וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו אֵ֣ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֤י יוֹסֵף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֲגָל֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח יוֹסֵ֖ף לָשֵׂ֣את אֹת֑וֹ וַתְּחִ֕י ר֖וּחַ יַעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶֽם׃
Lalu mereka menyampaikan kepadanya segala perkataan yang telah diucapkan Yusuf kepada mereka. Ketika ia melihat kereta-kereta yang dikirim Yusuf untuk mengangkut dia, bangkitlah kembali semangat Yakub, ayah mereka.
Midrash Tanchuma
It was because of this episode that a famine befell Canaan, compelling Joseph’s ten brothers to descend to Egypt to buy grain, where they discovered that Joseph was still alive. (Only then) did they abrogate the pact of excommunication and Jacob learned that Joseph was alive. It is written about him: The spirit of Jacob their father revived (Gen. 45:27). Had his spirit actually died? No! His spirit was revived from the despair that resulted from the vow of excommunication they had entered into, and the Holy Spirit had departed from him because of it, but now it hovered over him once again.
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer
Rabbi Jannai said: The sale of Joseph was not atoned by the tribes until they died, as it is said, "And the Lord of hosts revealed Himself in mine ears, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die" (Isa. 22:14). Owing to the sale (of Joseph) a famine came into the land of Israel for seven years, and the brethren of Joseph "went down to buy corn" (Gen. 42:3) in Egypt. And they found Joseph (still) living, and they absolved themselves of the ban; and Jacob heard about Joseph that he was living, and his soul and his spirit revived. Did their father Jacob's spirit die, so that it had to be revived? But, owing to the ban, the Holy Spirit had departed from him, and when they had removed the ban the Holy Spirit rested on him as at first; that || is what is written, "The spirit of Jacob their father revived" (Gen. 45:27).
Bereshit Rabbah
“They went up from Egypt, and they came to the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father” (Genesis 45:25).
“They told him, saying: Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over the entire land of Egypt. His heart was faint because he did not believe them (Genesis 45:26).
“They went up from Egypt…. They told him, saying: Joseph is still alive…his heart was faint” – Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: What is the plight of the liar? Even if he says truthful matters, he is not believed.
“They spoke to him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and he saw the wagons that Joseph sent to convey him, and the spirit of Jacob their father was revived” (Genesis 45:27).
“He saw the wagons” – the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him had idols etched on them. Judah stood and burned them. That tribe is experienced in burning idols.1See II Samuel 5:21; I Chronicles 14:12.
Rabbi Levi [said] in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan bar Shaul: [Joseph] said to them: ‘If he believes you, fine. If not, say to him: “At the moment that I took my leave of you, was I not engaged in [studying] the passage of the beheaded calf [egla]?’ That is what is written: “He saw the wagons [haagalot]…and the spirit…was revived.”
“Israel said: Enough, Joseph my son is still alive; I will go and see him before I die” (Genesis 45:28).
“Israel said: Enough [rav]” – the power of my son Joseph is great [rav], as many troubles befell him, but still he remained in his righteousness much more than I did, as I sinned when I said: “My way is hidden from the Lord” (Isaiah 40:27). But I am certain that I have a portion in “how great is Your goodness” (Psalms 31:20).2Jacob knew through divine inspiration that if none of his sons were to die during his lifetime, he would be assured of a place in the World to Come (Etz Yosef, based on Tanḥuma (Warsaw ed.) Vayigash 9).
“They told him, saying: Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over the entire land of Egypt. His heart was faint because he did not believe them (Genesis 45:26).
“They went up from Egypt…. They told him, saying: Joseph is still alive…his heart was faint” – Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: What is the plight of the liar? Even if he says truthful matters, he is not believed.
“They spoke to him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and he saw the wagons that Joseph sent to convey him, and the spirit of Jacob their father was revived” (Genesis 45:27).
“He saw the wagons” – the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him had idols etched on them. Judah stood and burned them. That tribe is experienced in burning idols.1See II Samuel 5:21; I Chronicles 14:12.
Rabbi Levi [said] in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan bar Shaul: [Joseph] said to them: ‘If he believes you, fine. If not, say to him: “At the moment that I took my leave of you, was I not engaged in [studying] the passage of the beheaded calf [egla]?’ That is what is written: “He saw the wagons [haagalot]…and the spirit…was revived.”
“Israel said: Enough, Joseph my son is still alive; I will go and see him before I die” (Genesis 45:28).
“Israel said: Enough [rav]” – the power of my son Joseph is great [rav], as many troubles befell him, but still he remained in his righteousness much more than I did, as I sinned when I said: “My way is hidden from the Lord” (Isaiah 40:27). But I am certain that I have a portion in “how great is Your goodness” (Psalms 31:20).2Jacob knew through divine inspiration that if none of his sons were to die during his lifetime, he would be assured of a place in the World to Come (Etz Yosef, based on Tanḥuma (Warsaw ed.) Vayigash 9).