וַיַּ֨רְא יוֹסֵ֣ף אִתָּם֮ אֶת־בִּנְיָמִין֒ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ הָבֵ֥א אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים הַבָּ֑יְתָה וּטְבֹ֤חַ טֶ֙בַח֙ וְהָכֵ֔ן כִּ֥י אִתִּ֛י יֹאכְל֥וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים בַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃
Y vió José á Benjamín con ellos, y dijo al mayordomo de su casa: Mete en casa á esos hombres, y degüella víctima, y aderéza la; porque estos hombres comerán conmigo al medio día.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
“If only you were like a brother to me, who suckled the breasts of my mother. I would find you outside; I would kiss you, yet they would not despise me” (Song of Songs 8:1).
“If only you were like a brother to me” – like what brother? Like Cain to Abel? Cain killed Abel, as it is stated: “Cain arose against Abel his brother, and killed him” (Genesis 4:8). Rather, like Ishmael to Isaac? Ishmael hated Isaac. Rather, like Esau to Jacob? But it is stated: “Esau hated Jacob” (Genesis 27:41). Rather, like Joseph’s brothers to Joseph? They hated him, as it is stated: “His brothers were jealous of him” (Genesis 37:11). Like what brother? “One who suckled the breasts of my mother” – that is to say like Joseph to Benjamin, who loved him wholeheartedly, as it is stated: “Joseph saw Benjamin with them” (Genesis 43:16).1As the story unfolds, the verse states that Joseph wept when he saw Benjamin (Genesis 43:30).
“I would find you outside; I would kiss you”; “outside” – this is the wilderness, which is outside the settled area. “I would kiss you” – regarding two brothers who kissed each other, and these are Moses and Aaron, as it is stated: “He went, and he met him at the mountain of God, and he kissed him” (Exodus 4:27).
“They would not despise me” – Rabbi Pinḥas said: There was an incident involving two siblings, one of whom was in Meron and one in Gush Ḥalav. The house of the one who lived in Meron caught fire. His sister from Gush Ḥalav came and began hugging, embracing, and kissing him, and saying: This does not demean me, as my brother was in dire straits and was delivered from them.
“If only you were like a brother to me” – like what brother? Like Cain to Abel? Cain killed Abel, as it is stated: “Cain arose against Abel his brother, and killed him” (Genesis 4:8). Rather, like Ishmael to Isaac? Ishmael hated Isaac. Rather, like Esau to Jacob? But it is stated: “Esau hated Jacob” (Genesis 27:41). Rather, like Joseph’s brothers to Joseph? They hated him, as it is stated: “His brothers were jealous of him” (Genesis 37:11). Like what brother? “One who suckled the breasts of my mother” – that is to say like Joseph to Benjamin, who loved him wholeheartedly, as it is stated: “Joseph saw Benjamin with them” (Genesis 43:16).1As the story unfolds, the verse states that Joseph wept when he saw Benjamin (Genesis 43:30).
“I would find you outside; I would kiss you”; “outside” – this is the wilderness, which is outside the settled area. “I would kiss you” – regarding two brothers who kissed each other, and these are Moses and Aaron, as it is stated: “He went, and he met him at the mountain of God, and he kissed him” (Exodus 4:27).
“They would not despise me” – Rabbi Pinḥas said: There was an incident involving two siblings, one of whom was in Meron and one in Gush Ḥalav. The house of the one who lived in Meron caught fire. His sister from Gush Ḥalav came and began hugging, embracing, and kissing him, and saying: This does not demean me, as my brother was in dire straits and was delivered from them.
Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael
In what lies in the other ark it is written (Exodus 20) "I am the L–rd your G–d," and of Joseph it is written (Genesis 50:19) "Am I in the place of G–d?" In what lies in this ark it is written (Exodus 20) "There shall not be before you any other gods," and of Joseph it is written (Genesis 42:18) "It is G–d whom I fear." (Exodus 20) "You shall not take the name of the L–rd your G–d in vain." And of Joseph it is written (Genesis 42:15) "By the life of Pharaoh," (Joseph not swearing by "the life" of the L–rd.) (Exodus 20) "Remember the Sabbath day." Joseph (Genesis 42:16) "slaughter an animal and prepare it," "prepare" alluding to Sabbath eve, it being written here "prepare," and elsewhere (Exodus 16:5) "And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare." (Exodus 20) "Honor your father." Joseph (Genesis 37:13) "And Israel said to Joseph: Are your brothers not grazing (the sheep) in Shechem? Go, and I will send you to them. And he said to him: Here I am" (at your service). Joseph knew that his brothers hated him, but he would not transgress the words of his father. (Exodus 20) "You shall not kill." He did not kill Potiphar (even though he could have.) (Exodus 20) "You shall not commit adultery." He did not commit adultery with the wife of Potiphar. (Exodus 20) "You shall not steal." He did not rob Pharaoh, viz. (Genesis 47:14) "And Joseph collected all of the money, etc." (Exodus 20) "You shall not testify falsely against your neighbor." Joseph did not tell his father what his brothers had done to him. Now does this not follow a fortiori, viz.: If he did not testify (against them) even truthfully, how much more so, falsely! (Exodus 20) "You shall not covet." He did not covet Potiphar's wife. It is written (Leviticus 19:17) "Do not hate your brother in your heart." And of Joseph it is written (Genesis 50:21) "And he counseled them and he spoke to their hearts." It is written (Leviticus 19:18) "You shall not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge," and (in respect to Joseph, Genesis 50:20) "And you contemplated evil against me, but G–d contemplated it for the good." (Leviticus 25:36) "And let your brother live with you." (Genesis 47:12) "And Joseph sustained his father and his brothers, etc."...
Bamidbar Rabbah
“On the seventh day…” – that is what is written: “Who preceded Me? I will pay…” (Job 41:3). Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Abba said: One who has no property but performs acts of charity and kindness; one who has no children but pays the wages of Bible teachers and Mishna teachers; one who does not have a house but prepares a mezuza , one who has no garment but prepares ritual fringes; one who has no sons but circumcises; one who prepares books and lends them to others, the Holy One blessed be He says: This one preceded and fulfilled My mitzvot before I provided him with the means to fulfill them; I must pay, give him money and children who will read these books. That is, “Who preceded Me” – to perform a mitzva; and I will pay his reward. Why? It is because I lack nothing, as the world and all its contents are Mine. That is why it is stated: “Everything beneath the heavens is Mine” (Job 41:3).
Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – it is speaking of Abraham, who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own, just as it is written: “A wayward [sug] heart will be sated from its ways…” (Proverbs 14:14).What is, “a wayward heart will be sated from its ways”? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: It is a heart that is filled with dross [sigim]; it is destined to be sated because of its ways.15It will not rise to spiritual heights. “But a good man will be above him”16And will rise to spiritual heights. (Proverbs 14:14) – this is Abraham, who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own. There was no person who taught him how to recognize the Holy One blessed be He; rather he did so on his own. This is one of four people who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on their own. Job recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own; from where is it derived? It is as it says: “From my practice I treasured the sayings of His mouth” (Job 23:12). Hezekiah king of Judah, too, recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own; from where is it derived? It is as it is written in his regard: “He will eat butter and honey, by his knowledge, spurning the bad and choosing the good” (Isaiah 7:15). The messianic king recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own. Likewise, Abraham, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘The upper world and the world below are Mine,’ just as it says: “Everything beneath the heavens is Mine” (Job 41:3), and it says: “The earth and all its contents are the Lord’s” (Psalms 24:1). ‘You caused My name to be known in the world; as you live, I will grant you the upper world and the world below, as it is stated: “He blessed him, and he said: Blessed is Abram to God, the Most High, Master of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19). That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay.” Why? It is because “everything beneath the heavens is Mine.”
Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Ḥiyya said: Everything that Abraham performed for the ministering angels, the Holy One blessed be He repaid his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt, and He is destined to give them in the future. You find regarding Abraham: “Please, let a little water be taken” (Genesis 18:4). The Holy One blessed be He, too, repaid his descendants: “I will take you for Me” (Exodus 6:7) – corresponding to “Please, let [a little water] be taken.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: I have derived only regarding this world, regarding the future, from where is it derived? “The peoples will take them and bring them to their place” (Isaiah 14:2).
Regarding Abraham it is written: “A little water,” and the Holy One blessed be He provided water for his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “You shall strike the rock, and water will emerge from it” (Exodus 17:6). Regarding the future, from where is it derived? “For the Lord your God is bringing you to a good land, a land of streams of water…” (Deuteronomy 8:7). Regarding the Messianic Era, from where is it derived? “There will be pools and streams of water on every lofty mountain and on every high hill” (Isaiah 30:25). Likewise, “I will open rivers on the bare hills” (Isaiah 41:18).
Regarding Abraham it is written: “Wash your feet” (Genesis 18:4). The Holy One blessed be He granted it to his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “I washed you in water” (Ezekiel 16:9). And in the Land of Israel: “Wash, purify yourselves” (Isaiah 1:16). Regarding the future, from where is it derived? “When the Lord will have washed [the excrement of the daughters of Zion]” (Isaiah 4:4).
Regarding Abraham it is written: “And recline beneath the tree” (Genesis 18:4), as he crafted a booth [sukka] for them. The Holy One blessed be He crafted booths for his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “That I had the children of Israel dwell in booths [basukot], [when I took them out of the land of Egypt]” (Leviticus 23:43). In the Land of Israel: “You shielded [sakota] my head on the day of battle” (Psalms 140:8). What is “the day of battle? It is the day of the arming of the thirty-one kings. Regarding the future, from where is it derived? “And a booth [sukka] will be for shade in the day…” (Isaiah 4:6). That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay…”(Job 41:3). Likewise it says: “Cast your bread upon the water, for after many days [you will find it]” (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – it is speaking of Joseph, as he preceded and observed the Shabbat before it was given: “Slaughter an animal and prepare it” (Genesis 43:16). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It was the day before Shabbat. “And prepare” is nothing other than for Shabbat, as it is stated: “It will be on the sixth day, they shall prepare…” (Exodus 16:5). The Holy One blessed be He said: Joseph, you observed the Shabbat before the Torah was given, as you live, your descendant will present his offering on Shabbat, when an individual does not present an offering. But it is incumbent upon Me to readily accept his offering. That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay.” From where is it derived that this is so? It is from what is stated regarding this matter: “On the seventh day, prince of the children of Ephraim…”
Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – it is speaking of Abraham, who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own, just as it is written: “A wayward [sug] heart will be sated from its ways…” (Proverbs 14:14).What is, “a wayward heart will be sated from its ways”? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: It is a heart that is filled with dross [sigim]; it is destined to be sated because of its ways.15It will not rise to spiritual heights. “But a good man will be above him”16And will rise to spiritual heights. (Proverbs 14:14) – this is Abraham, who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own. There was no person who taught him how to recognize the Holy One blessed be He; rather he did so on his own. This is one of four people who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on their own. Job recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own; from where is it derived? It is as it says: “From my practice I treasured the sayings of His mouth” (Job 23:12). Hezekiah king of Judah, too, recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own; from where is it derived? It is as it is written in his regard: “He will eat butter and honey, by his knowledge, spurning the bad and choosing the good” (Isaiah 7:15). The messianic king recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own. Likewise, Abraham, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘The upper world and the world below are Mine,’ just as it says: “Everything beneath the heavens is Mine” (Job 41:3), and it says: “The earth and all its contents are the Lord’s” (Psalms 24:1). ‘You caused My name to be known in the world; as you live, I will grant you the upper world and the world below, as it is stated: “He blessed him, and he said: Blessed is Abram to God, the Most High, Master of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19). That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay.” Why? It is because “everything beneath the heavens is Mine.”
Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Ḥiyya said: Everything that Abraham performed for the ministering angels, the Holy One blessed be He repaid his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt, and He is destined to give them in the future. You find regarding Abraham: “Please, let a little water be taken” (Genesis 18:4). The Holy One blessed be He, too, repaid his descendants: “I will take you for Me” (Exodus 6:7) – corresponding to “Please, let [a little water] be taken.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: I have derived only regarding this world, regarding the future, from where is it derived? “The peoples will take them and bring them to their place” (Isaiah 14:2).
Regarding Abraham it is written: “A little water,” and the Holy One blessed be He provided water for his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “You shall strike the rock, and water will emerge from it” (Exodus 17:6). Regarding the future, from where is it derived? “For the Lord your God is bringing you to a good land, a land of streams of water…” (Deuteronomy 8:7). Regarding the Messianic Era, from where is it derived? “There will be pools and streams of water on every lofty mountain and on every high hill” (Isaiah 30:25). Likewise, “I will open rivers on the bare hills” (Isaiah 41:18).
Regarding Abraham it is written: “Wash your feet” (Genesis 18:4). The Holy One blessed be He granted it to his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “I washed you in water” (Ezekiel 16:9). And in the Land of Israel: “Wash, purify yourselves” (Isaiah 1:16). Regarding the future, from where is it derived? “When the Lord will have washed [the excrement of the daughters of Zion]” (Isaiah 4:4).
Regarding Abraham it is written: “And recline beneath the tree” (Genesis 18:4), as he crafted a booth [sukka] for them. The Holy One blessed be He crafted booths for his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “That I had the children of Israel dwell in booths [basukot], [when I took them out of the land of Egypt]” (Leviticus 23:43). In the Land of Israel: “You shielded [sakota] my head on the day of battle” (Psalms 140:8). What is “the day of battle? It is the day of the arming of the thirty-one kings. Regarding the future, from where is it derived? “And a booth [sukka] will be for shade in the day…” (Isaiah 4:6). That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay…”(Job 41:3). Likewise it says: “Cast your bread upon the water, for after many days [you will find it]” (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – it is speaking of Joseph, as he preceded and observed the Shabbat before it was given: “Slaughter an animal and prepare it” (Genesis 43:16). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It was the day before Shabbat. “And prepare” is nothing other than for Shabbat, as it is stated: “It will be on the sixth day, they shall prepare…” (Exodus 16:5). The Holy One blessed be He said: Joseph, you observed the Shabbat before the Torah was given, as you live, your descendant will present his offering on Shabbat, when an individual does not present an offering. But it is incumbent upon Me to readily accept his offering. That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay.” From where is it derived that this is so? It is from what is stated regarding this matter: “On the seventh day, prince of the children of Ephraim…”