וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שָׁל֛וֹם לְעַבְדְּךָ֥ לְאָבִ֖ינוּ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חָ֑י וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ וישתחו [וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃]
Y ellos respondieron: Bien va á tu siervo nuestro padre; aun vive. Y se inclinaron, é hicieron reverencia.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“The one who presented…” (Numbers 7:12), that is what is written: “A man’s pride will humble him, and the lowly spirit will attain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). Rabbi Tanḥuma bar Abba said: “A man's pride will humble him,” this is Adam the first man. How so? When he violated the command of the Holy One blessed be He and ate from the tree, the Holy One blessed be He sought to have him repent, and He provided him with an opening. Adam did not seek to do so. That is what is written: “The Lord God said: Behold, the man [has become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now, lest] [pen]…” (Genesis 3:22). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: What is “and now”? It is, rather, that the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Even now, repent and I will accept you.’ Adam said: ‘I do not wish to do so.’ The Holy One blessed be He said: “And now,” and Adam said: ‘pen, I do not wish to do so.’ Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: When Adam emerged from judgment, he began cursing and blaspheming. “Cherubs” is stated here: “He stationed the cherubs east of the Garden of Eden” (Genesis 3:24), and “cherubs” is stated by Sennacherib: “Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who abides over the cherubs” (Isaiah 37:16). Just as there, cursing and blaspheming,15By Sennacherib (see Isaiah 37:17). so, too, here, cursing and blaspheming. That is, “a man’s pride will humble him.” Because he was too haughty vis-à-vis the Holy One blessed be He to repent, He humbled him and banished him from the Garden of Eden. “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Abraham, who lowered his spirit and said: “I am dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27). That is why the Holy One blessed be He called him: “The man greatest among the giants” (Joshua 14:15)16See the Alshikh on the verse.; this characterization means greater than Adam the first man.
Another matter, “a man's pride will humble him,” this is Pharaoh, who was haughty vis-à-vis Moses and said: “Who is the Lord that I will heed His voice…?” (Exodus 5:2). The Holy One blessed be He humbled him: “He hurled Pharaoh and his army [into the Red Sea]” (Psalms 136:15). “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Moses; “For when shall I entreat on your behalf…?” (Exodus 8:5), and it says: “Upon my leaving the city, I will spread my hands [to the Lord]” (Exodus 9:29).17In both of these verses, Moses tells Pharaoh that ending the plague does not depend on him; rather, he will pray to the Holy One blessed be He to end the plague in question.
Another matter, “a man’s pride,” this is Amalek, who was haughty vis-à-vis the Holy One blessed be He, with his curses and blasphemies, as he would send the foul smell to His nose,18This is a phrase from Ezekiel 8:17; it refers to something done with the intent of insulting God. and he would take the male organ of Israel and cast it upward, cursing and blaspheming, saying: ‘Is this what You wanted?’ That is what is written: “And attacked you from behind [vayzanev]” (Deuteronomy 25:18); they struck them a strike on the tail [zanav].19This is a euphemism for their male organs. “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Joshua, who killed him, as it is stated: “Joshua weakened Amalek and his people…” (Exodus 17:13).
Another matter, “a man’s pride will humble him,” this is Tavor and Carmel, that came from the ends of the earth,20Tavor and Carmel are mountains. See Bereshit Rabba 99:1. haughtily saying: ‘We are high, and upon us, the Holy One blessed be He is giving the Torah.’ “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Sinai, that humbled itself, saying: ‘I am low.’ As a result, the Holy One blessed be He rested His glory upon it. The Torah was given upon it, and it merited all this honor, just as it says: “The Lord descended upon Mount Sinai” (Exodus 19:20).
Another matter, “a man's pride will humble him,” this is Joseph, who conducted himself with superiority, as his brothers would say before him: “Your servant, our father” (Genesis 43:28), and he would keep silent. That is why he is called “bones” during his lifetime, as it is stated: “And you shall carry up my bones from here” (Genesis 50:25). “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Judah, who humbled himself before Joseph on behalf of Benjamin: “May your servant speak a matter?” (Genesis 44:18); “for your servant took responsibility for the lad” (Genesis 44:32); “now, please, your servant will remain…” (Genesis 44:33). Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen bar Rabbi said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Judah, you humbled yourself before your brother who is younger than you; as you live, when the Tabernacle will be erected and the tribes will come to present an offering, not one of them will present an offering before you, but rather they will accord you deference, and it is you who will present an offering first.’ That is what is written: “The one who presented his offering on the first day…of the tribe of Judah…”
Another matter, “a man's pride will humble him,” this is Pharaoh, who was haughty vis-à-vis Moses and said: “Who is the Lord that I will heed His voice…?” (Exodus 5:2). The Holy One blessed be He humbled him: “He hurled Pharaoh and his army [into the Red Sea]” (Psalms 136:15). “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Moses; “For when shall I entreat on your behalf…?” (Exodus 8:5), and it says: “Upon my leaving the city, I will spread my hands [to the Lord]” (Exodus 9:29).17In both of these verses, Moses tells Pharaoh that ending the plague does not depend on him; rather, he will pray to the Holy One blessed be He to end the plague in question.
Another matter, “a man’s pride,” this is Amalek, who was haughty vis-à-vis the Holy One blessed be He, with his curses and blasphemies, as he would send the foul smell to His nose,18This is a phrase from Ezekiel 8:17; it refers to something done with the intent of insulting God. and he would take the male organ of Israel and cast it upward, cursing and blaspheming, saying: ‘Is this what You wanted?’ That is what is written: “And attacked you from behind [vayzanev]” (Deuteronomy 25:18); they struck them a strike on the tail [zanav].19This is a euphemism for their male organs. “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Joshua, who killed him, as it is stated: “Joshua weakened Amalek and his people…” (Exodus 17:13).
Another matter, “a man’s pride will humble him,” this is Tavor and Carmel, that came from the ends of the earth,20Tavor and Carmel are mountains. See Bereshit Rabba 99:1. haughtily saying: ‘We are high, and upon us, the Holy One blessed be He is giving the Torah.’ “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Sinai, that humbled itself, saying: ‘I am low.’ As a result, the Holy One blessed be He rested His glory upon it. The Torah was given upon it, and it merited all this honor, just as it says: “The Lord descended upon Mount Sinai” (Exodus 19:20).
Another matter, “a man's pride will humble him,” this is Joseph, who conducted himself with superiority, as his brothers would say before him: “Your servant, our father” (Genesis 43:28), and he would keep silent. That is why he is called “bones” during his lifetime, as it is stated: “And you shall carry up my bones from here” (Genesis 50:25). “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Judah, who humbled himself before Joseph on behalf of Benjamin: “May your servant speak a matter?” (Genesis 44:18); “for your servant took responsibility for the lad” (Genesis 44:32); “now, please, your servant will remain…” (Genesis 44:33). Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen bar Rabbi said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Judah, you humbled yourself before your brother who is younger than you; as you live, when the Tabernacle will be erected and the tribes will come to present an offering, not one of them will present an offering before you, but rather they will accord you deference, and it is you who will present an offering first.’ That is what is written: “The one who presented his offering on the first day…of the tribe of Judah…”
Bereshit Rabbah
“He asked them regarding their wellbeing, and he said: Is all well with your father? Is the elder whom you mentioned still alive?” (Genesis 43:27).
“They said: All is well with your servant, with our father, he is still alive; they bowed, and they prostrated themselves” (Genesis 43:28).
“He asked them regarding their wellbeing…They said: All is well…” – Rabbi Ḥiyya Rabba saw a certain Babylonian: He said to him: ‘How is Father?’9Rabbi Ḥiyya lived in the land of Israel and his father lived in Babylonia. He said to him: ‘Your mother inquired after you.’ He said to him: ‘I said this to you and you said that to me?’ He said to him: ‘One asks about the living, and one does not ask about the dead.’ So, “is all well with your father?” – this is Jacob; “the elder that you mentioned” – this is Isaac. “They said: All is well with your servant, with our father.”10They answered about Jacob, who was alive, but not about Isaac, who was not.
“He lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and he said: Is this your youngest brother whom you mentioned to me? He said: God be gracious to you, my son” (Genesis 43:29).
“He lifted his eyes, and saw…” – Rabbi Binyamin said: Because we have heard grace [mentioned] regarding the eleven tribes,11Jacob said of them: “The children with whom God has graced your servant” (Genesis 33:5). Binyamin had not yet been born at that time. but did not hear grace regarding the tribe of Benjamin. Where did we hear it? We heard it here: “God be gracious to you, my son.”
“Joseph hurried, because his mercy was aroused toward his brother and he sought to weep; he entered the chamber, and wept there” (Genesis 43:30).
“They sat before him, the firstborn according to his seniority, and the younger according to his youth, and the men wondered to one another” (Genesis 43:33).
“Joseph hurried…They sat before him…” – he took the goblet and created the false impression that he was smelling the goblet. He said: ‘Judah, who is king, sits at the head. Reuben who is the firstborn, will sit alongside him,’ and likewise regarding them all. He said: ‘I have no mother and Benjamin has no mother, when his mother bore him, she died. Therefore, let him come and place his head alongside mine.’ That is why, “the men wondered…”
“He gave gifts from before him, and Benjamin's gift was five times greater than the gifts of all of them. They drank, and became inebriated with him” (Genesis 43:34).
“He gave gifts from before him…” – Joseph gave him, Asenat gave him, Manasseh gave him, Ephraim gave him, and [he received] his portion with his brothers. That is what is written: “Benjamin's gift was five times greater than the gifts of all of them.”
“They drank, and became inebriated with him” – with him, they drank, but other than with him, they did not drink, as Rabbi Levi said: All twenty-two years that he did not see them, he did not taste the taste of wine. They, too, did not taste the taste of wine until they saw him. That is what is written: “They drank, and became inebriated with him” – with him, they drank, but other than with him, they did not drink.
“They said: All is well with your servant, with our father, he is still alive; they bowed, and they prostrated themselves” (Genesis 43:28).
“He asked them regarding their wellbeing…They said: All is well…” – Rabbi Ḥiyya Rabba saw a certain Babylonian: He said to him: ‘How is Father?’9Rabbi Ḥiyya lived in the land of Israel and his father lived in Babylonia. He said to him: ‘Your mother inquired after you.’ He said to him: ‘I said this to you and you said that to me?’ He said to him: ‘One asks about the living, and one does not ask about the dead.’ So, “is all well with your father?” – this is Jacob; “the elder that you mentioned” – this is Isaac. “They said: All is well with your servant, with our father.”10They answered about Jacob, who was alive, but not about Isaac, who was not.
“He lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and he said: Is this your youngest brother whom you mentioned to me? He said: God be gracious to you, my son” (Genesis 43:29).
“He lifted his eyes, and saw…” – Rabbi Binyamin said: Because we have heard grace [mentioned] regarding the eleven tribes,11Jacob said of them: “The children with whom God has graced your servant” (Genesis 33:5). Binyamin had not yet been born at that time. but did not hear grace regarding the tribe of Benjamin. Where did we hear it? We heard it here: “God be gracious to you, my son.”
“Joseph hurried, because his mercy was aroused toward his brother and he sought to weep; he entered the chamber, and wept there” (Genesis 43:30).
“They sat before him, the firstborn according to his seniority, and the younger according to his youth, and the men wondered to one another” (Genesis 43:33).
“Joseph hurried…They sat before him…” – he took the goblet and created the false impression that he was smelling the goblet. He said: ‘Judah, who is king, sits at the head. Reuben who is the firstborn, will sit alongside him,’ and likewise regarding them all. He said: ‘I have no mother and Benjamin has no mother, when his mother bore him, she died. Therefore, let him come and place his head alongside mine.’ That is why, “the men wondered…”
“He gave gifts from before him, and Benjamin's gift was five times greater than the gifts of all of them. They drank, and became inebriated with him” (Genesis 43:34).
“He gave gifts from before him…” – Joseph gave him, Asenat gave him, Manasseh gave him, Ephraim gave him, and [he received] his portion with his brothers. That is what is written: “Benjamin's gift was five times greater than the gifts of all of them.”
“They drank, and became inebriated with him” – with him, they drank, but other than with him, they did not drink, as Rabbi Levi said: All twenty-two years that he did not see them, he did not taste the taste of wine. They, too, did not taste the taste of wine until they saw him. That is what is written: “They drank, and became inebriated with him” – with him, they drank, but other than with him, they did not drink.
Bereshit Rabbah
“Joseph fell upon his father’s face, wept upon him, and kissed him” (Genesis 50:1).
“Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father. The physicians embalmed Israel” (Genesis 50:2).
“Joseph fell…Joseph commanded his servants” – why did Joseph die before his brothers? Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] and the Rabbis, Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said: Because he embalmed his father. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Was I not able to preserve My righteous one? Did I not say to him: “Do not fear [ti’re’i], worm of Jacob” (Isaiah 41:14) – worm, do not see [tiri] Jacob?’16God had decided to ensure that Jacob’s body would not decay, so it was unnecessary for Joseph to embalm him. The Rabbis say: It was he [Jacob] who commanded them to embalm him. That is what is written: “His sons did to him [just as he commanded them]” (Genesis 50:12). According to the opinion of Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi], it works out well.17It is understood why Joseph died before his brothers. According to the opinion of the Rabbis, [it is because] almost five times, Judah said: “Your servant, my father, your servant, my father” and Joseph heard and remained silent.18On four occasions, Judah referred to Jacob as Joseph’s servant, and Joseph remained silent: Genesis 44:24, 27, 30, 31. Additionally, on one occasion (Genesis 43:28) it is stated that the brothers referred to Jacob in this way in speaking to Joseph, although it is not explicitly stated that it was Judah who said it.
“Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father. The physicians embalmed Israel” (Genesis 50:2).
“Joseph fell…Joseph commanded his servants” – why did Joseph die before his brothers? Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] and the Rabbis, Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] said: Because he embalmed his father. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Was I not able to preserve My righteous one? Did I not say to him: “Do not fear [ti’re’i], worm of Jacob” (Isaiah 41:14) – worm, do not see [tiri] Jacob?’16God had decided to ensure that Jacob’s body would not decay, so it was unnecessary for Joseph to embalm him. The Rabbis say: It was he [Jacob] who commanded them to embalm him. That is what is written: “His sons did to him [just as he commanded them]” (Genesis 50:12). According to the opinion of Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi], it works out well.17It is understood why Joseph died before his brothers. According to the opinion of the Rabbis, [it is because] almost five times, Judah said: “Your servant, my father, your servant, my father” and Joseph heard and remained silent.18On four occasions, Judah referred to Jacob as Joseph’s servant, and Joseph remained silent: Genesis 44:24, 27, 30, 31. Additionally, on one occasion (Genesis 43:28) it is stated that the brothers referred to Jacob in this way in speaking to Joseph, although it is not explicitly stated that it was Judah who said it.