Komentarz do Rodzaju 47:6

אנשי חיל MEN OF ACTIVITY — skilled in their occupation of tending sheep.

אנשי חיל, men capable of being major commandants or political ministers. The word חיל here means something as in Ruth 3,11 a combination of ability and integrity. The author claims to have found that the expression אנשי חיל can be used directly to apply to cattle breeders.

במיטב הארץ…ישבו בארץ גשן, "they shall dwell in the land of Goshen in the best part of the country." Pharaoh was careful not to say only: "in the best part of the land," seeing that Joseph had indicated that he preferred that the brothers should live in the province of Goshen. If Pharaoh were not to confirm this specifically, Joseph might think that he did not want them to reside in Goshen. If, on the other hand, he were to say only that the brothers should reside in Goshen without adding the words "in the best part of the land," Joseph might feel that Pharaoh only assigned the inferior part of the province of Goshen to them. To avoid any misunderstanding, Pharaoh spelled out that the brothers should reside in the best part of the land of Goshen. Verse eleven then confirms that this is indeed what happened, that the land around Ramses was considered the best part of Goshen.

אנשי חיל, capable cattle (livestock) breeders.

ושמתם שרי מקנה על אשר לי, “appoint them as the ministers in charge of all my livestock.” Ibn Ezra understands the term מקנה here as animals such as horses, the type of animals owned by Royalty. Pharaoh, personally, did not own flocks of sheep, etc.

Experts in their occupation of tending sheep. Rashi is saying that here, חיל does not mean piety or wealth.

הושב, nicht als גרים, sondern als bleibend berechtigte ואם — .תושבים ידעת ויש בם. Mit großer Feinheit spricht dies Pharao als zwei Bedingungen aus. Es kann sein, dass יש בם אנשי חיל und du weißt es nicht, oder willst es nicht wissen, wünschest es nicht, dass sie in meinen Dienst treten; er gibt somit Josef selbst Ausreden an die Hand, wenn er es etwa nicht wünschen sollte.

במיטב הארץ הושב את אביך, “in the most fertile part of the land settle your father!;” seeing that he is aged and is only looking for peace and quiet and clean air, let him dwell in that part of the land; as far as your brothers are concerned, let them settle in the region of Goshen which has excellent grazing land. Our author continues with: “Do not tell me that the cantillation mark etnachta under the words: ואת אחיך clearly contradicts this interpretation.” This is not the only time that an etnachta, divisive cantillation mark, does not override the plain meaning of the verse. To mention just one:Judges 5,18 זבולון עם חרף נפשו למות ונפתל על מרומי שדה; “Zevulun is a people that mocketh at death; Naftaly on the open heights.” The etnachta under the word Naftaly in that verse is not meant to be divisive. Devorah surely lauded both those tribes as partners.

על אשר לי OVER THAT WHICH IS MINE — over my sheep.

Over my sheep. It is written (v. 3) רועי צאן עבדיך. Since they said to Pharaoh they were רועי צאן only, [thus Rashi knows that] the word מקנה in this verse refers to צאן (sheep).

It is also possible to understand the whole verse as a choice offered by Pharaoh. The brothers were welcome to reside in the best part of the land of Egypt; if, however, for whatever reason they preferred to settle in the province of Goshen, this too was acceptable to Pharaoh.

אנשי חיל, “able and astute people.” According to Rashi, Joseph described his brothers as not only intelligent but as loyal and trustworthy. Examples of the use of that word in that sense are: Proverbs 31,10: אשת חיל מי ימצא, “who is fortunate enough to find a truly wise woman?” Clearly Solomon did not speak about a woman who prepared for battle as a soldier! [Except in modern day Israel, where do women serve in the army in battle formations? Ed.]

ושמתם שרי מקנה, “you will appoint them as being in charge of livestock.” (Pharaoh speaking to Joseph concerning his brothers) The livestock that Pharaoh was most interested in were camels, mules and horses. If we needed proof that this interpretation is correct, it can be found in Chronicles I 28,1: ויקהל דוד את כל שרי ישראל ושר כל הרכוש ומקנה, “David assembled all the chieftains of Israel as well as the chieftains in charge of inert possessions, and the chieftains in charge of livestock, etc.; immediately before this verse, the previous chapter speaks of camels and sheasses (27,30) and the officers in charge of them. An alternate exegesis: Seeing that the areas in which defenseless sheep, goats and cows graze in the desert, an area where there are wild animals and robbers, the shepherds looking after them must be strong, able and capable of defending them.