Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Genesis 45:3

Say it to them in a gentle voice. See Re”m on this. It seems to me that [Rashi knows this] because we find that דיבור is speaking in a harsh manner, as in: “The man in charge of all the land spoke ( דבר ) to us harshly” (Bereishis 42:30). Thus we may deduce that אמירה is speaking in a gentle manner. Furthermore, it is written: “And Yoseif said ( ויאמר ) to his brothers, ‘I am Yoseif’” (ibid. 45:3). And it is written: “Yoseif said ( ויאמר ) to his brothers, ‘Please approach’” (ibid. v. 4). And it is written: “Yoseif said ( ויאמר ) to them, ‘Do not fear’” (ibid. 50:19). From all these we see that ויאמר is gentle speech.

The Midrash writes. Joseph said to his brothers. You told me that Benjamin’s brother died. Now I will call him, and he called out, come here Joseph. The brothers looked around in all four directions. Joseph said: why are you looking around? I am Joseph your brother. The brothers’ souls flew out from fright and they could not answer. Rabbi Johanan said: when the brothers could not respond to Joseph, how much more so when the Holy One will have the Day of Judgment for the people and will tell them their sins, they will not be able to respond out of fright.¹⁶Bahya, Genesis, 45:3.

Rabbi Isserl writes. When Joseph said, “I am Joseph, is my father still well?” [45:3]. That is to say, I am still alive and my father should still live. With his prophecy, he should know that I am alive, if my father was a prophet. Therefore, Joseph asked, is my father still alive with his prophecy?²⁸Be’ure Maharai, Genesis, 45:3.