בֵּין הַחוֹמוֹת. וּלְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר תְּאוֹמוֹת נוֹלְדוּ עִם הַשְּׁבָטִים, צְרִיכִים אָנוּ לוֹמַר שֶׁמֵּתוּ לִפְנֵי יְרִידָתָן לְמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא נִמְנוּ כָאן; מָצָאתִי בְּוַיִּקְרָא רַבָּה, עֵשָׂו שֵׁשׁ נְפָשׁוֹת הָיוּ לוֹ, וְהַכָּתוּב קוֹרֵא אוֹתָן נַפְשׁוֹת בֵּיתוֹ, לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְדִין לֶאֱלֹהוּת הַרְבֵּה; יַעֲקֹב שִׁבְעִים הָיוּ לוֹ, וְהַכָּתוּב קוֹרֵא אוֹתָן נֶפֶשׁ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה עוֹבְדִים לְאֵל אֶחָד:
27And Joseph's sons, who were born to him in Egypt, two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob who came to Egypt were seventy.
כזוּבְנֵ֥י יוֹסֵ֛ף אֲשֶׁר־יֻלַּד־ל֥וֹ בְמִצְרַ֖יִם נֶ֣פֶשׁ שְׁנָ֑יִם כָּל־הַנֶּ֧פֶשׁ לְבֵֽית־יַֽעֲקֹ֛ב הַבָּ֥אָה מִצְרַ֖יְמָה שִׁבְעִֽים:
and he wept on his neck for a long time.
Heb. עוֹד וַיֵבךְּ, an expression of profuse weeping, and likewise, “For He will not place additional [guilt] on a man” (Job 34:23), an expression of profusion. He (God) does not place upon him additional accusations over [and above] his sins. Here too he wept greatly and continuously, more than was usual. Jacob, however, neither fell on Joseph’s neck nor kissed him. Our Sages said that he was reciting the Shema. [From Derech Eretz Zuta 1:10, ed. Hager, p. 62; quoted in Bereishith Zuta; Yichusei Tannaim va’Amoraim, p. 180, Teshuvoth Hageonim, ch. 45]
וַיֵּבְךְּ עַל־צַוָּארָיו עֽוֹד.
לְשׁוֹן הַרְבּוֹת בְּכִיָּה, וְכֵן כִּי לֹא עַל אִישׁ יָשִׂים עוֹד (איוב ל"ד), לְשׁוֹן רִבּוּי הוּא – אֵינוֹ שָׂם עָלָיו עֲלִילוֹת נוֹסָפוֹת עַל חֲטָאָיו; אַף כָּאן הִרְבָּה וְהוֹסִיף בִּבְכִי יוֹתֵר עַל הָרָגִיל; אֲבָל יַעֲקֹב לֹא נָפַל עַל צַוְּארֵי יוֹסֵף וְלֹא נְשָׁקוֹ, וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁהָיָה קוֹרֵא אֶת שְׁמַע:
30And Israel said to Joseph, "I will die this time, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive."
לוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף אָמ֣וּתָה הַפָּ֑עַם אַֽחֲרֵי֙ רְאוֹתִ֣י אֶת־פָּנֶ֔יךָ כִּ֥י עֽוֹדְךָ֖ חָֽי:
I will die this time.
Its simple meaning is as the Targum renders. [If I should die this time, I would be consoled.] Its midrashic interpretation is, however: I thought that I would die two deaths, in this world and in the next world, because the Shechinah had left me, and I thought that the Holy One, blessed be He, would hold me responsible for your death. Now that you are still alive, I will die but once. [From Tanchuma Vayigash 9]
אָמוּתָה הַפָּעַם.
פְּשׁוּטוֹ כְתַרְגּוּמוֹ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ סָבוּר הָיִיתִי לָמוּת שְׁתֵּי מִיתוֹת, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְלָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנִּסְתַּלְּקָה מִמֶּנִּי שְׁכִינָה, וְהָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁיִּתְבָּעֵנִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִיתָתְךָ, עַכְשָׁו שֶׁעוֹדְךָ חַי, לֹא אָמוּת אֶלָּא פַעַם אַחַת:
31Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and I will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household who were in the land of Canaan have come to me.
לאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֤ף אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ וְאֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יו אֶֽעֱלֶ֖ה וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לְפַרְעֹ֑ה וְאֹֽמְרָ֣ה אֵלָ֔יו אַחַ֧י וּבֵֽית־אָבִ֛י אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־כְּנַ֖עַן בָּ֥אוּ אֵלָֽי:
and I will say to him.
‘My brothers, etc.’-and I will further say to him, ‘The men are shepherds, etc.’
וְאֹֽמְרָה אֵלָיו אַחַי וגו'.
וְעוֹד אֹמַר לוֹ, והאנשים רועי צאן וגו':
32The men are shepherds, for they were [always] owners of livestock, and their flocks and their cattle and all they have they have brought.'
לבוְהָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ רֹ֣עֵי צֹ֔אן כִּֽי־אַנְשֵׁ֥י מִקְנֶ֖ה הָי֑וּ וְצֹאנָ֧ם וּבְקָרָ֛ם וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם הֵבִֽיאוּ:
33And if it comes to pass that Pharaoh calls you and asks, 'What is your occupation?'
לגוְהָיָ֕ה כִּֽי־יִקְרָ֥א לָכֶ֖ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְאָמַ֖ר מַה־מַּֽעֲשֵׂיכֶֽם:
34You shall say, 'Your servants have been owners of livestock from our youth until now, both we and our ancestors,' so that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians."
לדוַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם אַנְשֵׁ֨י מִקְנֶ֜ה הָי֤וּ עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ֙ מִנְּעוּרֵ֣ינוּ וְעַד־עַ֔תָּה גַּם־אֲנַ֖חְנוּ גַּם־אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ בַּֽעֲב֗וּר תֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גּ֔שֶׁן כִּי־תֽוֹעֲבַ֥ת מִצְרַ֖יִם כָּל־רֹ֥עֵה צֹֽאן:
so that you may dwell in the land of Goshen.
which you need, for it is a land of pasture, and when you tell him that you are not skilled at any other work, he will send you away from him and settle you there.
בַּֽעֲבוּר תֵּֽשְׁבוּ בְּאֶרֶץ גּשֶׁן.
וְהִיא צְרִיכָה לָכֶם שֶׁהִיא אֶרֶץ מִרְעֶה, וּכְשֶׁתֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ שֶׁאֵין אַתֶּם בְּקִיאִין בִּמְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת, יַרְחִיקְכֶם מֵעָלָיו וְיוֹשִׁיבְכֶם שָׁם:
are abhorrent to the Egyptians.
Because they (the sheep) are their gods.
כִּי־תֽוֹעֲבַת מִצְרַיִם כָּל־רועה צֹֽאן.
לְפִי שֶׁהֵם לָהֶם אֱלֹהוּת:
1Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and he said, "My father and my brothers and their flocks and their cattle and all that is theirs, have come from the land of Canaan, and behold, they are in the land of Goshen."
אוַיָּבֹ֣א יוֹסֵף֘ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְפַרְעֹה֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אָבִ֨י וְאַחַ֜י וְצֹאנָ֤ם וּבְקָרָם֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָהֶ֔ם בָּ֖אוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְהִנָּ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ גּֽשֶׁן:
2And from among his brothers he took five men, and he presented them before Pharaoh.
בוּמִקְצֵ֣ה אֶחָ֔יו לָקַ֖ח חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּצִּגֵ֖ם לִפְנֵ֥י פַרְעֹֽה:
And from among his brothers.
From the most inferior of them in regards to physical strength, [i.e., those] who did not appear strong, for if he [Pharaoh] recognized them as being strong, he would make them his warriors. They are the following: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Benjamin, those whose names Moses did not double when he blessed them (Deut. 33), but the names of the strong ones he doubled, [as follows:] “And this is for Judah…Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah” (Deut. 33:7). “And regarding Gad he said, ‘Blessed be He Who granted space to Gad’ ” (ibid. 20). “And regarding Naphtali he said, ‘Naphtali’s wishes shall be well satisfied’ ” (ibid. 23). “And regarding Dan, he said, ‘Dan is a young lion’ ” (ibid. 22). And so on for Zebulun (ibid. 18), and for Asher (ibid. 24). This is a quotation from Genesis Rabbah (95:4), which is the Aggadah of Eretz Israel. In our Babylonian Talmud, however, we find that those whose names Moses doubled were the weak ones, and it was they whom he brought before Pharaoh. As for Judah (the sixth one), whose name was doubled, however, it was not doubled because of weakness, but there is a[nother] reason for it, as is stated in Baba Kamma (92a). In the Baraitha of Sifrei, in “Vezoth Haberachah” (354) we learn as in our Talmud. [I.e., the Sifrei identifies the five brothers as does the Talmud, namely that the five brothers were Gad, Naphtali, Dan, Zebulun, and Asher.]
וּמִקְצֵה אֶחָיו.
מִן הַפְּחוּתִים שֶׁבָּהֶם לִגְבוּרָה, שֶׁאֵין נִרְאִים גִּבּוֹרִים, שֶׁאִם יִרְאֶה אוֹתָם גִּבּוֹרִים יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָם אַנְשֵׁי מִלְחַמְתּוֹ, וְאֵלֶּה הֵם: רְאוּבֵן, שִׁמְעוֹן, לֵוִי, יִשָּׂשכָר וּבִנְיָמִין – אוֹתָן שֶׁלֹּא כָּפַל מֹשֶׁה שְׁמוֹתָם כְּשֶׁבֵּרְכָן; אֲבָל שְׁמוֹת הַגִּבּוֹרִים כָּפַל וְזֹאת לִיהוּדָה שְׁמַע ה' קוֹל יְהוּדָה; וּלְגָד אָמַר בָּרוּךְ מַרְחִיב גָּד; וּלְנַפְתָּלִי אָמַר נַפְתָּלִי, וּלְדָן אָמַר דָּן, וְכֵן לִזְבוּלוּן, וְכֵן לְאָשֵׁר; זֶהוּ לְשׁוֹן בּרֵאשִׁית רַבָּה, שֶׁהִיא אַגָּדַת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אֲבָל בְּתַלְמוּד בַּבְלִית שֶׁלָּנוּ (בבא קמא צ"ב) מָצִינוּ, שֶׁאוֹתָן שֶׁכָּפַל מֹשֶׁה שְׁמוֹתָן הֵם הַחַלָּשִׁים, וְאוֹתָן הֵבִיא לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה, וִיהוּדָה שֶׁהֻכְפַּל שְׁמוֹ לֹא הֻכְפַּל מִשּׁוּם חַלָּשׁוּת, אֶלָּא טַעַם יֵשׁ בַּדָּבָר, כִּדְאִיתָא בְּבָּבָא קַמָּא וּבְבָרַיְתָא דְּסִפְרֵי שָׁנִינוּ בָהּ בִּוְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה, כְּמוֹ תַּלְמוּד שֶׁלָּנוּ:
3And Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and our forefathers."
גוַיֹּ֧אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֛ה אֶל־אֶחָ֖יו מַה־מַּֽעֲשֵׂיכֶ֑ם וַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֗ה רֹעֵ֥ה צֹאן֙ עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ גַּם־אֲנַ֖חְנוּ גַּם־אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ:
4And they said to Pharaoh, "We have come to sojourn in the land, for your servants' flocks have no pasture, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen."
דוַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֗ה לָג֣וּר בָּאָ֘רֶץ֘ בָּ֒אנוּ֒ כִּי־אֵ֣ין מִרְעֶ֗ה לַצֹּאן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַֽעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ כִּֽי־כָבֵ֥ד הָֽרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְעַתָּ֛ה יֵֽשְׁבוּ־נָ֥א עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ גּֽשֶׁן:
5And Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, "Your father and your brothers have come to you.
הוַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף לֵאמֹ֑ר אָבִ֥יךָ וְאַחֶ֖יךָ בָּ֥אוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ:
6The land of Egypt is [open] before you; in the best of the land settle your father and your brothers. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen, and if you know that there are capable men among them, make them livestock officers over what is mine."
ואֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ לְפָנֶ֣יךָ הִ֔וא בְּמֵיטַ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ הוֹשֵׁ֥ב אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ וְאֶת־אַחֶ֑יךָ יֵֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גּ֔שֶׁן וְאִם־יָדַ֗עְתָּ וְיֶשׁ־בָּם֙ אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֔יִל וְשַׂמְתָּ֛ם שָׂרֵ֥י מִקְנֶ֖ה עַל־אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי:
capable men.
Skillful in their occupation of pasturing sheep.
אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל.
בְּקִיאִין בְּאֻמָּנוּתָן לִרְעוֹת צֹאן:
over what is mine.
Over my flocks.
עַל־אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי.
עַל צֹאן שֶׁלִּי:
7So Joseph brought his father Jacob and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob greeted Pharaoh.
זוַיָּבֵ֤א יוֹסֵף֙ אֶת־יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב אָבִ֔יו וַיַּֽעֲמִדֵ֖הוּ לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־פַּרְעֹֽה:
and Jacob greeted.
Heb. וַיְבָרֶךְ. This is a greeting, as is customary for all who occasionally present themselves before monarchs, saluder in Old French. [From Tanchuma Nasso 26]
וַיְבָרֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹב.
הִיא שְׁאִילַת שָׁלוֹם כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הַנִּרְאִים לִפְנֵי הַמְּלָכִים לִפְרָקִים, שלו"איר בְּלַעַז:
8And Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How many are the days of the years of your life?"
חוַיֹּ֥אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֖ה אֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כַּמָּ֕ה יְמֵ֖י שְׁנֵ֥י חַיֶּיֽךָ:
9And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my sojournings are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have been few and miserable, and they have not reached the days of the years of the lives of my forefathers in the days of their sojournings."
טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַֽעֲקֹב֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה יְמֵי֙ שְׁנֵ֣י מְגוּרַ֔י שְׁלשִׁ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָ֑ה מְעַ֣ט וְרָעִ֗ים הָיוּ֙ יְמֵי֙ שְׁנֵ֣י חַיַּ֔י וְלֹ֣א הִשִּׂ֗יגוּ אֶת־יְמֵי֙ שְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּי֣ אֲבֹתַ֔י בִּימֵ֖י מְגֽוּרֵיהֶֽם:
the years of my sojournings.
The days of my being a stranger. All my days, I have been a stranger in the land.
שְׁנֵי מְגוּרַי.
יְמֵי גֵרוּתִי; כָּל יָמַי הָיִיתִי גֵּר בָּאָרֶץ:
and they have not reached.
in goodness.
וְלֹא הִשִּׂיגוּ.
בְּטוֹבָה:
10So Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left Pharaoh's presence.
יוַיְבָ֥רֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַיֵּצֵ֖א מִלִּפְנֵ֥י פַרְעֹֽה:
So Jacob blessed.
According to the custom of all those who leave the presence of princes, that they bless them and take their leave. Now what blessing did he bless him? That the Nile should rise at his approach, because Egypt does not drink rain water, but the Nile rises and waters it, and since Jacob’s blessing, Pharaoh would come to the Nile, and it would rise to greet him and water the land. [From Tanchuma, Nasso 26]
וַיְבָרֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹב.
כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הַנִּפְטָרִים מִלִּפְנֵי שָׂרִים מְבָרְכִים אוֹתָם וְנוֹטְלִים רְשׁוּת, וּמַה בְּרָכָה בֵּרְכוֹ? שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה נִילוּס לְרַגְלָיו, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מִצְרַיִם שׁוֹתָה מֵי גְשָׁמִים אֶלָּא נִילוּס עוֹלֶה וּמַשְׁקֶה, וּמִבִּרְכָתוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב וָאֵילָךְ הָיָה פַרְעֹה בָא אֶל נִילוּס וְהוּא עוֹלֶה לִקְרָאתוֹ וּמַשְׁקֶה אֶת הָאָרֶץ (תַּנְחוּמָא):
וַתֵּלַהּ.
כְּמוֹ וַתִּלְאֶה, לְשׁוֹן עֲיֵפוּת, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ; וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּ הַיֹּרֶה זִקִּים (משלי כ"ו):
14And Joseph collected all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan with the grain that they were buying, and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.
ידוַיְלַקֵּ֣ט יוֹסֵ֗ף אֶת־כָּל־הַכֶּ֨סֶף֙ הַנִּמְצָ֤א בְאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ וּבְאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן בַּשֶּׁ֖בֶר אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֣ם שֹֽׁבְרִ֑ים וַיָּבֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־הַכֶּ֖סֶף בֵּ֥יתָה פַרְעֹֽה:
with the grain that they were buying.
they gave him the money.
בַּשֶּׁבֶר אֲשֶׁר־הֵם שֹֽׁבְרִים.
נוֹתְנִין לוֹ אֶת הַכֶּסֶף:
15Now the money was depleted from the land of Egypt and from the land of Canaan, and all the Egyptians came to Joseph, saying, "Give us food; why should we die in your presence, since the money has been used up?"
טווַיִּתֹּ֣ם הַכֶּ֗סֶף מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֘יִם֘ וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֒עַן֒ וַיָּבֹ֩אוּ֩ כָל־מִצְרַ֨יִם אֶל־יוֹסֵ֤ף לֵאמֹר֙ הָֽבָה־לָּ֣נוּ לֶ֔חֶם וְלָ֥מָּה נָמ֖וּת נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֥י אָפֵ֖ס כָּֽסֶף:
has been used up.
Heb. אָפֵס, as the Targum renders: שְׁלִים, [meaning] is ended. — [Rashi]
אָפֵס.
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ שְׁלִים:
16And Joseph said, "Give [me] your livestock, and I will give you [food in return] for your livestock, if the money has been used up."
טזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹסֵף֙ הָב֣וּ מִקְנֵיכֶ֔ם וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם בְּמִקְנֵיכֶ֑ם אִם־אָפֵ֖ס כָּֽסֶף:
17So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food [in return] for the horses and for the livestock in flocks and in cattle and in donkeys, and he provided them with food [in return] for all their livestock in that year.
יזוַיָּבִ֣יאוּ אֶת־מִקְנֵיהֶם֘ אֶל־יוֹסֵף֒ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָהֶם֩ יוֹסֵ֨ף לֶ֜חֶם בַּסּוּסִ֗ים וּבְמִקְנֵ֥ה הַצֹּ֛אן וּבְמִקְנֵ֥ה הַבָּקָ֖ר וּבַֽחֲמֹרִ֑ים וַיְנַֽהֲלֵ֤ם בַּלֶּ֨חֶם֙ בְּכָל־מִקְנֵהֶ֔ם בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הַהִֽוא:
and he provided them.
Heb. וַיְנַהִלֵם, similar to וַיְנַהִגֵם, and he guided them, and similar to this is “She has no guide (מְנַהֵל)” (Isa. 51:18),“ He leads me (יְנַהִלֵנִי) beside still waters” (Ps. 23:2).
וַיְנַֽהֲלֵם.
כְּמוֹ וַיְנַהֲגֵם, וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ אֵין מְנַהֵל לָהּ (ישעיהו נ"א), עַל מֵי מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי (תהילים כ"ג):
18That year ended, and they came to him in the second year, and they said to him, "We will not hide from my lord, for insofar as the money and the property in animals have been forfeited to my lord, nothing remains before my lord, except our bodies and our farmland.
יחוַתִּתֹּם֘ הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַהִוא֒ וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ אֵלָ֜יו בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשֵּׁנִ֗ית וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ לֹֽא־נְכַחֵ֣ד מֵֽאֲדֹנִ֔י כִּ֚י אִם־תַּ֣ם הַכֶּ֔סֶף וּמִקְנֵ֥ה הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֑י לֹ֤א נִשְׁאַר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י בִּלְתִּ֥י אִם־גְּוִיָּתֵ֖נוּ וְאַדְמָתֵֽנוּ:
in the second year.
The second of the famine years.
בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית.
לִשְׁנֵי הָרָעָב:
for insofar as the money and the property in animals have been forfeited, etc.
Heb. כִּי אִם. For insofar as the money and the property have been forfeited and everything has come into my lord’s possession.
כִּי אִם־תַּם הַכֶּסֶף וגו'.
כִּי אֲשֶׁר תַּם הַכֶּסֶף וְהַמִּקְנֶה וּבָא הַכֹּל אֶל יַד אֲדוֹנִי:
except our bodies.
Heb. בִּלְתִּי, like אִם לֹא גְוִיָתֵנוּ, if not our bodies.
בִּלְתִּי אִם־גְּוִיָּתֵנוּ.
כְּמוֹ אִם לֹא גְּוִיָּתֵנוּ:
19Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our farmland? Buy us and our farmland for food, so that we and our farmland will be slaves to Pharaoh, and give [us] seed, so that we live and not die, and the soil will not lie fallow."
יטלָ֧מָּה נָמ֣וּת לְעֵינֶ֗יךָ גַּם־אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ גַּם־אַדְמָתֵ֔נוּ קְנֵֽה־אֹתָ֥נוּ וְאֶת־אַדְמָתֵ֖נוּ בַּלָּ֑חֶם וְנִֽהְיֶ֞ה אֲנַ֤חְנוּ וְאַדְמָתֵ֨נוּ֙ עֲבָדִ֣ים לְפַרְעֹ֔ה וְתֶן־זֶ֗רַע וְנִֽחְיֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א נָמ֔וּת וְהָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה לֹ֥א תֵשָֽׁם:
and give [us] seed-.
[with which] to sow the soil. Although Joseph said, “and [for] another five years there will be neither plowing nor harvest” (Gen. 45:6), as soon as Jacob came to Egypt, blessing came with his arrival, and they started to sow, and the famine ended. So we learned in the Tosefta of Sotah (10:1-3).
וְתֶן־זֶרַע.
לִזְרֹעַ הָאֲדָמָה; וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָמַר יוֹסֵף וְעוֹד חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים אֲשֶׁר אֵין חָרִישׁ וְקָצִיר, מִכֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא יַעֲקֹב לְמִצְרַיִם בָּאָה בְרָכָה לְרַגְלָיו וְהִתְחִיל לִזְרֹעַ, וְכָלָה הָרָעָב, וְכֵן שָׁנִינוּ בְּתוֹסֶפְתָּא דְּסוֹטָה:
will not lie fallow.
Heb. לֹא תֵּשָׁם, will not be desolate, [and Onkelos renders:] לָא תְבוּר, an expression denoting a fallow field (שָׂדֶה בוּר), which is not plowed.
לֹא תֵשָֽׁם.
לֹא תְהֵא שְׁמָמָה; לָא תְבוּר – לְשׁוֹן שְׂדֵה בּוּר, שֶׁאֵינוֹ חָרוּשׁ:
20So Joseph bought all the farmland of the Egyptians for Pharaoh, for the Egyptians sold, each one his field, for the famine had become too strong for them, and the land became Pharaoh's.
כוַיִּ֨קֶן יוֹסֵ֜ף אֶת־כָּל־אַדְמַ֤ת מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה כִּי־מָֽכְר֤וּ מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ אִ֣ישׁ שָׂדֵ֔הוּ כִּֽי־חָזַ֥ק עֲלֵהֶ֖ם הָרָעָ֑ב וַתְּהִ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ לְפַרְעֹֽה:
and the land became Pharaoh’s.
I.e., it was acquired by him.
וַתְּהִי הָאָרֶץ לְפַרְעֹה.
קְנוּיָה לוֹ:
21And he transferred the populace to the cities, from [one] end of the boundary of Egypt to its [other] end.
כאוְאֶ֨ת־הָעָ֔ם הֶֽעֱבִ֥יר אֹת֖וֹ לֶֽעָרִ֑ים מִקְצֵ֥ה גְבֽוּל־מִצְרַ֖יִם וְעַד־קָצֵֽהוּ:
And he transferred the populace.
Joseph [transferred them] from city to city so that they would remember that they have no more share in the land, and he settled those of one city in another (Targum Onkelos). Scripture did not have to write this except to let you know Joseph’s praise, that he intended to remove the stigma from his brothers, so that they (the Egyptians) would not call them exiles. [From Gen. Rabbah 89:9, Chul. 60b]
וְאֶת־הָעָם הֶֽעֱבִיר.
יוֹסֵף מֵעִיר לְעִיר לְזִכָּרוֹן, שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם עוֹד חֵלֶק בָּאָרֶץ, וְהוֹשִׁיב שֶׁל עִיר זוֹ בַחֲבֶרְתָּהּ, וְלֹא הֻצְרַךְ הַכָּתוּב לִכְתֹּב זֹאת אֶלָּא לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ שִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף שֶׁנִּתְכַּוֵּן לְהָסִיר חֶרְפָּה מֵעַל אֶחָיו, שֶׁלֹא יִהְיוּ קוֹרִין אוֹתָם גּוֹלִים (חולין ס'):
from [one] end of the boundary of Egypt, etc..
So he did with all the cities in the kingdom of Egypt, from one end of its boundary to the other end of its boundary.
מִקְצֵה גְבֽוּל־מִצְרַיִם וגו'.
כֵּן עָשָׂה לְכָל הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר בְּמַלְכוּת מִצְרַיִם, מִקְצֵה גְבוּלָהּ וְעַד קְצֵה גְבוּלָהּ:
22Only the farmland of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh, and they ate their allotment that Pharaoh had given them; therefore, they did not sell their farmland.
כברַ֛ק אַדְמַ֥ת הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֖ים לֹ֣א קָנָ֑ה כִּי֩ חֹ֨ק לַכֹּֽהֲנִ֜ים מֵאֵ֣ת פַּרְעֹ֗ה וְאָֽכְל֤וּ אֶת־חֻקָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤ן לָהֶם֙ פַּרְעֹ֔ה עַל־כֵּ֕ן לֹ֥א מָֽכְר֖וּ אֶת־אַדְמָתָֽם:
the priests.
Heb. הַכֹּהִנִים, the priests. Every instance of כֹּהֵן means a minister to deities, except those that are an expression of high rank, like “the governor (כֹּהֵן) of Midian” (Exod. 2:16), “the governor (כֹּהֵן) of On” (Gen. 41:45). [From targumim]
הַכֹּֽהֲנִים.
הַכּוּמָרִים, כָּל לְשׁוֹן כֹּהֵן מְשָׁרֵת לֶאֱלֹהוּת הוּא, חוּץ מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁהֵם לְשׁוֹן גְּדֻלָּה, כְּמוֹ כֹּהֵן מִדְיָן, כֹּהֵן אוֹן:
the priests had an allotment.
An allotment of so much bread per day.
חֹק לַכֹּֽהֲנִים.
חֹק כָּךְ וְכָךְ לֶחֶם לַיּוֹם:
23Joseph said to the people, "Behold, I have bought you and your farmland today for Pharaoh. Behold, you have seed, so sow the soil.
כגוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹסֵף֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם הֵן֩ קָנִ֨יתִי אֶתְכֶ֥ם הַיּ֛וֹם וְאֶת־אַדְמַתְכֶ֖ם לְפַרְעֹ֑ה הֵֽא־לָכֶ֣ם זֶ֔רַע וּזְרַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה:
Behold.
Heb. הֵא, equivalent to הִנֵה, as in: “behold (הֵא) I have laid your way on [your] head” (Ezek. 16:43). [From targumim]
הֵֽא־.
כְּמוֹ הִנֵּה, כְּמוֹ וְגַם אֲנִי הֵא דַּרְכֵּךְ בְּרֹאשׁ נָתַתִּי (יחזקאל ט"ז):
24And it shall be concerning the crops, that you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and the [remaining] four parts shall be yours: for seed for [your] field[s], for your food, for those in your houses, and for your young children to eat."
כדוְהָיָה֙ בַּתְּבוּאֹ֔ת וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם חֲמִישִׁ֖ית לְפַרְעֹ֑ה וְאַרְבַּ֣ע הַיָּדֹ֡ת יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶם֩ לְזֶ֨רַע הַשָּׂדֶ֧ה וּלְאָכְלְכֶ֛ם וְלַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּבָֽתֵּיכֶ֖ם וְלֶֽאֱכֹ֥ל לְטַפְּכֶֽם:
for seed for [your] field[s].
Every year.
לְזֶרַע הַשָּׂדֶה.
שֶׁבְּכָל שָׁנָה:
for those in your houses.
For food for the manservants and maidservants who are in your houses.
וְלַֽאֲשֶׁר בְּבָֽתֵּיכֶם.
וְלֶאֱכֹל הָעֲבָדִים וְהַשְּׁפָחוֹת אֲשֶׁר בְּבָתֵּיכֶם:
your young children.
Heb. טַפְּכֶם, young children.
לְטַפְּכֶֽם.
בָּנִים קְטַנִּים:
25They replied, "You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in my lord's eyes, and we will be slaves to Pharaoh."
כהוַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ הֶֽחֱיִתָ֑נוּ נִמְצָא־חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְהָיִ֥ינוּ עֲבָדִ֖ים לְפַרְעֹֽה:
Let us find favor.
that you should do this for us, as you have said.
נִמְצָא־חֵן.
לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ זֹאת כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ:
and we will be slaves to Pharaoh.
to pay him this tribute every year as a statute that will not be repealed.
וְהָיִינוּ עֲבָדִים לְפַרְעֹֽה.
לְהַעֲלוֹת לוֹ הַמַּס הַזֶּה בְּכָל שָׁנָה:
26So Joseph made it a statute to this day concerning the farmland of Egypt for the one fifth. Only the farmland of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.
כווַיָּ֣שֶׂם אֹתָ֣הּ יוֹסֵ֡ף לְחֹק֩ עַד־הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה עַל־אַדְמַ֥ת מִצְרַ֛יִם לְפַרְעֹ֖ה לַחֹ֑מֶשׁ רַ֞ק אַדְמַ֤ת הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ לְבַדָּ֔ם לֹ֥א הָֽיְתָ֖ה לְפַרְעֹֽה:
27And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt in the land of Goshen, and they acquired property in it, and they were prolific and multiplied greatly.
כזוַיֵּ֧שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גּ֑שֶׁן וַיֵּאָֽחֲז֣וּ בָ֔הּ וַיִּפְר֥וּ וַיִּרְבּ֖וּ מְאֹֽד:
And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt.
Where? In the land of Goshen, which is [part] of the land of Egypt.
וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם.
וְהֵיכָן? בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן שֶׁהִיא מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם:
and they acquired property in it.
Heb. וַיֵאָחִזוּ בָהּ, [which is] an expression of אִחֻזָה, holding.
וַיֵּאָֽחֲזוּ בָהּ.
לְשׁוֹן אֲחֻזָּה):
וַיֵּאָֽחֲזוּ בָהּ.
לְשׁוֹן אֲחֻזָּה):
and they shall be one.
I shall join the two sticks, so that they will be one stick in your hand.
והיו לאחדים.
אני אחבר' לשני העצים שיהא עץ אחד בידך:
18And when the children of your people say to you, saying, 'Will you not tell us what these are to you?'
יחוְכַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ יֹֽאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ בְּנֵ֥י עַמְּךָ֖ לֵאמֹ֑ר הֲלֽוֹא־תַגִּ֥יד לָ֖נוּ מָה־אֵ֥לֶּה לָּֽךְ:
19Say to them, So says the Lord God: Behold I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel his companions, and I will place them with him with the stick of Judah, and I will make them into one stick, and they shall become one in My hand.
יטדַּבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם כֹּֽה־אָמַר֘ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ הִנֵּה֩ אֲנִ֨י לֹקֵ֜חַ אֶת־עֵ֚ץ יוֹסֵף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיַד־אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְשִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָ֑יו (כתיב חֲבֵרָ֑ו) וְנָֽתַתִּי֩ אוֹתָ֨ם עָלָ֜יו אֶת־עֵ֣ץ יְהוּדָ֗ה וַֽעֲשִׂיתִם֙ לְעֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וְהָי֥וּ אֶחָ֖ד בְּיָדִֽי:
Behold I will take the stick, etc..
that they shall no longer be two kingdoms.
הנה אני לוקח את עץ וגו'.
שלא יהיו עוד לשתי ממלכות:
20And the sticks upon which you shall write shall be in your hand before their eyes.
כוְהָי֨וּ הָעֵצִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־תִּכְתֹּ֧ב עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם בְּיָֽדְךָ֖ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם:
21And say to them, So says the Lord God: Behold I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side, and I will bring them to their land.
כאוְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּֽה־אָמַר֘ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ הִנֵּ֨ה אֲנִ֚י לֹקֵ֙חַ֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבֵּ֥ין הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָֽלְכוּ־שָׁ֑ם וְקִבַּצְתִּ֚י אֹתָם֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב וְהֵֽבֵאתִ֥י אוֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אַדְמָתָֽם:
22And I will make them into one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be to them all as a king; and they shall no longer be two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms anymore.
כבוְעָשִׂ֣יתִי אֹ֠תָם לְג֨וֹי אֶחָ֚ד בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ בְּהָרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמֶ֧לֶךְ אֶחָ֛ד יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְכֻלָּ֖ם לְמֶ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֚א יִֽהְיוּ־ (כתיב יִֽהְיֻה) עוֹד֙ לִשְׁנֵ֣י גוֹיִ֔ם וְלֹ֨א יֵחָ֥צוּ ע֛וֹד לִשְׁתֵּ֥י מַמְלָכ֖וֹת עֽוֹד:
23And they shall no longer defile themselves with their idols, with their detestable things, or with all their transgressions, and I will save them from all their habitations in which they have sinned, and I will purify them, and they shall be to Me as a people, and I will be to them as a God.
כגוְלֹ֧א יִֽטַמְּא֣וּ ע֗וֹד בְּגִלּֽוּלֵיהֶם֙ וּבְשִׁקּ֣וּצֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְכֹ֖ל פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֑ם וְהֽוֹשַׁעְתִּ֣י אֹתָ֗ם מִכֹּ֚ל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָֽטְא֣וּ בָהֶ֔ם וְטִֽהַרְתִּ֚י אוֹתָם֙ וְהָֽיוּ־לִ֣י לְעָ֔ם וַֽאֲנִ֕י אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִֽים:
24And My servant David shall be king over them, and one shepherd shall be for them all, and they shall walk in My ordinances and observe My statutes and perform them.
כדוְעַבְדִּ֚י דָוִד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְרוֹעֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד יִהְיֶ֣ה לְכֻלָּ֑ם וּבְמִשְׁפָּטַ֣י יֵלֵ֔כוּ וְחֻקֹּתַ֥י יִשְׁמְר֖וּ וְעָשׂ֥וּ אוֹתָֽם:
25And they shall dwell on the land that I have given to My servant, to Jacob, wherein your forefathers lived; and they shall dwell upon it, they and their children and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.
כהוְיָֽשְׁב֣וּ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֚ר נָתַ֙תִּי֙ לְעַבְדִּ֣י לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽשְׁבוּ־בָ֖הּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְיָֽשְׁב֣וּ עָלֶ֡יהָ הֵ֠מָּה וּבְנֵיהֶ֞ם וּבְנֵ֚י בְנֵיהֶם֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם וְדָוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֔י נָשִׂ֥יא לָהֶ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם:
to My servant, to Jacob.
As I gave it to Jacob, without boundaries.
לעבדי ליעקב.
כעין שנתתיה ליעקב בלי מצרי':
26And I will form a covenant of peace for them, an everlasting covenant shall be with them; and I will establish them and I will multiply them, and I will place My Sanctuary in their midst forever.
כווְכָרַתִּ֚י לָהֶם֙ בְּרִ֣ית שָׁל֔וֹם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָ֖ם יִֽהְיֶ֣ה אוֹתָ֑ם וּנְתַתִּים֙ וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֣י אוֹתָ֔ם וְנָֽתַתִּ֧י אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בְּתוֹכָ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם:
27And My dwelling place shall be over them, and I will be to them for a God, and they shall be to Me as a people.
כזוְהָיָ֚ה מִשְׁכָּנִי֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָהֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וְהֵ֖מָּה יִֽהְיוּ־לִ֥י לְעָֽם:
28And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, Who sanctifies Israel, when My Sanctuary is in their midst forever."
כחוְיָֽדְעוּ֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם כִּי אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה מְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בִּֽהְי֧וֹת מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בְּתוֹכָ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם: