Komentaryo sa Exodo 1:8: Rashi, Sforno, Chizkuni & Tur HaArokh

ויקם מלך חדש NOW THERE AROSE A NEW KING — Rab and Samuel (two Amoraim or Talmudical teachers) differed in their interpretation of these words. One said that he was really a new king; the other said that it was the same king but he made new edicts (Sotah 11a).

A NEW KING AROSE OVER EGYPT, ETC. Even though there was certainly a recording of this in the royal chronicles, specifically with respect to the new legislation that he enacted, the possibility did not occur to the new king of his being from this people, or that it would be appropriate to accord recognition to his people on his account.

ויקם מלך חדש, “a new king arose.” Some commentators, citing the fact that the death of the previous king has not been reported, claim that the Torah speaks about the same King (body), but that his attitude vis a vis the Israelites underwent such a change that he might as well have been a different king altogether. Examples of the verb קום, “to arise,” being used in this sense can be found in Job 24,14: לאור יקום רוצח, “the murderer arises with the light;” or Psalms 27,12: כי קמו בי עדי שקר, “for false witnesses have taken the stand against me.”

אשר לא ידע WHO KNEW NOT [JOSEPH] — he comported himself as though he did not know him (Sotah 11a).