Midrash for Genesis 44:18
וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלָ֜יו יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּאמֶר֮ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִי֒ יְדַבֶּר־נָ֨א עַבְדְּךָ֤ דָבָר֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְאַל־יִ֥חַר אַפְּךָ֖ בְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֥י כָמ֖וֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹֽה׃
Then Judah came near unto him, and said: ‘Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant; for thou art even as Pharaoh.
Midrash Tanchuma
Then Judah came near unto him (Gen. 44:18). May it please our master to teach us: Which guarantor is responsible for the repayment of a loan? Thus do our masters teach us: R. Simeon the son of Nanos answered the query: Which guarantor is responsible for the repayment of a loan? It is the one who says: “Lend him the money and I will repay you.” When he places it in the hand of the guarantor, he is the one who is liable.1The lender gave the money because of his confidence in the guarantor.
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Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Gen. 44:18:) THEN JUDAH DREW NEAR UNTO HIM…. This text is related (to Eccl. 9:14-15): THERE WAS A LITTLE CITY WITH FEW PEOPLE IN IT; < AND A GREAT KING CAME AGAINST IT, BESIEGED IT, AND BUILT GREAT SIEGE WORKS AGAINST IT >. NOW THERE WAS FOUND IN IT A [POOR WISE] PERSON {WHO WAS POOR AND WISE}, < WHO MIGHT HAVE DELIVERED THE CITY BY HIS WISDOM; BUT NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT POOR PERSON >. What does it mean?1Eccl. R. 9:14/15:8; Ned. 32b; above, 11:1. This verse is stated about all generations. THERE WAS A LITTLE CITY, i.e., the body; WITH FEW PEOPLE IN IT, i.e., the two hundred and forty-eight members [which are in a person]; AND A GREAT KING CAME AGAINST IT, i.e., the evil drive, which is bigger than the good drive, < i.e., older > by thirteen years and one day. Now the evil drive says: Let us eat, drink, and fulfill all our desires; but the good drive says: Let us not eat and drink, but be occupied with Torah. Then we heed the evil drive. Why? Because it is bigger than all of them. (Eccl. 9:14, cont.:) AND BUILT GREAT SIEGE WORKS AGAINST IT, i.e., sins and transgressions. (Eccl. 9:15:) NOW THERE WAS FOUND IN IT A PERSON WHO WAS POOR AND WISE, i.e., the good drive; WHO MIGHT HAVE DELIVERED THE CITY BY HIS WISDOM;2Cf. Ned. 32b, which adds here, “I.e., repentance and good deeds.” BUT NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT POOR PERSON, for no one heeds the good drive, because it is insignificant. So, whoever heeds the good drive is blessed, as stated (in Ps. 41:2 [1]): BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO PAYS HEED TO A POOR PERSON….3See Lev. R. 34:1.
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Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Another interpretation (of Eccl. 9:14-15): THERE WAS A LITTLE CITY, i.e., Egypt;6Eccl. R. 9:14-15:3. WITH FEW PEOPLE IN IT, i.e., Joseph's brothers; AND A GREAT KING CAME OVER IT, i.e., Joseph; AND BUILT GREAT SIEGE WORKS AGAINST IT. (Thus in Gen. 42:9:) SO HE SAID TO THEM: YOU ARE SPIES. (Eccl. 9:15:) NOW THERE WAS FOUND IN IT A PERSON WHO WAS POOR AND WISE, i.e., Judah; WHO DELIVERED THE CITY BY HIS WISDOM. (Gen. 44:18:) THEN JUDAH DREW NEAR UNTO HIM < … >.
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