Commentaire sur La Genèse 43:31

ויתאפק AND HE REFRAINED HIMSELF — He made a strong effort. The root in this sense occurs in (Job 41:7) אפיקי “the strong parts of the shields”. Similar also is (Job 12:21) “And He looseth the belt of the (אפיקים) strong”.

וירחץ...ויתאפק; he managed to gain control of himself and to stop himself from weeping anymore.

אפק ,ויתאפק Quellenbehälter. Eine bildreiche Bezeichnung für: an sich halten von Gefühlen. Als er hinauskam, erneute der Anblick die Gefühle und machte eine neue Anstrengung notwendig.

וירחץ פניו, “he washed his face;” seeing that he had to sit with them and to stand up after the meal, and they would otherwise see that he had been crying, unless he washed his face immediately. But earlier, in 42,24, where he did not have to face his brothers except very briefly, he did not feel the need to wash his face.