כִּ֖י לוּלֵ֣א הִתְמַהְמָ֑הְנוּ כִּֽי־עַתָּ֥ה שַׁ֖בְנוּ זֶ֥ה פַעֲמָֽיִם׃
Sebab sekiranya kami tidak berlambat-lambat, tentulah sekarang kami sudah dua kali pergi dan kembali.”
Midrash Tehillim
"If I did not believe in seeing the goodness of the Lord. Zevadi the son of Levi said: Any place where it is stated 'if not for the merit of the forefathers' and the verse (Genesis 43:10) states 'for had we not delayed.' We ourselves would not have gone from there in peace except for the merit of the forefathers. Rabbi Yochanan said: Every 'if not for' is due to the merit of the Almighty, as it says (Isaiah 1:9) 'if not for the Lord of hosts.' Rabbi Levi said: It is due to the merit of the Torah, as it says (Psalms 119:92) 'If Your Torah had not been my delight.' And it is due to the merit of faith, 'If I did not believe in seeing the goodness of the Lord.'
Bereshit Rabbah
“Had the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, not been with me, then now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my hardship and the toil of my hands, and proved it last night” (Genesis 31:42).
“Had the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac not been [lulei]” – Zavdi ben Levi and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, Zavdi ben Levi said: Everywhere that lulei is stated, it came by the merit of the patriarchs. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said to him: But is it not written: “For, had we not [lulei] tarried”? (Genesis 43:10).27Judah said it to Jacob while trying to convince him to send Benjamin with them to Egypt. He said to him: Their very ascent was by the merit of the patriarchs, as had it not been for the merit of the patriarchs, they would not have ascended from there28From Egypt. in peace.
Rabbi Tanḥuma said: There are those who express the statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi to Zavdi ben Levi: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Everywhere that lulei is stated, it came by the merit of the patriarchs, except for this one.29The one from Genesis 43:10 which was just mentioned. He said to him: This one, too, was by the merit of the patriarchs. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Due to the sanctity of the Name.30God saved them so they could sanctify His name. Rabbi Levi said: By the merit of faith and by the merit of Torah. By the merit of faith – “had I not [lulei] believed” (Psalms 27:13); by the merit of Torah – “had Your Torah not been my delight” (Psalms 119:92).
“God saw my hardship and the toil of my hands” – Rabbi Yirmeya said: Labor is more beloved than the merit of the patriarchs, as the merit of the patriarchs salvaged money, while labor saved lives. The merit of the patriarchs salvaged money, as it is stated: “Had the God of my father…not been…[then now you would have sent me away empty-handed].” Labor saved lives – “God saw my hardship and the toil of my hands, and proved it last night.”31When God warned Laban not to harm Jacob.
“Had the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac not been [lulei]” – Zavdi ben Levi and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, Zavdi ben Levi said: Everywhere that lulei is stated, it came by the merit of the patriarchs. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said to him: But is it not written: “For, had we not [lulei] tarried”? (Genesis 43:10).27Judah said it to Jacob while trying to convince him to send Benjamin with them to Egypt. He said to him: Their very ascent was by the merit of the patriarchs, as had it not been for the merit of the patriarchs, they would not have ascended from there28From Egypt. in peace.
Rabbi Tanḥuma said: There are those who express the statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi to Zavdi ben Levi: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Everywhere that lulei is stated, it came by the merit of the patriarchs, except for this one.29The one from Genesis 43:10 which was just mentioned. He said to him: This one, too, was by the merit of the patriarchs. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Due to the sanctity of the Name.30God saved them so they could sanctify His name. Rabbi Levi said: By the merit of faith and by the merit of Torah. By the merit of faith – “had I not [lulei] believed” (Psalms 27:13); by the merit of Torah – “had Your Torah not been my delight” (Psalms 119:92).
“God saw my hardship and the toil of my hands” – Rabbi Yirmeya said: Labor is more beloved than the merit of the patriarchs, as the merit of the patriarchs salvaged money, while labor saved lives. The merit of the patriarchs salvaged money, as it is stated: “Had the God of my father…not been…[then now you would have sent me away empty-handed].” Labor saved lives – “God saw my hardship and the toil of my hands, and proved it last night.”31When God warned Laban not to harm Jacob.
Bereshit Rabbah
“Since, had we not tarried, we would now have returned twice” (Genesis 43:10).
“Their father, Israel, said to them: If so then, do this: Take of the choice produce of the land in your vessels, and take a gift down to the man, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and ladanum, pistachio nuts and almonds” (Genesis 43:11).
“Since, had we not tarried… Their father, Israel, said to them: If so then [efo]” – Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Tanḥum ben Ḥanilai: Can it be that the same trembling that I caused my father to tremble – “[Isaac was overcome with great trembling, and he said:] Who then [efo] is he [who hunted game and brought it to me? And I ate from all before you came, and I blessed him]” (Genesis 27:33) – is causing my trembling here? I wonder.
“Take of the choice produce [mizimrat] of the land in your vessels” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: Items that bring song [mizmarin] to the world: Snail [ḥilazon],64The snail from which the expensive tekhelet dye was produced. wine with balsam,65Wine enhanced with the scent of balsam (Midrash HaMevoar; see Matnot Kehuna, Etz Yosef). myrrh with the oil accumulated within it. “A little balm” – balsam oil, “a little honey” – Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi said: Honey that is hard as a rock;66This was a special honey that was very valuable because it would last a long time, could be easily transported, and provided a high quality flavor. “spices” – beeswax; “ladanum” – gum Arabic; “pistachio nuts and almonds” – nut oil and almond oil.
“And take double the silver in your hand, and the silver that was returned in the opening of your sacks return in your hand; perhaps it was an oversight” (Genesis 43:12).
“And take your brother, and arise and return to the man” (Genesis 43:13).
“And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and he will send with you your other brother, and Benjamin; and me, as I am bereaved, I am bereaved” (Genesis 43:14).
“And take double the silver in your hand” – Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Perhaps the price has risen.
“And the silver that was returned…And…your…brother” – he said to them: ‘Here is the silver, here is the gift, and here is your brother, do you need anything else?’ They said to him: ‘We need your prayer.’ He said to them: ‘If you need my prayer, “and may God Almighty grant you mercy…”.’
“Their father, Israel, said to them: If so then, do this: Take of the choice produce of the land in your vessels, and take a gift down to the man, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and ladanum, pistachio nuts and almonds” (Genesis 43:11).
“Since, had we not tarried… Their father, Israel, said to them: If so then [efo]” – Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Tanḥum ben Ḥanilai: Can it be that the same trembling that I caused my father to tremble – “[Isaac was overcome with great trembling, and he said:] Who then [efo] is he [who hunted game and brought it to me? And I ate from all before you came, and I blessed him]” (Genesis 27:33) – is causing my trembling here? I wonder.
“Take of the choice produce [mizimrat] of the land in your vessels” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: Items that bring song [mizmarin] to the world: Snail [ḥilazon],64The snail from which the expensive tekhelet dye was produced. wine with balsam,65Wine enhanced with the scent of balsam (Midrash HaMevoar; see Matnot Kehuna, Etz Yosef). myrrh with the oil accumulated within it. “A little balm” – balsam oil, “a little honey” – Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi said: Honey that is hard as a rock;66This was a special honey that was very valuable because it would last a long time, could be easily transported, and provided a high quality flavor. “spices” – beeswax; “ladanum” – gum Arabic; “pistachio nuts and almonds” – nut oil and almond oil.
“And take double the silver in your hand, and the silver that was returned in the opening of your sacks return in your hand; perhaps it was an oversight” (Genesis 43:12).
“And take your brother, and arise and return to the man” (Genesis 43:13).
“And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and he will send with you your other brother, and Benjamin; and me, as I am bereaved, I am bereaved” (Genesis 43:14).
“And take double the silver in your hand” – Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Perhaps the price has risen.
“And the silver that was returned…And…your…brother” – he said to them: ‘Here is the silver, here is the gift, and here is your brother, do you need anything else?’ They said to him: ‘We need your prayer.’ He said to them: ‘If you need my prayer, “and may God Almighty grant you mercy…”.’