Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 42

19If you are being truthful, prove it: Let one of your brothers remain as hostage in your present place of detention, while the rest of you go back to your homeland and bring the produce you have purchased for satiating the hunger of your households.   יטאִם־כֵּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד יֵֽאָסֵ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּם֙ לְכ֣וּ הָבִ֔יאוּ שֶׁ֖בֶר רַֽעֲב֥וֹן בָּֽתֵּיכֶֽם:
בְּבֵית מִשְׁמַרְכֶם - (lit.) In your house of custody - means “where you are now imprisoned.”   בְּבֵית מִשְׁמַרְכֶם.  שֶׁאַתֶּם אֲסוּרִים בּוֹ עַכְשָׁו:
וְאַתֶּם לְכוּ הָבִיאוּ - While you go and bring - to your father’s house.   וְאַתֶּם לְכוּ הָבִיאוּ.  לְבֵית אֲבִיכֶם:
שֶׁבֶר רַֽעֲבוֹן בָּֽתֵּיכֶֽם - Produce for the hunger of your households - i.e., what you have purchased for the hunger of the members of your households.   שֶׁבֶר רַֽעֲבוֹן בָּֽתֵּיכֶֽם.  מַה שֶּׁקְּנִיתֶם לְרַעֲבוֹן אַנְשֵׁי בָתֵּיכֶם:
20You must then bring me your youngest brother, and thus your words will be substantiated and you will not die.” They agreed to do this.   כוְאֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הַקָּטֹן֙ תָּבִ֣יאוּ אֵלַ֔י וְיֵאָֽמְנ֥וּ דִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֣א תָמ֑וּתוּ וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵֽן:
וְיֵאָֽמְנוּ דִבְרֵיכֶם - means “and your words will be verified and confirmed,” as in: “Amen, amen (אָמֵן אָמֵן)”; 1 and as in: “may Your word now be realized (יֵאָמֶן).” 2   וְיֵאָֽמְנוּ דִבְרֵיכֶם.  יִתְאַמְּתוּ וְיִתְקַיְּמוּ; כְּמוֹ אָמֵן אָמֵן (במדבר ה'), וּכְמוֹ, יֵאָמֶן נָא דְּבָרְךָ (מלכים א ח'):
21They said to one another, “We are indeed guilty regarding our brother, for we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this misfortune has come upon us.”   כאוַיֹּֽאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֗יו אֲבָל֘ אֲשֵׁמִ֣ים | אֲנַ֘חְנוּ֘ עַל־אָחִ֒ינוּ֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר רָאִ֜ינוּ צָרַ֥ת נַפְשׁ֛וֹ בְּהִתְחַֽנְנ֥וֹ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ וְלֹ֣א שָׁמָ֑עְנוּ עַל־כֵּן֙ בָּ֣אָה אֵלֵ֔ינוּ הַצָּרָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת:
אֲבָל - means here as Onkelos translates it: בְּקוּשְׁטָא – “In truth.” I have seen in Bereshit Rabbah 3 that it is a southern Hebrew expression, where אֲבָל means בְּרָם “indeed.”   אֲבָל.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ בְּקוּשְׁטָא, וְרָאִיתִי בּבְּרֵאשִׁית רַבָּה לִישְׁנָא דְרוֹמָאָה הוּא אֲבָל – בְּרַם:
בָּאָה אֵלֵינוּ - Has come upon us. The word בָּאָה has its accent on the ב because it is in the past tense, i.e., it has already come upon us, and Onkelos also translates it so: אֲתַת לָנָא “it has come upon us.”   בָּאָה אֵלֵינוּ.  טַעֲמוֹ בַּבֵּי"ת, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא בִּלְשׁוֹן עָבָר, שֶׁכְּבָר בָּאָה, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ אֲתַת לָנָא:
22Reuben responded to them and said, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’? But you would not listen. And now we are being called to account for spilling his blood.”   כבוַיַּ֩עַן֩ רְאוּבֵ֨ן אֹתָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר הֲלוֹא֩ אָמַ֨רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֧ם | לֵאמֹ֛ר אַל־תֶּֽחֶטְא֥וּ בַיֶּ֖לֶד וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם וְגַם־דָּמ֖וֹ הִנֵּ֥ה נִדְרָֽשׁ:
וְגַם־דָּמוֹ - (lit.) His blood, as well. The participles אֶת and גַם imply the inclusion of something additional. It therefore means here “his blood as well as the blood of the elder Jacob.”   וְגַם־דָּמוֹ.  אֵתִין וְגַמִּין רִבּוּיִין – דָּמוֹ וְגַם דַּם הַזָּקֵן:
23They did not realize that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them.   כגוְהֵם֙ לֹ֣א יָֽדְע֔וּ כִּ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖עַ יוֹסֵ֑ף כִּ֥י הַמֵּלִ֖יץ בֵּֽינֹתָֽם:
וְהֵם לֹא יָֽדְעוּ כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יוֹסֵף - They did not realize that Joseph understood - i.e., he understood their language, and they were saying this in his presence.   וְהֵם לֹא יָֽדְעוּ כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יוֹסֵף.  מֵבִין לְשׁוֹנָם, וּבְפָנָיו הָיוּ מְדַבְּרִים כֵּן:
כִּי הַמֵּלִיץ בֵּֽינֹתָֽם - For there was an interpreter between them - i.e., for when they would speak with him, an interpreter who knew both the Hebrew and Egyptian languages was between them and would explain their words to Joseph and Joseph’s words to them. They therefore imagined that Joseph did not know the Hebrew language.   כִּי הַמֵּלִיץ בֵּֽינֹתָֽם.  כִּי כְּשֶׁהָיוּ מְדַבְּרִים עִמּוֹ הָיָה הַמֵּלִיץ בֵּינֵיהֶם הַיּוֹדֵעַ לָשׁוֹן עִבְרִי וְלָשׁוֹן מִצְרִי, וְהָיָה מֵלִיץ דִּבְרֵיהֶם לְיוֹסֵף וְדִבְרֵי יוֹסֵף לָהֶם, לְכָךְ הָיוּ סְבוּרִים שֶׁאֵין יוֹסֵף מַכִּיר בְּלָשׁוֹן עִבְרִי:
הַמֵּלִיץ - The interpreter. This was his son Manasseh.   הַמֵּלִיץ.  זֶה מְנַשֶּׁה:
24He turned aside from them and wept. He came back to them and spoke to them, and took Simeon away from them and imprisoned him before their eyes.   כדוַיִּסֹּ֥ב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וַיָּ֤שָׁב אֲלֵהֶם֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֵֽאִתָּם֙ אֶת־שִׁמְע֔וֹן וַיֶּֽאֱסֹ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ לְעֵֽינֵיהֶֽם:
וַיִּסֹּב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶם - He turned aside from them - i.e., he moved away from them so that they would not see him weeping.   וַיִּסֹּב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶם.  נִתְרַחֵק מֵעֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאוּהוּ בּוֹכֶה:
וַיֵּבְךְּ - And wept - because he heard that they regretted what they had done to him.   וַיֵּבְךְּ.  לְפִי שֶׁשָּׁמַע שֶׁהָיוּ מִתְחָרְטִין:
אֶת־שִׁמְעוֹן - Simeon. It was he who had thrown him into the pit, and it was he who had said to Levi, “Look, here comes that dreamer.” 4 Another explanation: Joseph intended to separate him from Levi for fear that the two of them might conspire to kill him.   אֶת־שִׁמְעוֹן.  הוּא הִשְׁלִיכוֹ לַבּוֹר, הוּא שֶׁאָמַר לְלֵוִי הִנֵּה בַּעַל הַחֲלֹמוֹת הַלָּזֶה בָּא (בראשית רבה). דָּבָר אַחֵר נִתְכַּוֵּן יוֹסֵף לְהַפְרִידוֹ מִלֵּוִי, שֶׁמָּא יִתְיָעֲצוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם לַהֲרֹג אוֹתוֹ:
וַיֶּֽאֱסֹר אֹתוֹ לְעֵֽינֵיהֶֽם - And imprisoned him before their eyes. He only bound him in their presence, but as soon as they had left he freed him and gave him food and drink.   וַיֶּֽאֱסֹר אֹתוֹ לְעֵֽינֵיהֶֽם.  לֹא אֲסָרוֹ אֶלָּא לְעֵינֵיהֶם, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁיָּצְאוּ הוֹצִיאוֹ וְהֶאֱכִילוֹ וְהִשְׁקָהוּ (בראשית רבה):
25Joseph then gave orders that when their containers were filled with grain, each one’s money should be returned to his sack, and that they should be given provisions for the journey. This order was carried out for them.   כהוַיְצַ֣ו יוֹסֵ֗ף וַיְמַלְא֣וּ אֶת־כְּלֵיהֶם֘ בָּר֒ וּלְהָשִׁ֤יב כַּסְפֵּיהֶם֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־שַׂקּ֔וֹ וְלָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֛ם צֵדָ֖ה לַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן:
26The brothers then loaded their produce onto their donkeys and departed.   כווַיִּשְׂא֥וּ אֶת־שִׁבְרָ֖ם עַל־חֲמֹֽרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֵּֽלְכ֖וּ מִשָּֽׁם:
27As one of them was opening his sack at the inn to give fodder to his donkey, he saw his money, right there at the opening of his pack.   כזוַיִּפְתַּ֨ח הָֽאֶחָ֜ד אֶת־שַׂקּ֗וֹ לָתֵ֥ת מִסְפּ֛וֹא לַֽחֲמֹר֖וֹ בַּמָּל֑וֹן וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־כַּסְפּ֔וֹ וְהִנֵּה־ה֖וּא בְּפִ֥י אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ:
וַיִּפְתַּח הָֽאֶחָד - (lit.) The one opened. This “the one” was Levi, who was now left alone without his usual companion Simeon.   וַיִּפְתַּח הָֽאֶחָד.  הוּא לֵוִי, שֶׁנִּשְׁאַר יָחִיד מִשִּׁמְעוֹן בֶּן זוּגוֹ:
בַּמָּלוֹן - means here: at the place where they stayed (לָנוּ) overnight.   בַּמָּלוֹן.  בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁלָּנוּ בַּלַּיְלָה:
אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ - This is a pack.   אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ.  הוּא שַׂק:
28He said to his brothers, “My money has been returned! It, too, is here in my pack!” Their hearts sank. Trembling, they turned to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”   כחוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ הוּשַׁ֣ב כַּסְפִּ֔י וְגַ֖ם הִנֵּ֣ה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּ֑י וַיֵּצֵ֣א לִבָּ֗ם וַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּ אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־זֹּ֛את עָשָׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לָֽנוּ:
וְגַם הִנֵּה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּי - It, too, is here in my pack - i.e., גַם means here that the money is also in it together with the produce.   וְגַם הִנֵּה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּי.  גַּם הַכֶּסֶף בּוֹ עִם הַתְּבוּאָה:
מַה־זֹּאת עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לָֽנוּ - What is this that God has done to us - by bringing us to this accusation, for it was surely only put back into our sacks in order to make an accusation against us.   מַה־זֹּאת עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לָֽנוּ.  לַהֲבִיאֵנוּ לִידֵי עֲלִילָה זוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא הוּשַׁב אֶלָּא לְהִתְעוֹלֵל עָלֵינוּ:
29When they came to their father Jacob in Canaan, they told him about all that had happened to them, as follows:   כטוַיָּבֹ֛אוּ אֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶ֖ם אַ֣רְצָה כְּנָ֑עַן וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ ל֔וֹ אֵ֛ת כָּל־הַקֹּרֹ֥ת אֹתָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר:
30“The man who is the lord of the land spoke to us harshly and accused us of spying out the land.   לדִּ֠בֶּ֠ר הָאִ֨ישׁ אֲדֹנֵ֥י הָאָ֛רֶץ אִתָּ֖נוּ קָשׁ֑וֹת וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֹתָ֔נוּ כִּמְרַגְּלִ֖ים אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ:
31We said to him, ‘We are truthful men; we have never been spies.   לאוַנֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ לֹ֥א הָיִ֖ינוּ מְרַגְּלִֽים:
32We were 12 brothers, sons of the same father; one of us went missing, and the youngest is today with our father in Canaan.’   לבשְׁנֵֽים־עָשָׂ֥ר אֲנַ֛חְנוּ אַחִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י אָבִ֑ינוּ הָֽאֶחָ֣ד אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְהַקָּטֹ֥ן הַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־אָבִ֖ינוּ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן:
33The man who is the lord of the land said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are being honest: Leave one of your brothers with me, take the grain you have purchased for satiating the hunger of your households, and go home.   לגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֵ֗ינוּ הָאִישׁ֙ אֲדֹנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ בְּזֹ֣את אֵדַ֔ע כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ הַנִּ֣יחוּ אִתִּ֔י וְאֶת־רַֽעֲב֥וֹן בָּֽתֵּיכֶ֖ם קְח֥וּ וָלֵֽכוּ:
34But you must bring me your youngest brother, and then I will know that you are not spies, but are being honest. I will give your brother back to you, and you will be able to move about in the land freely.’”   לדוְ֠הָבִ֠יאוּ אֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֣ם הַקָּטֹן֘ אֵלַי֒ וְאֵֽדְעָ֗ה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א מְרַגְּלִים֙ אַתֶּ֔ם כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אֶת־אֲחִיכֶם֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ תִּסְחָֽרוּ:
וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ תִּסְחָֽרוּ - means “and you may move about the land.” Similarly, all words such as סוֹחֲרִים (merchants) and סְחוֹרָה (merchandise) are from the root סחר “to circulate,” because merchants travel around looking for merchandise.   וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ תִּסְחָֽרוּ.  תְּסוֹבְבוּ; וְכָל לְשׁוֹן סוֹחֲרִים וּסְחוֹרָה עַל שֵׁם שֶׁמְּחַזְרִים וְסוֹבְבִים אַחַר הַפְּרַקְמַטְיָא:
35While they were emptying their sacks, there, in each one’s sack, was his money-pouch. When they and their father saw their money-pouches, they became afraid.   להוַיְהִ֗י הֵ֚ם מְרִיקִ֣ים שַׂקֵּיהֶ֔ם וְהִנֵּה־אִ֥ישׁ צְרֽוֹר־כַּסְפּ֖וֹ בְּשַׂקּ֑וֹ וַיִּרְא֞וּ אֶת־צְרֹר֧וֹת כַּסְפֵּיהֶ֛ם הֵ֥מָּה וַֽאֲבִיהֶ֖ם וַיִּירָֽאוּ:
צְרֽוֹר־כַּסְפּוֹ - means “his pouch of money.”   צְרֽוֹר־כַּסְפּוֹ.  קֶשֶׁר כַּסְפּוֹ:
36Their father Jacob said to them, “You are bereaving me of my sons! Joseph is gone, Simeon is gone, and now you would take Benjamin away?! All this has befallen me!”   לווַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב אֲבִיהֶ֔ם אֹתִ֖י שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם יוֹסֵ֤ף אֵינֶ֨נּוּ֙ וְשִׁמְע֣וֹן אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֣ן תִּקָּ֔חוּ עָלַ֖י הָי֥וּ כֻלָּֽנָה:
אֹתִי שִׁכַּלְתֶּם - You are bereaving me. This teaches us that he now suspected them of killing or selling Simeon as well as Joseph.   אֹתִי שִׁכַּלְתֶּם.  מְלַמֵּד שֶׁחֲשָׁדָן שֶׁמָּא הֲרָגוּהוּ אוֹ מְכָרוּהוּ כְיוֹסֵף:
שִׁכַּלְתֶּם - You are bereaving me. Anyone whose children are lost is called שָׁכוּל “bereaved.”   שִׁכַּלְתֶּם.  כָּל מִי שֶׁבָּנָיו אֲבוּדִים קָרוּי שַׁכּוּל:
37Reuben then said to his father, “You may put my own two sons to death if I do not bring Benjamin back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I promise that I will bring him back to you.”   לזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר רְאוּבֵן֙ אֶל־אָבִ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר אֶת־שְׁנֵ֤י בָנַי֙ תָּמִ֔ית אִם־לֹ֥א אֲבִיאֶ֖נּוּ אֵלֶ֑יךָ תְּנָ֤ה אֹתוֹ֙ עַל־יָדִ֔י וַֽאֲנִ֖י אֲשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ:
38He replied, “My son Benjamin will not go down to Egypt with you! For his brother Joseph is dead and he alone remains from his mother, and should disaster befall him along the road you travel, you will bring my white-haired head down to the grave in grief.”   לחוַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־יֵרֵ֥ד בְּנִ֖י עִמָּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אָחִ֨יו מֵ֜ת וְה֧וּא לְבַדּ֣וֹ נִשְׁאָ֗ר וּקְרָאָ֤הוּ אָסוֹן֙ בַּדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־בָ֔הּ וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם אֶת־שֵֽׂיבָתִ֛י בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֽוֹלָה:
לֹֽא־יֵרֵד בְּנִי עִמָּכֶם - My son will not go down with you. He did not accept Reuben’s offer. He said: “This is a foolish firstborn! He suggests to have his sons killed; are they only his sons and not mine?”   לֹֽא־יֵרֵד בְּנִי עִמָּכֶם.  לֹא קִבֵּל דְּבָרָיו שֶׁל רְאוּבֵן, אָמַר בְּכוֹר שׁוֹטֶה הוּא זֶה, הוּא אוֹמֵר לְהָמִית בָּנָיו, וְכִי בָנָיו הֵם וְלֹא בָּנַי? (בראשית רבה):

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 43

1The famine in the region continued to be severe.   אוְהָֽרָעָ֖ב כָּבֵ֥ד בָּאָֽרֶץ:
2When they had fully consumed the produce that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back to Egypt and buy us a little food.”   בוַיְהִ֗י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר כִּלּוּ֙ לֶֽאֱכֹ֣ל אֶת־הַשֶּׁ֔בֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֵבִ֖יאוּ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֲבִיהֶ֔ם שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־אֹֽכֶל:
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ לֶֽאֱכֹל - When they had fully consumed. Judah had said to them: “Wait for the old man until the bread runs out in the house, and then he will reconsider.”   כַּֽאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ לֶֽאֱכֹל.  יְהוּדָה אָמַר לָהֶם הַמְתִּינוּ לַזָּקֵן עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה פַת מִן הַבַּיִת (בראשית רבה):
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ - When they had fully [consumed]. The correct Aramaic translation here is: כַּד שֵׁצִיאוּ “when they had finished,” and he who translates כַּד סַפִּיקוּ “when they had had enough” is in error. In the phrase כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ הַגְּמַלִּים לִשְׁתּוֹת, 5 כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ is translated as כַּד סַפִּיקוּ – i.e., when they had drunk their fill, for that is the end of their drinking. But here, “when they had finished eating” means when the food ran out, and therefore the correct translation is כַּד שֵׁצִיאוּ.   כַּֽאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ.  כַּד שֵׁצִיאוּ, וְהַמְתַרְגֵּם כַּד סַפִּיקוּ טוֹעֶה; כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ הַגְּמַלִּים לִשְׁתּוֹת מְתֻרְגָּם כַּד סַפִּיקוּ – כְּשֶׁשָּׁתוּ דֵי סִפּוּקָם הוּא גְמַר שְׁתִיָּתָם; אֲבָל זֶה כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ לֶאֱכֹל, כַּאֲשֶׁר תַּם הָאֹכֶל הוּא, וּמְתַרְגְּמִינָן כַּד שֵׁצִיאוּ:
3So Judah said to him, “The man sternly warned us, saying, ‘Do not appear before me again unless your brother is with you.’   גוַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו יְהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הָעֵ֣ד הֵעִד֩ בָּ֨נוּ הָאִ֤ישׁ לֵאמֹר֙ לֹֽא־תִרְא֣וּ פָנַ֔י בִּלְתִּ֖י אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אִתְּכֶֽם:
הָעֵד הֵעִד - Sternly warned. The verb הֵעִד here is an expression of warning, because, as a rule, a warning is given in front of witnesses (עֵדִים). Similarly we find “I repeatedly warned (הָעֵד הַעִדֹתִי) your forefathers”; 6 “Go down and warn (הָעֵד) the people.” 7   הָעֵד הֵעִד.  לְשׁוֹן הַתְרָאָה שֶׁסְּתָם הַתְרָאָה מַתְרֶה בוֹ בִּפְנֵי עֵדִים, וְכֵן הַעִדֹתִי בַּאֲבוֹתֵיכֶם (ירמיהו י"א); רֵד הָעֵד בָּעָם (שמות י"ט):
לֹֽא־תִרְאוּ פָנַי בִּלְתִּי אֲחִיכֶם אִתְּכֶֽם - means “you may not see me without your brother being with you.” But Onkelos translated it אֱלָהֵין כַּד אֲחוּכוֹן עִמְּכוֹן “except when your brother is with you,” describing the expression in context, but not precisely translating according to the wording of the verse.   לֹֽא־תִרְאוּ פָנַי בִּלְתִּי אֲחִיכֶם אִתְּכֶֽם.  לֹא תִרְאוּנִי בְלֹא אֲחִיכֶם אִתְּכֶם; וְאֻנְקְלוֹס תִּרְגֵּם אֶלָּהֵן כַּד אֲחוּכוֹן עִמְּכוֹן, יִשֵּׁב הַדָּבָר עַל אָפְנוֹ וְלֹא דִּקְדֵּק לְתַרְגֵּם אַחַר לְשׁוֹן הַמִּקְרָא:
4If you agree to send along our brother with us, we will go down to Egypt and buy you food.   דאִם־יֶשְׁךָ֛ מְשַׁלֵּ֥חַ אֶת־אָחִ֖ינוּ אִתָּ֑נוּ נֵֽרְדָ֕ה וְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה לְךָ֖ אֹֽכֶל:
5But if you do not send him, we will not go down there, for the man told us, ‘You may not appear before me again unless your brother is with you.’”   הוְאִם־אֵֽינְךָ֥ מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ לֹ֣א נֵרֵ֑ד כִּֽי־הָאִ֞ישׁ אָמַ֤ר אֵלֵ֨ינוּ֙ לֹֽא־תִרְא֣וּ פָנַ֔י בִּלְתִּ֖י אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אִתְּכֶֽם:
6Israel said, “Why did you do me such a disservice by telling the man that you have another brother?”   ווַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָמָ֥ה הֲרֵֽעֹתֶ֖ם לִ֑י לְהַגִּ֣יד לָאִ֔ישׁ הַע֥וֹד לָכֶ֖ם אָֽח:
7They replied, “The man kept asking about us and our families, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ We told him that we had a father and another brother in response to his questions. Could we have known that he would say, ‘Bring down your brother’?!”   זוַיֹּֽאמְר֡וּ שָׁא֣וֹל שָֽׁאַל־הָ֠אִ֠ישׁ לָ֣נוּ וּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֵּ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר הַע֨וֹד אֲבִיכֶ֥ם חַי֙ הֲיֵ֣שׁ לָכֶ֣ם אָ֔ח וַנַּ֨גֶּד־ל֔וֹ עַל־פִּ֖י הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה הֲיָד֣וֹעַ נֵדַ֔ע כִּ֣י יֹאמַ֔ר הוֹרִ֖ידוּ אֶת־אֲחִיכֶֽם:
לָנוּ וּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֵּנוּ - וּלְמוֹלַדְתֵּנוּ means “And about our families.” But its Midrashic explanation is: He revealed to us even what kind of wood our cradles were made of.   לָנוּ וּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֵּנוּ.  לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵנוּ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ אֲפִלּוּ עֲצֵי עֲרִיסוֹתֵנוּ גִּלָּה לָנוּ:
וַנַּגֶּד־לוֹ - We told him - that we have a father and a brother.   וַנַּגֶּד־לוֹ.  שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָנוּ אָב וְאָח:
עַל־פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה - (lit.) According to these words - means: in response to the questions which he asked we were obliged to tell.   עַל־פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה.  עַל פִּי שְׁאֵלוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר שָׁאַל, הֻזְקַקְנוּ לְהַגִּיד:
כִּי יֹאמַר - means “that he would say.” כִּי may be used in the sense of אִם, and אִם (usually meaning “if”) may be used in the sense of אֲשֶׁר (“that”). Thus this is one of the four usages of כִּי, namely אִי (Aramaic for אִם), for this כִּי has the same meaning as אִם, as in “until that (אִם) I have spoken my piece.” 8   כִּי יֹאמַר.  אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר, כִּי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אִם וְאִם מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר; הֲרֵי זֶה שִׁמּוּשׁ אֶחָד מֵאַרְבַּע לְשׁוֹנוֹתָיו שֶׁמְּשַׁמֵּשׁ כִּי, וְהוּא אִם, שֶׁהֲרֵי כִּי זֶה כְמוֹ אִם, כְּמוֹ עַד אִם דִּבַּרְתִּי דְּבָרָי (בראשית כ״ד:ל״ג):
8Judah then said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me and let us set out and go, so that we should live and not die—we, you, and also our little ones.   חוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוּדָ֜ה אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אָבִ֗יו שִׁלְחָ֥ה הַנַּ֛עַר אִתִּ֖י וְנָק֣וּמָה וְנֵלֵ֑כָה וְנִֽחְיֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א נָמ֔וּת גַּם־אֲנַ֥חְנוּ גַם־אַתָּ֖ה גַּם־טַפֵּֽנוּ:
וְנִֽחְיֶה - So that we should live. He had a spark of the Divine Spirit of prophecy: “Through this journey your spirit will be revived.” As it indeed later says: “and the spirit came alive in their father Jacob.” 9   וְנִֽחְיֶה.  נִצְנְצָה בוֹ רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, עַל יְדֵי הֲלִיכָה זוֹ תְחִי רוּחֲךָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַתְּחִי רוּחַ יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם (בראשית מ"ה):
וְלֹא נָמוּת - And not die - of hunger. As for Benjamin, it is a matter of doubt whether or not he will be seized, but as for us, we will all die of hunger if we do not go. Better you set aside the doubt and choose what is certain.   וְלֹא נָמוּת.  בָּרָעָב; בִּנְיָמִין סָפֵק יִתָּפֵשׂ סָפֵק לֹא יִתָּפֵשׂ, וְאָנוּ כֻּלָּנוּ מֵתִים בָּרָעָב אִם לֹא נֵלֵךְ, מוּטָב שֶׁתַּנִּיחַ אֶת הַסָּפֵק וְתִתְפֹּשׂ אֶת הַוַּדַּאי:
9I offer myself as a guarantor for him; you can demand him from me. If I do not bring him back to you and present him to you alive, I will have sinned against you for all time.   טאָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּ אִם־לֹ֨א הֲבִֽיאֹתִ֤יו אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ וְהִצַּגְתִּ֣יו לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְחָטָ֥אתִי לְךָ֖ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים:
וְהִצַּגְתִּיו לְפָנֶיךָ - And present him to you - i.e., that I will not bring him to you dead, but alive.   וְהִצַּגְתִּיו לְפָנֶיךָ.  שֶׁלֹּא אֲבִיאֶנּוּ אֵלֶיךָ מֵת, כִּי אִם חַי:
וְחָטָאתִי לְךָ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים - I will have sinned against you for all time - i.e., in the World to Come.   וְחָטָאתִי לְךָ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים.  לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא:
10For had we not lingered here, we could have been there and back twice by now.”   יכִּ֖י לוּלֵ֣א הִתְמַהְמָ֑הְנוּ כִּֽי־עַתָּ֥ה שַׁ֖בְנוּ זֶ֥ה פַֽעֲמָֽיִם:
לוּלֵא התמהמנו - For had we not lingered - because of you, we would already have returned with Simeon, and you would not have suffered all these days.   לוּלֵא התמהמנו.  עַל יָדְךָ, כְּבָר הָיִינוּ שָׁבִים עִם שִׁמְעוֹן וְלֹא נִצְטַעַרְתָּ כָּל הַיָּמִים הַלָּלוּ:
11Their father Israel said to them, “If it is so, then this is what you must do: Take some of the land of Canaan’s most celebrated, choice products in your containers, and bring them down to the man as a gift—a little stacte, a little honey, and some beeswax, lotus, pistachios, and almonds.   יאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֜ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל אֲבִיהֶ֗ם אִם־כֵּ֣ן | אֵפוֹא֘ זֹ֣את עֲשׂוּ֒ קְח֞וּ מִזִּמְרַ֤ת הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ בִּכְלֵיכֶ֔ם וְהוֹרִ֥ידוּ לָאִ֖ישׁ מִנְחָ֑ה מְעַ֤ט צֳרִי֙ וּמְעַ֣ט דְּבַ֔שׁ נְכֹ֣את וָלֹ֔ט בָּטְנִ֖ים וּשְׁקֵדִֽים:
אֵפוֹא - Every instance of אֵפוֹא in Scripture is an added word to improve a phrase in the Hebrew language: If this is what I will have to do, to send him with you, I must look to discover where is there here (אַיֵּה פֹה) some solution and advice that I can give you, and I therefore say: “this is what you must do.”   אֵפוֹא.  לְשׁוֹן יֶתֶר הוּא, לְתַקֵּן מִלָּה בְלָשׁוֹן עִבְרִי, אִם כֵּן אֶזְדַּקֵּק לַעֲשׂוֹת, שֶׁאֶשְׁלָחֶנּוּ עִמָּכֶם, צָרִיךְ אֲנִי לַחֲזֹר וּלְבַקֵּשׁ אַיֵּה פֹה תַקָּנָה וְעֵצָה לְהַשִּׂיאֲכֶם, וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי זאת עשו:
מִזִּמְרַת הָאָרֶץ - This is translated by Onkelos as מִדִּמְשַׁבַּח בְּאַרְעָא – “Some of the land’s praised products” about which all sing praises (מְזַמְּרִים) when it comes into existence.   מִזִּמְרַת הָאָרֶץ.  מִדִּמְשַׁבַּח בְּאַרְעָא – שֶׁהַכֹּל מְזַמְּרִים עָלָיו כְּשֶׁהוּא בָא לָעוֹלָם:
נְכֹאת - is wax.   נְכֹאת.  שַׁעֲוָה:
בָּטְנִים - I do not know what they are, but I saw them defined in Rabbi Machir’s dictionary as pistachios, and it seems to me that they are peaches.   בָּטְנִים.  לֹא יָדַעְתִּי מַה הֵם, וּבְפֵרוּשֵׁי א"ב שֶׁל רַבִּי מָכִיר רָאִיתִי פשט"ציאס וְדוֹמֶה לִי שֶׁהֵם אֲפַרְסְקִין:
12Take along a double amount of money, and take with you the money that you found returned at the opening of your packs; perhaps it was an oversight.   יבוְכֶ֥סֶף מִשְׁנֶ֖ה קְח֣וּ בְיֶדְכֶ֑ם וְאֶת־הַכֶּ֜סֶף הַמּוּשַׁ֨ב בְּפִ֤י אַמְתְּחֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ תָּשִׁ֣יבוּ בְיֶדְכֶ֔ם אוּלַ֥י מִשְׁגֶּ֖ה הֽוּא:
וְכֶסֶף מִשְׁנֶה - means “twice as much money as before.”   וְכֶסֶף מִשְׁנֶה.  פִּי שְׁנַיִם כָּרִאשׁוֹן:
קְחוּ בְיֶדְכֶם - Take with you - to buy food. Perhaps the price has risen.   קְחוּ בְיֶדְכֶם.  לִשְׁבֹּר אֹכֶל, שֶׁמָּא הוּקַר הַשַּׁעַר:
אוּלַי מִשְׁגֶּה הֽוּא - Perhaps it was an oversight - i.e., perhaps the man in charge of Joseph’s house forgot it inadvertently.   אוּלַי מִשְׁגֶּה הֽוּא.  שֶׁמָּא הַמְמֻנֶּה עַל הַבַּיִת שְׁכָחוֹ שׁוֹגֵג:
13And take your brother, and arise and return to the man.   יגוְאֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֖ם קָ֑חוּ וְק֖וּמוּ שׁ֥וּבוּ אֶל־הָאִֽישׁ:
14I will pray that God Almighty grant that the man be merciful to you and release for you your other brother, Simeon, and send him and Benjamin back. As for me, just as I have been bereaved of Joseph and Simeon, so, too, will I be bereaved of Benjamin until he returns with you.”   ידוְאֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֗י יִתֵּ֨ן לָכֶ֤ם רַֽחֲמִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ וְשִׁלַּ֥ח לָכֶ֛ם אֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֥ם אַחֵ֖ר וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֑ין וַֽאֲנִ֕י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁכֹ֖לְתִּי שָׁכָֽלְתִּי:
וְאֵל שַׁדַּי - God Almighty. Now you are lacking nothing to ensure success except prayer, so I will pray for you.   וְאֵל שַׁדַּי.  מֵעַתָּה אֵינְכֶם חֲסֵרִים כְּלוּם אֶלָּא תְפִלָּה, הֲרֵינִי מִתְפַּלֵּל עֲלֵיכֶם:
אל שַׁדַּי - means “God who is sufficient (שֶׁדַּי) in granting mercy and has sufficient power to grant it – may He grant you mercy.” This is the straightforward meaning of the verse. But its Midrashic explanation is: The One who said to the universe at the end of creation: “Enough (דַּי)!” – may He say “enough!” to my troubles, for I have had no rest since my youth: the trouble of Laban, the trouble of Esau, the trouble of Rachel, the trouble of Dinah, the trouble of Joseph, the trouble of Simeon, and the trouble of Benjamin.   אל שַׁדַּי.  שֶׁדַּי בִּנְתִינַת רַחֲמָיו וּכְדַי הַיְכֹלֶת בְּיָדוֹ לִתֵּן, יִתֵּן לָכֶם רַחֲמִים, זֶהוּ פְשׁוּטוֹ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ מִי שֶׁאָמַר לָעוֹלָם דַּי, יֹאמַר דַּי לְצָרוֹתַי, שֶׁלֹּא שָׁקַטְתִּי מִנְּעוּרַי, צָרַת לָבָן, צָרַת עֵשָׂו, צָרַת רָחֵל, צָרַת דִּינָה, צָרַת יוֹסֵף, צָרַת שִׁמְעוֹן, צָרַת בִּנְיָמִין:
וְשִׁלַּח לָכֶם - translates in Aramaic as וְיִפְטַר לְכוֹן – “may he release for you” - i.e., he shall set him free of his imprisonment. It is of similar meaning to “he must set him free (לַחָפְשִׁי יְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ).” 10 It cannot be translated as וְיִשְׁלַח – “may he send your brother to you …,” because they were actually going there to him.   וְשִׁלַּח לָכֶם.  וְיִפְטַר לְכוֹן כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ – יִפְטְרֶנּוּ מֵאֱסוּרָיו, לְשׁוֹן לַחָפְשִׁי יְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּ (שמות כ"א), וְאֵינוֹ נוֹפֵל בַּתַּרְגּוּם לְשׁוֹן וַיִּשְׁלַח, שֶׁהֲרֵי לְשָׁם הֵם הוֹלְכִים אֶצְלוֹ:
אֶת־אֲחִיכֶם - Your brother. This refers to Simeon.   אֶת־אֲחִיכֶם.  זֶה שִׁמְעוֹן:
אַחֵר - Other. He was inspired with the Divine Spirit of prophecy to include Joseph.   אַחֵר.  רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ נִזְרְקָה בוֹ, לְרַבּוֹת יוֹסֵף (בראשית רבה):
וַֽאֲנִי - As for me - until you return I will be in a doubtful bereavement.   וַֽאֲנִי.  עַד שׁוּבְכֶם אֶהְיֶה שַׁכּוּל מִסָּפֵק:
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי - Just as I have been bereaved - of Joseph and Simeon.   כַּֽאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי.  מִיּוֹסֵף וּמִשִּׁמְעוֹן:
שָׁכֹלְתִּי - so will I be bereaved. of Benjamin.   שָׁכֹלְתִּי.  מִבִּנְיָמִין:
15The brothers took this gift, and also took along a double amount of money, as well as Benjamin. They set out and went down to Egypt, and they presented themselves before Joseph.   טווַיִּקְח֤וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את וּמִשְׁנֶה־כֶּ֛סֶף לָֽקְח֥וּ בְיָדָ֖ם וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֑ן וַיָּקֻ֨מוּ֙ וַיֵּֽרְד֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י יוֹסֵֽף:
וְאֶת־בנימין - As well as Benjamin. This translates in Aramaic as וּדְבָרוּ יָת בִּנְיָמִין “and they led Benjamin,” because the verb used for taking money and that used for taking a person are not the same in Aramaic. For an object taken by hand, the translation is וּנְסֵיב, while for something taken through leading with words, the translation is וּדְבַר.   וְאֶת־בנימין.  מְתַּרְגְּמִינַן וּדְבָרוּ יָת בִּנְיָמִין, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין לְקִיחַת הַכֶּסֶף וּלְקִיחַת הָאָדָם שָׁוָה בְלָשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי; בְּדָבָר הַנִּקָּח בַּיָּד מְתַרְגְּמִינָן וּנְסִיב, וְדָבָר הַנִּקָּח בְּהַנְהָגַת דְּבָרִים, מְתַרְגְּמִינָן וּדְבַר: