Midrasch zu Bereschit 42:1

(Ib. b.) (Gen. 42, 1) And Jacob said to his sons. Why do ye look at one another. Thus said Jacob to his children: "Do not make it appear unto Esau or Ishmael that you are sated, lest they envy you." Ib. 45, 24) See that ye fall not out by the way. R. Elazar said: "Thus said Joseph unto his brothers, 'Do not engage yourselves in Halachik discussions [while on the road], because you may fall out.'" Is this so? Did not R. Ilai, the son of R. Berachia, say that when two scholars travel together on the road and no word of Torah is discussed between them, they deserve to be burnt; as it is said (II Kings 2, 11) And it came to pass, as they went on, speaking as they were going, that, behold, there came a chariot of fire, and parted them both asunder. This is so only because they did speak, but if they had not spoken they would have been burned, [Hence on the road one should study the Torah!] This is not difficult to explain; the latter case refers to the narration of traditions and the former refers to deliberation. In a Baraitha it was explained that Joseph's instructions had the following meaning: You should not march hastily, and bring the sun into town (enter before sunset); i.e., you should not march hastily, for the master said: "Hasty steps take away one-five-hundredth part of a man's seeing; "and bring the sun into town" refers to R. Juda's saying; for R. Juda said: "A man should always leave and enter a town while it is still light; as it is said (Gen. 44, 3) As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away."

Now Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt (Gen. 42:1). May it please our master to teach us the number of days during which a mourner is forbidden to work. Thus did our master teach us: A mourner is forbidden to work during the seven days following the burial. However, if he is an extremely poor man, he may return to his labors after the third day to obtain sustenance for himself and the members of his household.

Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt (Gen. 42:1). Scripture states elsewhere in reference to this verse: Happy is He whose help is the God of Jacob (Ps. 146:5). Why does this verse say the God of Jacob and not “the God of Abraham” or “the God of Isaac”? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, stood at the side of Jacob but not at the side of either Abraham or Isaac, as is said: And, behold, the Lord stood beside him (Gen. 28:13).

(Gen. 42:1:) THEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT. This verse is related (to Prov. 20:12): {A SEEING EYE AND A HEARING EAR} [A HEARING EAR AND A SEEING EYE], THE LORD HAS MADE THEM BOTH. What did Solomon see to < make him > say this? Did the Holy One not make the whole body? < We might infer that he did not do so > because < Solomon > spoke < only > about the ear and the eye. Rather, all of one's members are going to render account except the ear and the eye. Why? It is simply that the eye sees involuntarily, and the ear hears involuntarily. In the case of the hands, however, if one is unwilling, one does not steal. So also with the feet. It is therefore stated (in Prov. 20:12): A SEEING EYE AND A HEARING EAR…. Come and see. All that time when Joseph had been sold, Jacob and his children did not know that Joseph was alive. But, when the proper time arrived, the Holy One gave authorization to the eyes and the ears. It is so stated (in Gen. 42:1-2): THEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT…. NOW I HEAR THAT THERE IS GRAIN IN EGYPT….

Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt (Gen. 42:1). Scripture says elsewhere in allusion to this verse: I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread (Ps. 37:25). R. Samuel the son of Nahman said: This verse was spoken by the Prince of the Universe.³God appointed Enoch the prince of angels. See Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews 1:129. I have been young: from the time of Adam; Now am old: until the days of the Messiah; yet have I not seen indicates that there is no time in which the Holy One, blessed be He, permits the world to be without righteous ones. In fact righteous men appear in every generation, as R. Tanhuma explained in the name of R. Aha: The world never lacks thirty men as righteous as Abraham, as it is said: And Abraham shall surely become a great nation (Gen. 18:18). The numerical value of the Hebrew letters of the word shall become (yihyeh) adds up to thirty.

[(Gen. 42:1:) THEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT.] This text is related (to Job 9:7): THE ONE WHO TELLS THE SUN NOT TO SHINE < AND SEALS UP THE STARS >.¹⁹Gen. R. 91:1. {It simply tells about Jacob and his children, since they were likened to them. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 37:9): HERE WERE THE SUN, THE MOON, AND ELEVEN STARS BOWING DOWN TO ME.} Look at all Job's wisdom! Now who does not know that, if the Holy One tells the sun or the stars not to shine, they do not shine, as stated (in Job 9:7): THE ONE WHO TELLS THE SUN NOT TO SHINE … ? It simply tells about Jacob and his children, [since they were likened to them. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 37:9): HERE WERE THE SUN, THE MOON, AND ELEVEN STARS BOWING DOWN TO ME]. (Job 9:7:) THE ONE WHO TELLS THE SUN NOT TO SHINE. For the twenty-two years that Joseph stayed away from his brothers in Egypt, the Holy Spirit was hidden from Jacob and his children. He was no farther from them than a journey of four or five days; but they did not know that he was in Egypt. Now Jacob and his children had previously been great prophets. Do you want to understand? When Joseph had told them his dream, what did he say (in Gen. 37:10)? ARE WE TO COME, I AND YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR BROTHERS, AND BOW DOWN < TO THE GROUND FOR YOU > ? Then, when he had been sold, they did not know where he was. Ergo (in Job 9:7): THE ONE WHO TELLS THE SUN NOT TO SHINE. Why so? So that the prophets would not be boastful. The Holy One therefore made his power known to them to show them that they were nothing. And so you find with the greatest of the prophets (i.e., Moses). Because he had said (in Deut. 1:17): BUT THE CASE WHICH IS TOO HARD FOR YOU < YOU SHALL BRING UNTO ME >….²⁰Sifre to Deut. 1:17 (17); Sanh. 8a. The Holy One said to him: Are you able to interpret a difficult case? By your life, I am showing you! So, when the affair of the daughters of Zelophehad arrived, he began to have difficulties with it. When he did not know what to say, he brought their cause before the LORD, as stated (in Numb. 27:5): THEN MOSES BROUGHT THEIR CAUSE BEFORE THE LORD. The Holy One said to him: Was it not you who said (in Deut. 1:17): BUT THE CASE WHICH IS TOO HARD FOR YOU < YOU ARE TO BRING UNTO ME > … ? See, you do not know what the women know. (Numb. 27:7:) THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD SPEAK WHAT IS RIGHT. These women have judged better than you. And so also in the case of Samuel, when he was measured against Moses and Aaron. Because he had said (in I Sam. 9:19): I AM THE SEER, the Holy One said to him: You have said: I AM THE SEER! By your life, tomorrow I am showing you whether you are a seer. Thus it is stated (in I Sam. 16:1): FILL YOUR HORN WITH OIL AND GO; {COME} [I AM SENDING YOU] UNTO JESSE THE BETHLEHEMITE BECAUSE I HAVE CHOSEN A KING FOR MYSELF AMONG HIS SONS. When he had gone, what is written (in I Sam. 16:6)? AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN HE HAD COME, THAT HE SAW ELIAB AND SAID: SURELY THE LORD'S ANOINTED IS STANDING BEFORE HIM. The Holy One said to him: Are you the one who said (in I Sam. 9:19): I AM THE SEER? (I Sam. 16:7:) DO NOT LOOK UPON HIS APPEARANCE…. And so also in the case of Jacob [and his children], they were prophets and sages, and nothing was hidden from them. When Joseph was sold, they did not know about him until the Holy One [wanted] < them to know >. Ergo (in Job 9:7): THE ONE WHO TELLS THE SUN NOT TO SHINE….

Now Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt (Gen. 42:1). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it (Prov. 11:26). He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him refers to Pharaoh, whom the people cursed for hiding the corn during the years of famine. Blessings shall be upon the head of him that selleth it alludes to Joseph, who fed the people during the years of famine. David said concerning him: Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that art enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth (Ps. 80:1). When a famine occurred during the lifetime of David, he pleaded to the Holy One, blessed be He, for mercy, saying: “Master of the Universe, tend your flock as did Joseph, who fed the world through years of famine.”

Another interpretation (of Gen. 42:1): THEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT…. R. Joshua said: < He was > a grand old man sitting in his house and seeing what there was in Egypt. The Scripture says (in Eccl. 7:19): {AND} WISDOM WILL STRENGTHEN A SAGE MORE THAN TEN RULERS…. This refers to Jacob, who was sitting and seeing what there was in Egypt, while his ten sons were coming in [and out] without knowing < about it >.

Jacob said unto his sons: “Why do ye look one upon another?” (Gen. 42:1). Jacob told his sons: Since you are strong and handsome, do not enter through one gate, nor stand together in one place, lest the evil eye prevail over you.⁶A belief that an envious glance may affect one’s destiny. Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. Get you down thither (ibid., v. 2). What is the meaning of the words get you down? He foresaw that they would go down and be enslaved there for two hundred and ten years, the numerical value of the letters of the word redu (“get you down”). The expression Get you down thither was employed because everyone who purchases grain in the marketplace degrades himself by doing so.⁷A sign of misfortune, since one’s own field should provide for one’s needs. And Joseph’s ten brethren went down (ibid., v. 3). Surely, the verse should read “Israel’s sons,” but it is written in this way because they did not treat him like a brother when they sold him. Later they began to regret their actions and promised each other: “When we descend to Egypt, we shall return our brother to our father.” When their father told them to go to Egypt, they all agreed to return with him.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 42:1): THEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS GRAIN (ShBR)…. This text is related (to Ps. 146:5): BLESSED IS THE ONE WHOSE HELP IS THE GOD OF JACOB, WHOSE HOPE (SBR) IS IN THE LORD HIS GOD.²¹Gen. R. 91:1, 6; cf. Tanh., Gen. 10:5. The Holy One showed him that Joseph was alive.

(Gen. 42:1, cont.:) THEN JACOB SAID TO HIS CHILDREN: WHY ARE YOU MAKING YOURSELVES CONSPICUOUS? Jacob said to them: Will you please hide yourselves, for there is nothing more harmful than the evil eye?²²Gen. R. 91:2, 6; Tanh., Gen. 10:8. And so you find in the case of the former tables (of the Torah), because they had been given in grandeur (before all eyes), they had been shattered. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 20:15 [18]): NOW ALL THE PEOPLE SAW THE THUNDERINGS. But when the second tables were given, no one saw them but Moses, since it is stated (in Exod. 34:3): BUT LET NO ONE COME UP WITH YOU…. So also Jerusalem would not have been destroyed except for the evil eye. Thus it is stated (in Lam. 2:15-16): IS THIS THE CITY WHICH THEY CALLED A PERFECTION OF BEAUTY, A JOY TO THE WHOLE EARTH? < ALL YOUR ENEMIES JEER OVER YOU; THEY HISS AND GNASH THEIR TEETH; THEY SAY: WE HAVE DESTROYED HER! INDEED, THIS IS THE DAY WE HAD HOPED FOR. WE HAVE FOUND IT; WE HAVE SEEN IT >. It also says (in Lam. 3:51): MY EYE DOES EVIL TO MY SOUL BECAUSE OF ALL THE DAUGHTERS OF MY CITY. Jacob therefore said: Do not look at yourselves. It is so stated (in Gen. 42:1): THEN JACOB SAID TO HIS CHILDREN: WHY ARE YOU MAKING YOURSELVES CONSPICUOUS? Rather walk privately (rt.: TsN'), as stated (in Micah 6:8): HE HAS TOLD YOU, O HUMAN, WHAT IS GOOD…. AND TO WALK HUMBLY (rt.: TsN') WITH YOUR GOD.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 42:1): THEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT…. This text is related (to Job 32:9): IT IS NOT THE MANY WHO ARE WISE, THE ELDERS WHO UNDERSTAND JUDGMENT. Not everyone who is engaged in the Torah becomes wise, but (according to Job 32:8) SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON. Who stated this verse? Elihu stated it. When? In the hour that Job's friends were rebuking him and he was answering them. When Job had dismissed them, Elihu saw that they were unable to answer him, as stated (in Job 32:5): BUT WHEN ELIHU SAW THAT THERE WAS NO ANSWER…. At that time he said to them (in vs. 9): IT IS NOT THE MANY WHO ARE WISE, nor does everyone who is engaged in the Torah become wise; but (according to Job 32:8) SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON. < There is no wisdom > unless the Holy One has put a spirit within him for him to be habitual in his study, as stated (in Job 32:8): SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON. A matron²³Lat.: matrona. queried R. Jose ben Halafta.²⁴Eccl.R. 1:7:5. She said to him: Is it not true that all the glory of the Holy One consists in his giving wisdom to the wise? It is so stated (in Dan. 2:20-21): < LET THE NAME OF THE LORD BE BLESSED FOR EVER AND EVER, FOR WISDOM AND MIGHT ARE HIS >…. HE GIVES WISDOM TO THE WISE. Should it not rather have said: "He gives wisdom to the foolish"? He said to her: Do you have jewels?²⁵Gk.: kosmion (“ornament” in Patristic Greek). She said to him: Yes. He said to her: If someone comes to borrow your jewels, would you lend them to him? She said to him: If he were someone hikanos²⁶The Greek word means “sufficient” or “competent.” {i.e., someone wise}, I would lend him my jewels. He said to her. You would only lend your jewels to someone hikanos; should the Holy One give wisdom to the foolish? < Daniel > therefore said (in Dan. 2:21): HE GIVES WISDOM TO THE WISE. Elihu said: < The Holy One > does not give to everyone who asks. Ergo (in Job 32:9): IT IS NOT THE MANY WHO ARE WISE. [But (in vs. 8): SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON.

Another interpretation (of Job 32:9): IT IS NOT THE MANY WHO ARE WISE.] < The verse > speaks about Jacob. Jacob said to his children: It is not because you are many that you are wise, since you are ten and I am < only > one. Now I say to you: Go down to Egypt, but you do not want to go down. I have a vision in the Holy Spirit that there is grain there. Thus it is stated (in Job 32:8): SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON. I have seen that Joseph is there. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 42:1): THEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT.

Another matter, “wisdom will bolster the wise” – this is Noah; “more than ten rulers who are in a city” – more than the ten generations from Adam until Noah, as from all of them, He spoke only with him [Noah]. Alternatively, “wisdom will bolster the wise” – this is Abraham; “more than ten rulers” – more than the ten generations from Noah until Abraham, as the Holy One blessed be He chose from all of them and made a covenant only with him [Abraham], as it is stated: “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram” (Genesis 15:18). Alternatively, “wisdom will bolster the wise” – this is Jacob; “more than ten rulers” – [Jacob had] more [wisdom] than the ten tribes that descended to Egypt and ascended [back to Canaan], and they did not know that Joseph was alive, but Jacob knew, as it is stated: “Jacob saw that there were provisions [shever] in Egypt” (Genesis 42:1), he knew that his hope [shivro] was in Egypt.