Commento su Genesi 37:4

ולא יכלו דברו לשלום AND THEY COULD NOT SPEAK PEACEABLY TO HIM — from what is stated to their discredit we may infer something to their credit: they did not speak one thing with their mouth having another thing quite different in their hearts (Genesis Rabbah 84:9).

ויראו אחיו כי אותו אהב אביהם, here Yaakov had committed an error, allowing the love in his heart for Joseph to be now become visible through preferential treatment of him.

ולא יכלו דברו לשלום, any conversation with Joseph did not revolve around peacefully discussed matters of common interest, but concerned only matters of dispute between them.

ולא יכלו דברו לשלום, “and they were unable to converse with him or about him, peacefully.” You will note that the Torah did not write that the brothers did not speak to him, but whenever they spoke, even to strangers, and Joseph became part of their conversation, they referred to him negatively.

ולא יכלו דברו לשלום, “and they could not speak about him peacefully.” This was actually a positive aspect of their characters. Instead of hiding their hostility and flattering Joseph, they were straightforward in revealing their feelings toward him (Bereshit Rabbah. 84,9). We find this characteristic praised by Solomon in Proverbs 29,5 where he said: גבר מחליק על רעהו רשת פורש על פעמיו, “a man who flatters his neighbour actually spreads a net for his feet.” The prophet actually compliments Avshalom when he said (Samuel II 13,22) ולא דבר אבשלום עם אמנון למרע ועד טוב כי שנא אבשלום את אמנון. “and Avshalom did not speak to Amnon either friendly or unfriendly words for Avshalom hated Amnon (who had raped his sister).”

Die Konstruktion hebt das אותו hervor. Gerade ihn, der eben nicht zu ihnen gehörte, in keiner freundlichen Beziehung zu ihnen stand, ihnen manchen Vorwurf zuzog usw. gerade ihn, sahen sie, zog der Vater vor. — הב(ה) ,אהב mit individualisierendem א: sich dem andern ganz hingeben und den andern in seine nächste Nähe wünschen. Demgegenüber סנה) שנא): Dorn sein, von sich weisen, möglichst fern halten. Die Extreme erzeugten sich gegenseitig. Die Liebe des Vaters erzeugte den Hass der Brüder. — ׳ולא יכלו וגו, sie konnten mit ihm nicht zum Frieden sprechen, d. h. in einer Weise, die den Frieden erzeugt, oder: sie konnten sein "zum Frieden sprechen" nicht ertragen, konnten es nicht ertragen, wenn er freundlich mit ihnen sprach. Befreundete nehmen sich nichts, Gespannte alles übel und missdeuten das Freundliche am meisten.

דברו means TO SPEAK TO HIM.

ולא יכלו דברו לשלום, even though the brothers had to speak to Joseph pertaining to their business dealings both concerning household problems and problems with the herds and flocks, something imposed upon them by their father’s command to see in him their manager, they did not speak to him concerning any private matters, brotherly concerns.