וַיַּ֨עַן יוֹסֵ֧ף אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֛ה לֵאמֹ֖ר בִּלְעָדָ֑י אֱלֹהִ֕ים יַעֲנֶ֖ה אֶת־שְׁל֥וֹם פַּרְעֹֽה׃
Y respondió José á Faraón, diciendo: No está en mí; Dios será el que responda paz á Faraón.
Midrash Tanchuma
Why did Pharaoh and his servants approach him, saying: Get you? The time Pharaoh told him: Get thee from me, see my face no more (ibid. 10:29), he (Moses) insisted: But we shall not leave until all these servants shall come down unto me (ibid. 11:9), to escort us from this place. This verse indicates that Moses paid homage to royalty, since he did not say to him: “You and all your servants.” In fact, the Holy One, blessed be He, had previously charged Moses and Aaron to be respectful to royalty, as it is said: And the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt (ibid. 6:13). Joseph was respectful to royalty when he said: It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace (Gen. 41:6). Jacob was respectful to royalty; and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed (ibid. 49:2). Elijah paid homage to royalty, as is said: And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah (I Kings 18:46). Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah also were respectful to royalty, and so was Daniel.
Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael
For thus do we find with Joseph, that he accorded honor to the ruler, viz. (Genesis 41:16) "G–d will answer (for) the peace of Pharaoh."
Bereshit Rabbah
“Pharaoh sent and summoned Joseph, [and they rushed him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed his garments, and came to Pharaoh]” – to accord deference to royalty.23That is why, although others rushed him, he shaved himself.
“Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: Not by me. God will respond for Pharaoh’s peace” (Genesis 41:16).
“Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: Not by me. God [will respond]” – He attributed the greatness to its initiator.
“And, behold, seven cows, fat fleshed and fair of appearance came up from the Nile, and they grazed in the pasture” (Genesis 41:18).
“Seven cows” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: It should have been fourteen years, as that is what Pharaoh saw.24The seven lean cows and seven blighted stalks should have indicated fourteen years. Rabbi Neḥemya said: They were twenty-eight years, as that is what Pharaoh said to Joseph.25Pharaoh’s very mention of the seven lean cows and blighted stalks to Joseph should have initiated an additional seven years for each. The Rabbis say: It should have been forty-two years, for what Pharaoh saw and said to Joseph, and [for what] Joseph repeated and said to Pharaoh. Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥanina said: The famine lasted two years, as once Jacob our patriarch descended there, the famine ceased. When did it return? In the days of Ezekiel. That is what is written: “I will render the land of Egypt desolation among desolate lands, and its cities will be desolation among ruined cities for forty years” (Ezekiel 29:12).
“Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: Not by me. God will respond for Pharaoh’s peace” (Genesis 41:16).
“Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: Not by me. God [will respond]” – He attributed the greatness to its initiator.
“And, behold, seven cows, fat fleshed and fair of appearance came up from the Nile, and they grazed in the pasture” (Genesis 41:18).
“Seven cows” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: It should have been fourteen years, as that is what Pharaoh saw.24The seven lean cows and seven blighted stalks should have indicated fourteen years. Rabbi Neḥemya said: They were twenty-eight years, as that is what Pharaoh said to Joseph.25Pharaoh’s very mention of the seven lean cows and blighted stalks to Joseph should have initiated an additional seven years for each. The Rabbis say: It should have been forty-two years, for what Pharaoh saw and said to Joseph, and [for what] Joseph repeated and said to Pharaoh. Rabbi Yosei ben Ḥanina said: The famine lasted two years, as once Jacob our patriarch descended there, the famine ceased. When did it return? In the days of Ezekiel. That is what is written: “I will render the land of Egypt desolation among desolate lands, and its cities will be desolation among ruined cities for forty years” (Ezekiel 29:12).