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Learning & Values Parshah (Weekly Torah) Bereishit - Genesis Vayigash Texts & Summaries

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First Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 44

18Judah approached Joseph and said, “Please, my lord, let me, your servant, speak a word that will enter my lord’s ear, i.e., that will move you, for since you hold our lives in your hands, you are the equal of Pharaoh in this regard. Do not become angry at your servant.		יחוַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלָ֜יו יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֘ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִי֒ יְדַבֶּר־נָ֨א עַבְדְּךָ֤ דָבָר֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְאַל־יִ֥חַר אַפְּךָ֖ בְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֥י כָמ֖וֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹֽה:
וַיִּגַּשׁ אֵלָיו וגומר … דָבָר בְּאָזְנֵי אֲדֹנִי - [Judah] approached [Joseph…]. (lit.) A word in my lord’s ears. here this expression means “may my words enter your ears.”		וַיִּגַּשׁ אֵלָיו וגומר … דָבָר בְּאָזְנֵי אֲדֹנִי. יִכָּנְסוּ דְּבָרַי בְּאָזְנֶיךָ:
וְאַל־יִחַר אַפְּךָ - Do not become angry. From here you learn that Judah spoke to him harshly.		וְאַל־יִחַר אַפְּךָ. מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁדִּבֵּר אֵלָיו קָשׁוֹת:
כִּי כָמוֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹֽה - For you are the equal of Pharaoh - i.e., in my eyes, you are as important as the king. This is the straightforward meaning of this phrase. But its Midrashic explanation is: You will eventually be stricken with tzara’at on account of Benjamin, just as Pharaoh was stricken through my grandmother Sarah for the one night he detained her. Another explanation: Just as Pharaoh issues decrees but does not fulfill them, makes promises but does not carry them out, so, too, do you. Is this the “taking a look” of which you said that you would take a look at him?! 1 Another explanation: “for you are like Pharaoh”; if you anger me, I will kill both you and your master!		כִּי כָמוֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹֽה. חָשׁוּב אַתָּה בְעֵינַי כְּמֶלֶךְ, זֶהוּ פְשׁוּטוֹ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ סוֹפְךָ לִלְקוֹת עָלָיו בְּצָרַעַת כְּמוֹ שֶׁלָּקָה פַרְעֹה עַל יְדֵי זְקֵנָתִי שָׂרָה עַל לַיְלָה אַחַת שֶׁעִכְּבָהּ (בראשית רבה). דָּבָר אַחֵר מַה פַּרְעֹה גוֹזֵר וְאֵינוֹ מְקַיֵּם, מַבְטִיחַ וְאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה, אַף אַתָּה כֵן; וְכִי זוֹ הִיא שִׂימַת עַיִן שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ לָשׂוּם עֵינְךָ עָלָיו? דָּבָר אַחֵר, כִּי כָּמוֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹה, אִם תַּקְנִיטֵנִי אֶהֱרֹג אוֹתְךָ וְאֶת אֲדוֹנֶךָ (בראשית רבה):
19My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’		יטאֲדֹנִ֣י שָׁאַ֔ל אֶת־עֲבָדָ֖יו לֵאמֹ֑ר הֲיֵשׁ־לָכֶ֥ם אָ֖ב אוֹ־אָֽח:
שָׁאַל אֶת־עֲבָדָיו - My lord asked his servants. From the beginning you sought some pretext against us. Why did you have to ask us all these questions? Were we asking for your daughter in marriage, or were you asking for our sister? Nevertheless, “we answered my lord” and held nothing from you.		שָׁאַל אֶת־עֲבָדָיו. מִתְּחִלָּה בַעֲלִילָה בָאתָ עָלֵינוּ, לָמָּה הָיָה לְךָ לִשְׁאֹל כָּל אֵלֶּה? בִּתְּךָ הָיִינוּ מְבַקְּשִׁים? אוֹ אֲחוֹתֵנוּ אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ? וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן לֹא כִחַדְנוּ מִמְּךָ דָּבָר (בראשית רבה)
20We answered my lord, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son who was born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, so he is the only surviving child of his mother, and his father loves him dearly.’		כוַנֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֔י יֶשׁ־לָ֨נוּ֙ אָ֣ב זָקֵ֔ן וְיֶ֥לֶד זְקֻנִ֖ים קָטָ֑ן וְאָחִ֣יו מֵ֔ת וַיִּוָּתֵ֨ר ה֧וּא לְבַדּ֛וֹ לְאִמּ֖וֹ וְאָבִ֥יו אֲהֵבֽוֹ:
וְאָחִיו מֵת - His brother is dead - Out of fear he uttered this untruth. He said to himself: If I tell him that he is alive, he will say: “Bring him to me.”		וְאָחִיו מֵת. מִפְּנֵי הַיִּרְאָה הָיָה מוֹצִיא דְּבַר שֶׁקֶר מִפִּיו, אָמַר אִם אוֹמַר לוֹ שֶׁהוּא קַיָּם, יֹאמַר הֲבִיאוּהוּ אֶצְלִי:
לְבַדּוֹ לְאִמּוֹ - (lit.) Alone to his mother - i.e., from that mother he has no other brother.		לְבַדּוֹ לְאִמּוֹ. מֵאוֹתוֹ הָאֵם אֵין לוֹ עוֹד אָח:
21You said to your servants, ‘Bring him down here to me, so that I can see him.’		כאוַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ הֽוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ אֵלָ֑י וְאָשִׂ֥ימָה עֵינִ֖י עָלָֽיו:
22We said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he leaves his father’s side, he might die.’		כבוַנֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֔י לֹֽא־יוּכַ֥ל הַנַּ֖עַר לַֽעֲזֹ֣ב אֶת־אָבִ֑יו וְעָזַ֥ב אֶת־אָבִ֖יו וָמֵֽת:
וְעָזַב אֶת־אָבִיו וָמֵֽת - If he leaves his father he might die - means: If he leaves his father we are worried that he might die during the journey, because his mother died on a journey.		וְעָזַב אֶת־אָבִיו וָמֵֽת. אִם יַעֲזֹב אֶת אָבִיו, דּוֹאֲגִים אָנוּ שֶׁמָּא יָמוּת בַּדֶּרֶךְ, שֶׁהֲרֵי אִמּוֹ בַּדֶּרֶךְ מֵתָה:
23You said to your servants, ‘If your youngest brother does not come down to Egypt with you, you will never again appear before me.’		כגוַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל־עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ אִם־לֹ֥א יֵרֵ֛ד אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן אִתְּכֶ֑ם לֹ֥א תֹֽסִפ֖וּן לִרְא֥וֹת פָּנָֽי:
24When we went back up to Canaan, to your servant, my father, we told him what my lord had said.		כדוַֽיְהִי֙ כִּ֣י עָלִ֔ינוּ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ֖ אָבִ֑י וַנַּ֨גֶּד־ל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי:
25Then, when our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food,’		כהוַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָבִ֑ינוּ שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־אֹֽכֶל:
26we replied, ‘We cannot go down to Egypt on our own terms. We can go down to Egypt only if our youngest brother is with us, for we cannot appear before the man without our youngest brother.’		כווַנֹּ֕אמֶר לֹ֥א נוּכַ֖ל לָרֶ֑דֶת אִם־יֵשׁ֩ אָחִ֨ינוּ הַקָּטֹ֤ן אִתָּ֨נוּ֙ וְיָרַ֔דְנוּ כִּי־לֹ֣א נוּכַ֗ל לִרְאוֹת֙ פְּנֵ֣י הָאִ֔ישׁ וְאָחִ֥ינוּ הַקָּטֹ֖ן אֵינֶ֥נּוּ אִתָּֽנוּ:
27Your servant, my father, then said to us, ‘You well know that my wife Rachel bore me two sons.		כזוַיֹּ֛אמֶר עַבְדְּךָ֥ אָבִ֖י אֵלֵ֑ינוּ אַתֶּ֣ם יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם כִּ֥י שְׁנַ֖יִם יָֽלְדָה־לִּ֥י אִשְׁתִּֽי:
28One of them left me and never returned, and I said that he must have been devoured by a beast. I have not seen him since.		כחוַיֵּצֵ֤א הָֽאֶחָד֙ מֵֽאִתִּ֔י וָֽאֹמַ֕ר אַ֖ךְ טָרֹ֣ף טֹרָ֑ף וְלֹ֥א רְאִיתִ֖יו עַד־הֵֽנָּה:
29If you take this one from me as well, and he meets with disaster, you will cruelly bring my white-haired head down to the grave.’		כטוּלְקַחְתֶּ֧ם גַּם־אֶת־זֶ֛ה מֵעִ֥ם פָּנַ֖י וְקָרָ֣הוּ אָס֑וֹן וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם אֶת־שֵֽׂיבָתִ֛י בְּרָעָ֖ה שְׁאֹֽלָה:
וְקָרָהוּ אָסוֹן - And he meets with disaster - for Satan prosecutes at a time of danger.		וְקָרָהוּ אָסוֹן. שֶׁהַשָּׂטָן מְקַטְרֵג בִּשְׁעַת הַסַּכָּנָה (בראשית רבה):
וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּם אֶת־שֵֽׂיבָתִי וגו' - You will bring my white-haired head… Now, when he is with me, I am consoled by him over the loss of his mother and brother, but if he dies, it will be to me as if the three of them had died on the same day.		וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּם אֶת־שֵֽׂיבָתִי וגו'. עַכְשָׁו כְּשֶׁהוּא אֶצְלִי, אֲנִי מִתְנַחֵם בּוֹ עַל אִמּוֹ וְעַל אָחִיו, וְאִם יָמוּת זֶה, דּוֹמֶה עָלַי שֶׁשְּׁלָשְׁתָּן מֵתוּ בְּיוֹם אֶחָד:
30So now, when I come back to your servant, my father, and the lad is not with us—and being that his soul is bound up with his soul—		לוְעַתָּ֗ה כְּבֹאִי֙ אֶל־עַבְדְּךָ֣ אָבִ֔י וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתָּ֑נוּ וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ קְשׁוּרָ֥ה בְנַפְשֽׁוֹ:

Footnotes

See Genesis 44:21.

Second Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 44

31when he sees that the lad is not there, he will die: your servants will have brought your servant our father’s white-haired head down to the grave in grief.		לאוְהָיָ֗ה כִּרְאוֹת֛וֹ כִּי־אֵ֥ין הַנַּ֖עַר וָמֵ֑ת וְהוֹרִ֨ידוּ עֲבָדֶ֜יךָ אֶת־שֵׂיבַ֨ת עַבְדְּךָ֥ אָבִ֛ינוּ בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֹֽלָה:
וְהָיָה כִּרְאוֹתוֹ כִּי־אֵין הַנַּעַר וָמֵת - When he sees that the lad is not there, he will die - his father will die as a result of his anguish.		וְהָיָה כִּרְאוֹתוֹ כִּי־אֵין הַנַּעַר וָמֵת. אָבִיו מִצָּרָתוֹ:
32I am speaking, rather than one of my other brothers, because I, your servant, guaranteed to return the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will have sinned against my father for all time.’		לבכִּ֤י עַבְדְּךָ֙ עָרַ֣ב אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר מֵעִ֥ם אָבִ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־לֹ֤א אֲבִיאֶ֨נּוּ֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְחָטָ֥אתִי לְאָבִ֖י כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים:
כִּי עַבְדְּךָ עָרַב אֶת־הַנַּעַר - Your servant guaranteed for the lad - i.e., should you ask why am I going to this trouble more than my other brothers, I answer: they all remain on the outside of this matter, whereas I bound myself to it firmly by accepting to incur ostracism in both worlds if I do not bring him back.		כִּי עַבְדְּךָ עָרַב אֶת־הַנַּעַר. וְאִם תֹּאמַר, לָמָּה אֲנִי נִכְנָס לַתִּגָּר יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁאָר אַחַי? הֵם כֻּלָּם מִבַּחוּץ וַאֲנִי נִתְקַשַּׁרְתִּי בְקֶשֶׁר חָזָק לִהְיוֹת מְנֻדֶּה בב' עוֹלָמוֹת:
33So now, please let me, your servant, remain as a slave to my lord in place of the lad, and let the lad go back up to Canaan with his brothers.		לגוְעַתָּ֗ה יֵֽשֶׁב־נָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַנַּ֔עַר עֶ֖בֶד לַֽאדֹנִ֑י וְהַנַּ֖עַר יַ֥עַל עִם־אֶחָֽיו:
יֵֽשֶׁב־נָא עַבְדְּךָ וגו' - So now, please let your servant remain… In all aspects I am superior to him: in strength, in battle, and in ministering.		יֵֽשֶׁב־נָא עַבְדְּךָ וגו'. לְכָל דָּבָר אֲנִי מְעֻלֶּה מִמֶּנּוּ, לִגְבוּרָה וּלְמִלְחָמָה וּלְשַׁמֵּשׁ (בראשית רבה):
34For how can I go up there to my father if the lad is not with me? Let me not be forced to witness the calamity that would befall my father!”		לדכִּי־אֵיךְ֙ אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה אֶל־אָבִ֔י וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתִּ֑י פֶּ֚ן אֶרְאֶ֣ה בָרָ֔ע אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִמְצָ֖א אֶת־אָבִֽי:

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 45

1Joseph could not bear to have his brothers shamed in the presence of all the people standing around him. So he exclaimed, “Have everyone leave my presence!” Thus, no man was left standing near Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.		אוְלֹֽא־יָכֹ֨ל יוֹסֵ֜ף לְהִתְאַפֵּ֗ק לְכֹ֤ל הַנִּצָּבִים֙ עָלָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָ֕א הוֹצִ֥יאוּ כָל־אִ֖ישׁ מֵֽעָלָ֑י וְלֹא־עָ֤מַד אִישׁ֙ אִתּ֔וֹ בְּהִתְוַדַּ֥ע יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶל־אֶחָֽיו:
וְלֹֽא־יָכֹל יוֹסֵף לְהִתְאַפֵּק לְכֹל הַנִּצָּבִים - (lit.) Joseph could not restrain himself before all those standing - means: Joseph could not abide the possibility that Egyptians would be standing in his presence and hearing his brothers being shamed as he made himself known to them.		וְלֹֽא־יָכֹל יוֹסֵף לְהִתְאַפֵּק לְכֹל הַנִּצָּבִים. לֹא הָיָה יָכוֹל לִסְבֹּל שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מִצְרִים נִצָּבִים עָלָיו וְשׁוֹמְעִין שֶׁאֶחָיו מִתְבַּיְּשִׁין בְּהִוָּדְעוֹ לָהֶם:
2He broke out into loud weeping; the Egyptians heard it, and word spread until the members of Pharaoh’s household heard about it, as well.		בוַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ בִּבְכִ֑י וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע בֵּ֥ית פַּרְעֹֽה:
וַיִּשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעֹֽה - And Pharaoh’s (lit.) house heard - here means Pharaoh’s household, i.e., his servants and the members of his household. This בַּיִת does not mean an actual house, but has a similar meaning to בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל “the House (i.e., the people) of Israel,” 1 בֵּית יְהוּדָה “the House of Judah”; 2 “mesnede” in Old French (“household”).		וַיִּשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעֹֽה. בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל פַּרְעֹה, כְּלוֹמַר, עֲבָדָיו וּבְנֵי בֵיתוֹ, וְאֵין זֶה לְשׁוֹן בַּיִת מַמָּשׁ, אֶלָּא כְמוֹ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בֵּית יְהוּדָה, מישנ"דה בְּלַעַז:
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?!” But his brothers could not bring themselves to answer him, because they were disconcerted out of shame before him.		גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֤ף אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ אֲנִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף הַע֥וֹד אָבִ֖י חָ֑י וְלֹא־יָֽכְל֤וּ אֶחָיו֙ לַֽעֲנ֣וֹת אֹת֔וֹ כִּ֥י נִבְהֲל֖וּ מִפָּנָֽיו:
נִבְהֲלוּ מִפָּנָֽיו - They were disconcerted before him - out of shame.		נִבְהֲלוּ מִפָּנָֽיו. מִפְּנֵי הַבּוּשָׁה:
4Joseph said to his brothers, “Please approach me,” and they approached. He said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.		דוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֧ף אֶל־אֶחָ֛יו גְּשׁוּ־נָ֥א אֵלַ֖י וַיִּגָּ֑שׁוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֲנִי֙ יוֹסֵ֣ף אֲחִיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י מִצְרָֽיְמָה:
גְּשׁוּ־נָא אֵלַי - Please approach me. He saw them retreating and said to himself: “Now my brothers feel ashamed.” He therefore called them in a soft and entreating tone and showed them that he was circumcised.		גְּשׁוּ־נָא אֵלַי. רָאָה אוֹתָם נְסוֹגִים לְאָחוֹר, אָמַר עַכְשָׁו אַחַי נִכְלָמִים, קָרָא לָהֶם בְּלָשׁוֹן רַכָּה וְתַחֲנוּנִים, וְהֶרְאָה לָהֶם שֶׁהוּא מָהוּל (בראשית רבה):
5But now, do not be distressed or reproach yourselves for having sold me into slavery here, since it was ultimately in order for me to be able to provide for your needs that God sent me ahead of you.		הוְעַתָּ֣ה \| אַל־תֵּעָ֣צְב֗וּ וְאַל־יִ֨חַר֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֣י לְמִחְיָ֔ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים לִפְנֵיכֶֽם:
לְמִחְיָה - means: to be a provider of livelihood for you.		לְמִחְיָה. לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם לְמִחְיָה:
6For it has now already been two years that there has been a famine in the land, and there are still five more years to come in which there will be neither plowing nor reaping.		וכִּי־זֶ֛ה שְׁנָתַ֥יִם הָֽרָעָ֖ב בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָ֑רֶץ וְעוֹד֙ חָמֵ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵֽין־חָרִ֖ישׁ וְקָצִֽיר:
כִּי־זֶה שְׁנָתַיִם הָֽרָעָב - (lit.) For here two years the famine - means: two years have passed of the years of the famine.		כִּי־זֶה שְׁנָתַיִם הָֽרָעָב. עָבְרוּ מִשְּׁנֵי הָרָעָב:
7But God sent me ahead of you to ensure that you survive in the land, and to sustain you in an act of great deliverance.		זוַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהִים֙ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם לָשׂ֥וּם לָכֶ֛ם שְׁאֵרִ֖ית בָּאָ֑רֶץ וּלְהַֽחֲי֣וֹת לָכֶ֔ם לִפְלֵיטָ֖ה גְּדֹלָֽה:

Footnotes

Psalms 115:12.

1 Kings 12:21.

Third Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 45

8So now you can understand that it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me Pharaoh’s counselor, lord over all his household, and ruler over all Egypt.		חוְעַתָּ֗ה לֹֽא־אַתֶּ֞ם שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם אֹתִי֙ הֵ֔נָּה כִּ֖י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיְשִׂימֵ֨נִי לְאָ֜ב לְפַרְעֹ֗ה וּלְאָדוֹן֙ לְכָל־בֵּית֔וֹ וּמשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
לְאָב - (lit.) As a father - here means: as a colleague and counselor.		לְאָב. לְחָבֵר וּלְפַטְרוֹן:
9Make haste and go up to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph has said: “God has made me master of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.		טמַֽהֲרוּ֘ וַֽעֲל֣וּ אֶל־אָבִי֒ וַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם אֵלָ֗יו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ בִּנְךָ֣ יוֹסֵ֔ף שָׂמַ֧נִי אֱלֹהִ֛ים לְאָד֖וֹן לְכָל־מִצְרָ֑יִם רְדָ֥ה אֵלַ֖י אַל־תַּֽעֲמֹֽד:
וַֽעֲלוּ אֶל־אָבִי - Go up to my father. He used the term “go up” because the Land of Israel is higher than all other lands.		וַֽעֲלוּ אֶל־אָבִי. אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל גְּבוֹהָה מִכָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת:
10You will settle in Goshen and be close to me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your cattle, and all that you own.		יוְיָֽשַׁבְתָּ֣ בְאֶֽרֶץ־גּ֗שֶׁן וְהָיִ֤יתָ קָרוֹב֙ אֵלַ֔י אַתָּ֕ה וּבָנֶ֖יךָ וּבְנֵ֣י בָנֶ֑יךָ וְצֹֽאנְךָ֥ וּבְקָֽרְךָ֖ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ:
11I will provide for you there, since there remain another five years of famine, so that you not be impoverished, neither you nor your household, nor anything that is yours.”’		יאוְכִלְכַּלְתִּ֤י אֹֽתְךָ֙ שָׁ֔ם כִּי־ע֛וֹד חָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים רָעָ֑ב פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵ֛שׁ אַתָּ֥ה וּבֵֽיתְךָ֖ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לָֽךְ:
פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵשׁ - Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: דִּלְמָא תִתְמַסְכֵּן – “lest you become impoverished.” It is of the same root as: “God impoverishes (מוֹרִישׁ) and makes rich.” 1		פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵשׁ. דִּלְמָא תִּתְמַסְכַּן, לְשׁוֹן מוֹרִישׁ וּמַעֲשִׁיר:
12You can see with your own eyes, just as my brother Benjamin can see with his own eyes, that it is indeed I who am speaking to you.		יבוְהִנֵּ֤ה עֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ רֹא֔וֹת וְעֵינֵ֖י אָחִ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ין כִּי־פִ֖י הַֽמְדַבֵּ֥ר אֲלֵיכֶֽם:
וְהִנֵּה עֵֽינֵיכֶם רֹאוֹת - You can see with your own eyes - my honor, and that I am your brother, for I am circumcised like you, and furthermore, “that it is indeed I who am speaking to you” in the Holy Language (Hebrew).		וְהִנֵּה עֵֽינֵיכֶם רֹאוֹת. בִּכְבוֹדִי, וְשֶׁאֲנִי אֲחִיכֶם שֶׁאֲנִי מָהוּל כָּכֶם, וְעוֹד, כי פי המדבר אליכם בִּלְשׁוֹן הַקֹּדֶשׁ (בראשית רבה):
וְעֵינֵי אָחִי בִנְיָמִין - My brother Benjamin with his own eyes. He equated them all together, intimating: just as I have no hatred toward my brother Benjamin – because he was not present when I was sold – so do I feel no hatred toward you.		וְעֵינֵי אָחִי בִנְיָמִין. הִשְׁוָה אֶת כֻּלָּם יַחַד לוֹמַר, שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין לִי שִׂנְאָה עַל בִּנְיָמִין אָחִי, שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא הָיָה בִמְכִירָתִי, כָּךְ אֵין בְּלִבִּי שִׂנְאָה עֲלֵיכֶם:
13You must tell my father about the great honor being accorded me in Egypt, and about everything else that you have seen. You must make haste to bring my father down here.”		יגוְהִגַּדְתֶּ֣ם לְאָבִ֗י אֶת־כָּל־כְּבוֹדִי֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר רְאִיתֶ֑ם וּמִֽהַרְתֶּ֛ם וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־אָבִ֖י הֵֽנָּה:
14He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept. Benjamin wept on his neck.		ידוַיִּפֹּ֛ל עַל־צַוְּארֵ֥י בִנְיָֽמִן־אָחִ֖יו וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וּבִ֨נְיָמִ֔ן בָּכָ֖ה עַל־צַוָּארָֽיו:
וַיִּפֹּל עַל־צַוְּארֵי בנימין אָחִיו וַיֵּבְךְּ - He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept - for the two Holy Temples, which were destined to be in Benjamin’s territory and would ultimately be destroyed.		וַיִּפֹּל עַל־צַוְּארֵי בנימין אָחִיו וַיֵּבְךְּ. עַל שְׁנֵי מִקְדָּשׁוֹת שֶׁעֲתִידִין לִהְיוֹת בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל בִּנְיָמִין וְסוֹפָן לֵחָרֵב:
ובנימין בָּכָה עַל־צַוָּארָֽיו - Benjamin wept on his neck - for the Tabernacle of Shiloh, which was destined to be in Joseph’s territory and would ultimately be destroyed.		ובנימין בָּכָה עַל־צַוָּארָֽיו. עַל מִשְׁכַּן שִׁילֹה שֶׁעָתִיד לִהְיוֹת בְּחֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף וְסוֹפוֹ לֵחָרֵב (שם):
15He then kissed all his brothers and wept on their necks, and after they saw that he was fully reconciled with them, his brothers overcame their embarrassment and conversed with him.		טווַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ק לְכָל־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּ֣בְךְּ עֲלֵהֶ֑ם וְאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן דִּבְּר֥וּ אֶחָ֖יו אִתּֽוֹ:
וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן - And after that - once they saw him weeping and that he was fully reconciled with them.		וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן. מֵאַחַר שֶׁרָאוּהוּ בוֹכֶה וְלִבּוֹ שָׁלֵם עִמָּהֶם:
דִּבְּרוּ אֶחָיו אִתּוֹ - His brothers conversed with him. for previously they were ashamed before him.		דִּבְּרוּ אֶחָיו אִתּוֹ. שֶׁמִּתְּחִלָּה הָיוּ בוֹשִׁים מִמֶּנּוּ:
16Word reached Pharaoh’s palace: “Joseph’s brothers have arrived!” Pharaoh and his courtiers were pleased,		טזוְהַקֹּ֣ל נִשְׁמַ֗ע בֵּ֤ית פַּרְעֹה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֖אוּ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וּבְעֵינֵ֖י עֲבָדָֽיו:
וְהַקֹּל נִשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעֹה - (lit.) The sound was heard Pharaoh’s palace. בֵּית פַּרְעֹה here is the same as בְּבֵית פַּרְעֹה “in Pharaoh’s palace,” and here it literally means his house.		וְהַקֹּל נִשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעֹה. כְּמוֹ בְּבֵית פַּרְעֹה, וְזֶהוּ לְשׁוֹן בַּיִת מַמָּשׁ:
17and Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your ten animals with grain and go directly to Canaan.		יזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר פַּרְעֹה֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֱמֹ֥ר אֶל־אַחֶ֖יךָ זֹ֣את עֲשׂ֑וּ טַֽעֲנוּ֙ אֶת־בְּעִ֣ירְכֶ֔ם וּלְכוּ־בֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן:
טַֽעֲנוּ אֶת־בְּעִירְכֶם - Load your animals - with produce.		טַֽעֲנוּ אֶת־בְּעִירְכֶם. תְּבוּאָה:
18Take your father and your households and come to me. I will give you the choicest part of Egypt, and you will eat of the fat of the land.’		יחוּקְח֧וּ אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֛ם וְאֶת־בָּֽתֵּיכֶ֖ם וּבֹ֣אוּ אֵלָ֑י וְאֶתְּנָ֣ה לָכֶ֗ם אֶת־טוּב֙ אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וְאִכְל֖וּ אֶת־חֵ֥לֶב הָאָֽרֶץ:
אֶת־טוּב אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם - The choicest part of Egypt - i.e., the land of Goshen. He thus prophesied without knowing what he was prophesying, for eventually, when the Jews left Egypt, they would make it like the depths that contain no fish.		אֶת־טוּב אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם. אֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן, נִבָּא וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מַה נִּבָּא, סוֹפָם לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ כִּמְצוּלָה שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ דָּגִים:
חֵלֶב הָאָֽרֶץ - The fat of the land. The word חֵלֶב always connotes “the best part.”		חֵלֶב הָאָֽרֶץ. כָּל חֵלֶב לְשׁוֹן מֵיטַב הוּא:
19Moreover, you are hereby commanded by me to tell them: ‘Do as follows: Take for yourselves wagons from Egypt for transporting your small children and your wives, and bring your father and come.		יטוְאַתָּ֥ה צֻוֵּ֖יתָה זֹ֣את עֲשׂ֑וּ קְחֽוּ־לָכֶם֩ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ מִצְרַ֜יִם עֲגָל֗וֹת לְטַפְּכֶם֙ וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם וּנְשָׂאתֶ֥ם אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֖ם וּבָאתֶֽם:
וְאַתָּה צֻוֵּיתָה - You are commanded - by me to say to them.		וְאַתָּה צֻוֵּיתָה. מִפִּי, לוֹמַר לָהֶם:
זֹאת עֲשׂוּ - Do as follows. Tell them thus in order to clarify that it is with my permission.		זֹאת עֲשׂוּ. כָּךְ אֱמֹר לָהֶם, שֶׁבִּרְשׁוּתִי הוּא:
20Do not even give a thought to your belongings, for the best of all Egypt will be at your disposal.’”		כוְעֵ֣ינְכֶ֔ם אַל־תָּחֹ֖ס עַל־כְּלֵיכֶ֑ם כִּי־ט֛וּב כָּל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לָכֶ֥ם הֽוּא:
21Israel’s sons did as Pharaoh told them. Joseph gave them wagons in accordance with Pharaoh’s instructions, and gave them provisions for the journey.		כאוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ־כֵן֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֥ם יוֹסֵ֛ף עֲגָל֖וֹת עַל־פִּ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֥ן לָהֶ֛ם צֵדָ֖ה לַדָּֽרֶךְ:
22He gave each of them a set of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of silver and five sets of clothing.		כבלְכֻלָּ֥ם נָתַ֛ן לָאִ֖ישׁ חֲלִפ֣וֹת שְׂמָלֹ֑ת וּלְבִנְיָמִ֤ן נָתַן֙ שְׁל֣שׁ מֵא֣וֹת כֶּ֔סֶף וְחָמֵ֖שׁ חֲלִפֹ֥ת שְׂמָלֹֽת:
23He sent his father a gift similar to the one that Pharaoh sent: 10 male donkeys laden with Egypt’s finest delicacies, and 10 female donkeys laden with grain. Joseph also sent bread and other types of food served with bread to his father for the journey.		כגוּלְאָבִ֞יו שָׁלַ֤ח כְּזֹאת֙ עֲשָׂרָ֣ה חֲמֹרִ֔ים נֹֽשְׂאִ֖ים מִטּ֣וּב מִצְרָ֑יִם וְעֶ֣שֶׂר אֲתֹנֹ֡ת נֹֽ֠שְׂאֹ֠ת בָּ֣ר וָלֶ֧חֶם וּמָז֛וֹן לְאָבִ֖יו לַדָּֽרֶךְ:
שָׁלַח כְּזֹאת - (lit.) He sent similar to this - i.e., similar to this amount that had just been sent by Pharaoh. And what was this amount? “ten donkeys….”		שָׁלַח כְּזֹאת. כַּחֶשְׁבּוֹן הַזֶּה, וּמַהוּ הַחֶשְׁבּוֹן? עשרה חמרים וגו':
מִטּוּב מִצְרָיִם - With Egypt’s finest delicacies. We find in the Talmud 2 that he sent him vintage wine, which old people enjoy. And an aggadic explanation is: He sent him split beans.		מִטּוּב מִצְרָיִם. מָצִינוּ בַתַּלְמוּד שֶׁשָּׁלַח לוֹ יַיִן יָשָׁן שֶׁדַּעַת זְקֵנִים נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ, וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה גְּרִיסִין שֶׁל פּוּל:
בָּר וָלֶחֶם - means as Onkelos translates it: “grain and bread.”		בָּר וָלֶחֶם. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:
וּמָזוֹן - And food - means here: relish (foods eaten with bread).		וּמָזוֹן. לִפְתָּן:
24He sent his brothers on their way and they set out, and he said to them, “Do not be hurried on the journey.”		כדוַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַל־תִּרְגְּז֖וּ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ:
אַל־תִּרְגְּזוּ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ - Do not be hurried on the journey - i.e., do not busy yourselves with any involved halachic discussion, so that the journey not become worrisome (תִרְגַּז) for you. Another explanation: Do not take long steps, and also enter the city in which you will spend the night while the sun is still shining. But according to the straightforward meaning of the verse it can be said: Because they felt ashamed, he was worried that they might quarrel on the way about having sold him, arguing with one another and saying: “Through you he was sold!” – “You spoke slanderously about him and caused us to hate him!”		אַל־תִּרְגְּזוּ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ. אַל תִּתְעַסְּקוּ בִּדְבַר הֲלָכָה שֶׁלֹּא תִרְגַּז עֲלֵיכֶם הַדֶּרֶךְ, דָּבָר אַחֵר אַל תַּפְסִיעוּ פְסִיעָה גַסָּה וְהִכָּנְסוּ בַחַמָּה לָעִיר; וּלְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא יֵשׁ לוֹמַר, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ נִכְלָמִים, הָיָה דוֹאֵג, שֶׁמָּא יָרִיבוּ בַדֶּרֶךְ עַל דְּבַר מְכִירָתוֹ, לְהִתְוַכֵּחַ זֶה עִם זֶה וְלוֹמַר עַל יָדְךָ נִמְכַּר, אַתָּה סִפַּרְתָּ לָשׁוֹן הָרָע עָלָיו, וְגָרַמְתָּ לָנוּ לִשְׂנֹאתוֹ:
25They went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in Canaan.		כהוַיַּֽעֲל֖וּ מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אֲבִיהֶֽם:
26They told him, “Joseph is still alive!” and that he was the ruler of all Egypt, but he disregarded them, for he did not believe them.		כווַיַּגִּ֨דוּ ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר ע֚וֹד יוֹסֵ֣ף חַ֔י וְכִי־ה֥וּא משֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֣פָג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י לֹא־הֶֽאֱמִ֖ין לָהֶֽם:
וְכִי־הוּא משֵׁל - כִּי is used here in the sense of אֲשֶׁר “that,” and thus its meaning is “And that he was the ruler.”		וְכִי־הוּא משֵׁל. וַאֲשֶׁר הוּא מוֹשֵׁל:
וַיָּפָג לִבּוֹ - means his heart passed over their words and stopped believing; his heart did not turn to their words. וַיָּפָג is of a similar meaning to מְפִיגִין טַעֲמָן “lost their taste” in Mishnaic Hebrew, 3 and like “without respite (הֲפֻגוֹת).” 4 Similarly, “and his fragrance has not altered (נָמָר)” 5 is translated by Yonatan as וְרֵיחֵהּ לָא פָג.		וַיָּפָג לִבּוֹ. נֶחֱלַף לִבּוֹ וְהָלַךְ מִלְּהַאֲמִין, לֹא הָיָה לִבּוֹ פוֹנֶה אֶל הַדְּבָרִים, לְשׁוֹן מְפִיגִין טַעֲמָן בִּלְשׁוֹן מִשְׁנָה וּכְמוֹ מֵאֵין הֲפֻגוֹת (איכה ג'), וְרֵיחוֹ לֹא נָמָר (ירמיהו מ"ח), מְתַּרְגְּמִינַן וְרֵיחֵיהּ לָא פָג:
27So they told him everything that Joseph had told them. Jacob saw the wagons Joseph had sent to transport him, and the Divine spirit came alive once again in their father Jacob.		כזוַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו אֵ֣ת כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֤י יוֹסֵף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֲגָל֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח יוֹסֵ֖ף לָשֵׂ֣את אֹת֑וֹ וַתְּחִ֕י ר֖וּחַ יַֽעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶֽם:
אֵת כָּל־דִּבְרֵי יוֹסֵף - Everything that Joseph [had told them]. Joseph sent a sign with them indicating which subject he had been studying when he left his father, i.e., the section about the decapitated calf (עֶגְלָה). 6 Therefore it says “he saw the wagons (הָעֲגָלוֹת) Joseph had sent,” and it does not say “Pharaoh had sent.”		אֵת כָּל־דִּבְרֵי יוֹסֵף. סִימָן מָסַר לָהֶם בַּמֶּה הָיָה עוֹסֵק כְּשֶׁפֵּרֵשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ – בְּפָרָשַׁת עֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה, זֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וירא את העגלות אשר שלח יוסף, וְלֹא נֶאֱמַר אֲשֶׁר שָׁלַח פַּרְעֹה:
וַתְּחִי רוּחַ יַֽעֲקֹב - And the spirit came alive in Jacob. The Divine Presence that had departed from him rested upon him again.		וַתְּחִי רוּחַ יַֽעֲקֹב. שָׁרְתָה עָלָיו שְׁכִינָה, שֶׁפֵּרְשָׁה מִמֶּנּוּ:

Footnotes

1 Samuel 2:7.

Megilah 16b.

Beitzah 14a.

Lamentations 3:49.

Jeremiah 48:11.

see Deuteronomy 21:1-9.

Fourth Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 45

28Israel said, “I am blessed with much joy, for my son Joseph is still alive! Let me go and see him before I die.”		כחוַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֛ב עֽוֹד־יוֹסֵ֥ף בְּנִ֖י חָ֑י אֵֽלְכָ֥ה וְאֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ בְּטֶ֥רֶם אָמֽוּת:
רַב - Much - i.e., there is still much joy and delight for me, since “my son Joseph is still alive.”		רַב. רַב לִי עוֹד שִׂמְחָה וְחֶדְוָה הוֹאִיל וְעוֹד יוֹסֵף בְּנִי חַי:

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 46

1Israel set out with everything he owned. He arrived in Beersheba, and he offered up sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.		אוַיִּסַּ֤ע יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּאֵ֣רָה שָּׁ֑בַע וַיִּזְבַּ֣ח זְבָחִ֔ים לֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י אָבִ֥יו יִצְחָֽק:
בְּאֵרָה שָּׁבַע - This is the same as לִבְאֵר שָׁבַע (“to Beersheba”). The ה suffix is instead of a ל prefix.		בְּאֵרָה שָּׁבַע. כְּמוֹ לִבְאֵר שֶׁבַע; הֵ"א בְּסוֹף תֵּבָה בִּמְקוֹם לָמֶ"ד בִּתְּחִלָּתָהּ:
לֵֽאלֹהֵי אָבִיו יִצְחָֽק - To the God of his father Isaac. A person’s obligation to honor his father is greater than his obligation to honor his grandfather, and therefore he invoked the name of Isaac rather than that of Abraham.		לֵֽאלֹהֵי אָבִיו יִצְחָֽק. חַיָּב אָדָם בִּכְבוֹד אָבִיו יוֹתֵר מִבִּכְבוֹד זְקֵנוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ תָּלָה בְּיִצְחָק וְלֹא בְאַבְרָהָם:
2God spoke to Israel in a vision by night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” He replied, “Here I am.”		בוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֤ים \| לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֙ל בְּמַרְאֹ֣ת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב \| יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי:
יַֽעֲקֹב יַֽעֲקֹב - Jacob! Jacob! The repetition of the name is an expression of affection.		יַֽעֲקֹב יַֽעֲקֹב. לְשׁוֹן חִבָּה:
3God said, “I am the Almighty, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you there into a great nation.		גוַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָֽנֹכִ֥י הָאֵ֖ל אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אַל־תִּירָא֙ מֵֽרְדָ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יְמָה כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֥ שָֽׁם:
אַל־תִּירָא מֵֽרְדָה מִצְרַיְמָה - Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt. God said this to him because he was distressed over having to leave the Land of Israel.		אַל־תִּירָא מֵֽרְדָה מִצְרַיְמָה. לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה מֵצֵר עַל שֶׁנִּזְקָק לָצֵאת לְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ:
4I will go down to Egypt with you and I will make sure that your sons bring you up from there as well after your death. When you die, Joseph will place his hand on your eyes.”		דאָֽנֹכִ֗י אֵרֵ֤ד עִמְּךָ֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה וְאָֽנֹכִ֖י אַֽעַלְךָ֣ גַם־עָלֹ֑ה וְיוֹסֵ֕ף יָשִׁ֥ית יָד֖וֹ עַל־עֵינֶֽיךָ:
וְאָֽנֹכִי אַֽעַלְךָ - And I will surely bring you up - i.e., He promised him that he would be buried in the Land of Israel.		וְאָֽנֹכִי אַֽעַלְךָ. הִבְטִיחוֹ לִהְיוֹת נִקְבָּר בָּאָרֶץ:
5So Jacob set out from Beersheba. Israel’s sons transported their father Jacob, together with their young children and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him.		הוַיָּ֥קָם יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיִּשְׂא֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב אֲבִיהֶ֗ם וְאֶת־טַפָּם֙ וְאֶת־נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם בָּֽעֲגָל֕וֹת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח פַּרְעֹ֖ה לָשֵׂ֥את אֹתֽוֹ:
6They took their livestock and the possessions that they had acquired in Canaan, and they arrived in Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him.		ווַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶת־מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם וְאֶת־רְכוּשָׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָֽכְשׁוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ מִצְרָ֑יְמָה יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב וְכָל־זַרְע֥וֹ אִתּֽוֹ:
אֲשֶׁר רָֽכְשׁוּ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן - That they had acquired in Canaan - but that which Jacob had acquired in Padan Aram he gave to Esau as payment for his share in the Machpelah Cave. He said, “The possessions I acquired outside the Land of Israel are of no value to me.” And that is what is meant by אֲשֶׁר כָּרִיתִי לִי 1 – he placed piles of gold and silver in the form of a heap (כְּרִי), and told him, “Take all these.”		אֲשֶׁר רָֽכְשׁוּ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן. אֲבָל מַה שֶּׁרָכַשׁ בְּפַדַּן אֲרָם נָתַן הַכֹּל לְעֵשָׂו בִּשְׁבִיל חֶלְקוֹ בִּמְעָרַת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה; אָמַר נִכְסֵי חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ אֵינָן כְּדַאי לִי, וְזֶהוּ אֲשֶׁר כָּרִיתִי לִי, הֶעֱמִיד לוֹ צִבּוּרִין שֶׁל זָהָב וָכֶסֶף כְּמִין כְּרִי וְאָמַר לוֹ טֹל אֶת אֵלּוּ:
7His sons and grandsons were with him, and he brought his daughters, his granddaughters, and all his offspring with him to Egypt, as well.		זבָּנָ֞יו וּבְנֵ֤י בָנָיו֙ אִתּ֔וֹ בְּנֹתָ֛יו וּבְנ֥וֹת בָּנָ֖יו וְכָל־זַרְע֑וֹ הֵבִ֥יא אִתּ֖וֹ מִצְרָֽיְמָה:
וּבְנוֹת בָּנָיו - His granddaughters. These were Serach daughter of Asher and Yocheved daughter of Levi.		וּבְנוֹת בָּנָיו. סֶרַח בַּת אָשֵׁר וְיוֹכֶבֶד בַּת לֵוִי:

Footnotes

Genesis 50:5.

Fifth Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 46

8These are the names of the children of Israel who were now coming to Egypt, i.e., Jacob and his sons. Jacob’s firstborn was Reuben.		חוְאֵ֨לֶּה שְׁמ֧וֹת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הַבָּאִ֥ים מִצְרַ֖יְמָה יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב וּבָנָ֑יו בְּכֹ֥ר יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב רְאוּבֵֽן:
הַבָּאִים מִצְרַיְמָה - Who were coming to Egypt. Relative to the time of the narrative, the verse refers to them as “coming” (present tense), and thus one need not question why it does not say אֲשֶׁר בָּאוּ “who came” (past tense).		הַבָּאִים מִצְרַיְמָה. עַל שֵׁם הַשָּׁעָה קוֹרֵא לָהֶם הַכָּתוּב בָּאִים, וְאֵין לִתְמֹהַּ עַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא כָתַב אֲשֶׁר בָּאוּ:
9Reuben’s sons were Chanoch, Palu, Chetzron, and Karmi.		טוּבְנֵ֖י רְאוּבֵ֑ן חֲנ֥וֹךְ וּפַלּ֖וּא וְחֶצְרֹ֥ן וְכַרְמִֽי:
10Simeon’s sons were Yemu’el, Yamin, Ohad, Yachin, Tzochar, and Sha’ul son of Dinah, who was the woman who had been violated by Shechem, the Canaanite.		יוּבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֗וֹן יְמוּאֵ֧ל וְיָמִ֛ין וְאֹ֖הַד וְיָכִ֣ין וְצֹ֑חַר וְשָׁא֖וּל בֶּן־הַכְּנַֽעֲנִֽית:
בֶּן־הַכְּנַֽעֲנִֽית - (lit.) Son of the Canaanite woman - i.e., the son of Dinah who had been violated by Shechem, the Canaanite. When her brothers killed Shechem, Dinah did not wish to leave until Simeon swore to her that he would marry her.		בֶּן־הַכְּנַֽעֲנִֽית. בֶּן דִּינָה שֶׁנִּבְעֲלָה לִכְנַעֲנִי; כְשֶׁהָרְגוּ אֶת שְׁכֶם לֹא הָיְתָה דִּינָה רוֹצָה לָצֵאת עַד שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע לָהּ שִׁמְעוֹן שֶׁיִּשָּׂאֶנָּה (בראשית רבה):
11Levi’s sons were Gershon, Kehat, and Merari.		יאוּבְנֵ֖י לֵוִ֑י גֵּֽרְשׁ֕וֹן קְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי:
12Judah’s sons were Er, Onan, Shelah, Peretz, and Zerach, but Er and Onan died in Canaan; and the sons of Peretz were Chetzron and Chamul.		יבוּבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה עֵ֧ר וְאוֹנָ֛ן וְשֵׁלָ֖ה וָפֶ֣רֶץ וָזָ֑רַח וַיָּ֨מָת עֵ֤ר וְאוֹנָן֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ בְנֵי־פֶ֖רֶץ חֶצְרֹ֥ן וְחָמֽוּל:
13Issachar’s sons were Tola, Puvah, Yov, and Shimron.		יגוּבְנֵ֖י יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר תּוֹלָ֥ע וּפֻוָּ֖ה וְי֥וֹב וְשִׁמְרֹֽן:
14Zebulun’s sons were Sered, Elon, and Yachle’el.		ידוּבְנֵ֖י זְבֻל֑וּן סֶ֥רֶד וְאֵל֖וֹן וְיַחְלְאֵֽל:
15The above are the offspring of Leah whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, besides his daughter Dinah. All these sons and daughters came to 33 persons.		טואֵ֣לֶּה \| בְּנֵ֣י לֵאָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָֽלְדָ֤ה לְיַֽעֲקֹב֙ בְּפַדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת דִּינָ֣ה בִתּ֑וֹ כָּל־נֶ֧פֶשׁ בָּנָ֛יו וּבְנוֹתָ֖יו שְׁלשִׁ֥ים וְשָׁלֽשׁ:
אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי לֵאָה וְאֵת דִּינָה בִתּוֹ - The above are the offspring of Leah…besides his daughter Dinah. The males are attributed to Leah and the female is attributed to Jacob. This teaches you that when the wife emits seed first she gives birth to a male, but when the husband emits seed first the wife gives birth to a female.		אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי לֵאָה וְאֵת דִּינָה בִתּוֹ. הַזְּכָרִים תָּלָה בְלֵאָה וְהַנְּקֵבוֹת תָּלָה בְיַעֲקֹב, לְלַמֶּדְךָ, אִשָּׁה מַזְרַעַת תְּחִלָּה יוֹלֶדֶת זָכָר, אִישׁ מַזְרִיעַ תְּחִלָּה יוֹלֶדֶת נְקֵבָה:
שְׁלשִׁים וְשָׁלֽשׁ - 33 - but when they are enumerated above you find only 32. However, the one not mentioned is Yocheved who was born within the walls of Egypt, i.e., once they entered the city, as it says: “Yocheved the daughter of Levi, whom Levi’s wife had borne to Levi in Egypt” 1 – her birth was in Egypt but her conception was not in Egypt.		שְׁלשִׁים וְשָׁלֽשׁ. וּבִפְרָטָן אִי אַתָּה מוֹצֵא אֶלָּא שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁנַיִם, אֶלָּא זוֹ יוֹכֶבֶד שֶׁנּוֹלְדָה בֵין הַחוֹמוֹת בִּכְנִיסָתָן לָעִיר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה אֹתָהּ לְלֵוִי בְּמִצְרָיִם – לֵדָתָהּ בְּמִצְרַיִם וְאֵין הוֹרָתָהּ בְּמִצְרַיִם:
16Gad’s sons were Tzifyon, Chagi, Shuni, Etzbon, Eri, Arodi, and Ar’eli.		טזוּבְנֵ֣י גָ֔ד צִפְי֥וֹן וְחַגִּ֖י שׁוּנִ֣י וְאֶצְבֹּ֑ן עֵרִ֥י וַֽאֲרוֹדִ֖י וְאַרְאֵלִֽי:
17Asher’s sons were Yimnah, Yishvah, Yishvi, and Beri’ah, and their sister was Serach. The sons of Beri’ah were Chever and Malki’el.		יזוּבְנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֗ר יִמְנָ֧ה וְיִשְׁוָ֛ה וְיִשְׁוִ֥י וּבְרִיעָ֖ה וְשֶׂ֣רַח אֲחֹתָ֑ם וּבְנֵ֣י בְרִיעָ֔ה חֶ֖בֶר וּמַלְכִּיאֵֽל:
18The above are the offspring of Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah. She bore these to Jacob—16 persons.		יחאֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י זִלְפָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָבָ֖ן לְלֵאָ֣ה בִתּ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֤לֶד אֶת־אֵ֨לֶּה֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב שֵׁ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה נָֽפֶשׁ:
19The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.		יטבְּנֵ֤י רָחֵל֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב יוֹסֵ֖ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן:
בְּנֵי רָחֵל אֵשֶׁת יַֽעֲקֹב - The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel. But regarding all the other wives, “Jacob’s wife” is not stated. The reason for this singularity was that Rachel was the main wife of the household.		בְּנֵי רָחֵל אֵשֶׁת יַֽעֲקֹב. וּבְכֻלָּן לֹא נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶן אֵשֶׁת, אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיְתָה עִקָּרוֹ שֶׁל בַּיִת:
20Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in Egypt by Asenat daughter of Potiphera, lord of On.		כוַיִּוָּלֵ֣ד לְיוֹסֵף֘ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֒יִם֒ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָֽלְדָה־לּוֹ֙ אָֽסְנַ֔ת בַּת־פּ֥וֹטִי פֶ֖רַע כֹּהֵ֣ן אֹ֑ן אֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־אֶפְרָֽיִם:
21And Benjamin’s sons were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Geira, Na’aman, Echi, Rosh, Mupim, Chupim, and Ard.		כאוּבְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֗ן בֶּ֤לַע וָבֶ֨כֶר֙ וְאַשְׁבֵּ֔ל גֵּרָ֥א וְנַֽעֲמָ֖ן אֵחִ֣י וָרֹ֑אשׁ מֻפִּ֥ים וְחֻפִּ֖ים וָאָֽרְדְּ:
22The above are the offspring of Rachel who were born to Jacob—14 persons in all.		כבאֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י רָחֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻלַּ֖ד לְיַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כָּל־נֶ֖פֶשׁ אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר:
23Dan’s son was Chushim.		כגוּבְנֵי־דָ֖ן חֻשִֽׁים:
24Naphtali’s sons were Yachtze’el, Guni, Yetzer, and Shilem.		כדוּבְנֵ֖י נַפְתָּלִ֑י יַחְצְאֵ֥ל וְגוּנִ֖י וְיֵ֥צֶר וְשִׁלֵּֽם:
25The above are the offspring of Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel. She bore these to Jacob—seven persons in all.		כהאֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י בִלְהָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָבָ֖ן לְרָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֧לֶד אֶת־אֵ֛לֶּה לְיַֽעֲקֹ֖ב כָּל־נֶ֥פֶשׁ שִׁבְעָֽה:
26Thus, all the people who were now coming to Egypt along with Jacob and who were his own issue were altogether 66 persons. This number was aside from the wives of Jacob’s sons.		כוכָּל־הַ֠נֶּ֠פֶשׁ הַבָּאָ֨ה לְיַֽעֲקֹ֤ב מִצְרַ֨יְמָה֙ יֹֽצְאֵ֣י יְרֵכ֔וֹ מִלְּבַ֖ד נְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵי־יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כָּל־נֶ֖פֶשׁ שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וָשֵֽׁשׁ:
כָּל־הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַבָּאָה לְיַֽעֲקֹב - All the people who were coming with Jacob - i.e., who left the land of Canaan to come to Egypt. This verb הַבָּאָה is not a past tense but a present tense, as in: “in the evening she would go (lit., she enters) (בָאָה),” 2 and as in: “and here is his daughter Rachel, approaching (בָּאָה) with the flocks.” 3 Therefore, its accent is on the last syllable, on the א, denoting the present, since when they started out from Canaan they were only 66. But the second הַבָּאָה, “The total of Jacob’s household who came (הַבָּאָה) to Egypt was 70 persons,” 4 is in the past tense, and therefore its accent is on the first syllable of the verb, on the ב, since once they entered they numbered 70; for there they found Joseph and his two sons, and Yocheved was added to their number within the walls. According to the opinion that twin sisters were born with the tribes (Jacob’s sons), we must say that those not married to the tribes died before Jacob and his family went down to Egypt, because they are not enumerated here as are Dinah and Serach. I have found in Vayikra Rabbah: 5 Esau’s family consisted of six people, yet Scripture calls them “the members (נַפְשׁוֹת) of his household” 6 – in the plural – because they served many gods, whereas Jacob’s family consisted of 70 people, yet the verse calls them נֶפֶשׁ (in the singular) because they all served one God.		כָּל־הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַבָּאָה לְיַֽעֲקֹב. שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מֵאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לָבֹא לְמִצְרַיִם; וְאֵין "הַבָּאָה" זוֹ לְשׁוֹן עָבָר אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן הוֹוֶה, כְּמוֹ בָּעֶרֶב הִיא בָאָה (אסתר ב' ד'), וּכְמוֹ וְהִנֵּה רָחֵל בִּתּוֹ בָּאָה עִם הַצֹּאן (בראשית כ"ט), לְפִיכָךְ טַעְמוֹ לְמַטָּה בָּאָלֶ"ף, לְפִי שֶׁכְּשֶׁיָּצְאוּ לָבֹא מֵאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לֹא הָיוּ אֶלָּא שִׁשִּׁים וָשֵׁשׁ, וְהַשֵּׁנִי, כָּל הַנֶּפֶשׁ לְבֵית יַעֲקֹב הַבָּאָה מִצְרַיְמָה שִׁבְעִים – הוּא לְשׁוֹן עָבָר, לְפִיכָךְ טַעְמוֹ לְמַעְלָה בַּבֵּי"ת, לְפִי שֶׁמִּשֶּׁבָּאוּ שָׁם הָיוּ שִׁבְעִים, שֶׁמָּצְאוּ שָׁם יוֹסֵף וּשְׁנֵי בָנָיו, וְנִתּוֹסְפָה לָהֶם יוֹכֶבֶד בֵּין הַחוֹמוֹת. וּלְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר תְּאוֹמוֹת נוֹלְדוּ עִם הַשְּׁבָטִים, צְרִיכִים אָנוּ לוֹמַר שֶׁמֵּתוּ לִפְנֵי יְרִידָתָן לְמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא נִמְנוּ כָאן; מָצָאתִי בְּוַיִּקְרָא רַבָּה, עֵשָׂו שֵׁשׁ נְפָשׁוֹת הָיוּ לוֹ, וְהַכָּתוּב קוֹרֵא אוֹתָן נַפְשׁוֹת בֵּיתוֹ, לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים, לְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְדִין לֶאֱלֹהוּת הַרְבֵּה; יַעֲקֹב שִׁבְעִים הָיוּ לוֹ, וְהַכָּתוּב קוֹרֵא אוֹתָן נֶפֶשׁ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה עוֹבְדִים לְאֵל אֶחָד:
27Joseph’s sons who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. Thus the total of Jacob’s household who came to Egypt was 70 persons.		כזוּבְנֵ֥י יוֹסֵ֛ף אֲשֶׁר־יֻלַּד־ל֥וֹ בְמִצְרַ֖יִם נֶ֣פֶשׁ שְׁנָ֑יִם כָּל־הַנֶּ֧פֶשׁ לְבֵֽית־יַֽעֲקֹ֛ב הַבָּ֥אָה מִצְרַ֖יְמָה שִׁבְעִֽים:

Footnotes

Vayikra Rabbah 4:6.

Sixth Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 46

28He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to make advance preparations in Goshen. They then arrived in Goshen.		כחוְאֶת־יְהוּדָ֞ה שָׁלַ֤ח לְפָנָיו֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף לְהוֹרֹ֥ת לְפָנָ֖יו גּ֑שְׁנָה וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה גּֽשֶׁן:
לְהוֹרֹת לְפָנָיו - Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: לְפַנָּאָה קֳדָמוֹהִי to prepare a place for him and to show (לְהוֹרֹת) how to settle there.		לְהוֹרֹת לְפָנָיו. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, לְפַנּוֹת לוֹ מָקוֹם, וּלְהוֹרוֹת הֵיאַךְ יִתְיַשֵּׁב בָּהּ:
לְפָנָיו - means “prior to his arrival there.” And the aggadic explanation is: לְהוֹרֹת לְפָנָיו means to establish a house of study from which instruction (הוֹרָאָה) would emanate.		לְפָנָיו. קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּגִּיַע לְשָׁם. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה לְהוֹרוֹת לְפָנָיו – לְתַקֵּן לוֹ בֵּית תַּלְמוּד שֶׁמִּשָּׁם תֵּצֵא הוֹרָאָה:
29Joseph harnessed his chariot and went up to Goshen to welcome his father Israel. He presented himself to his father, embraced him around his neck, and wept on his neck for a long while.		כטוַיֶּאְסֹ֤ר יוֹסֵף֙ מֶרְכַּבְתּ֔וֹ וַיַּ֛עַל לִקְרַאת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אָבִ֖יו גּ֑שְׁנָה וַיֵּרָ֣א אֵלָ֗יו וַיִּפֹּל֙ עַל־צַוָּארָ֔יו וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ עַל־צַוָּארָ֖יו עֽוֹד:
וַיֶּאְסֹר יוֹסֵף מֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ - Joseph harnessed his chariot. He himself harnessed the horses to the chariot, in order to act with alacrity in honor of his father.		וַיֶּאְסֹר יוֹסֵף מֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ. הוּא עַצְמוֹ אָסַר אֶת הַסּוּסִים לַמֶּרְכָּבָה לְהִזְדָּרֵז לִכְבוֹד אָבִיו:
וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו - He presented himself to him - i.e., Joseph presented himself to his father.		וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו. יוֹסֵף נִרְאָה אֶל אָבִיו:
וַיֵּבְךְּ עַל־צַוָּארָיו עֽוֹד - And wept (lit.) again on his neck. עוֹד signifies weeping abundantly. Similarly, we find “For God does not place on a man עוֹד,” 1 meaning excessiveness – i.e., He does not accuse him in excess of his sins. Here, too, he wept greatly and abundantly, more than the usual. Jacob, however, did not fall on Joseph’s neck, nor did he kiss him. Our rabbis said that this is because he was reciting the Shema.		וַיֵּבְךְּ עַל־צַוָּארָיו עֽוֹד. לְשׁוֹן הַרְבּוֹת בְּכִיָּה, וְכֵן כִּי לֹא עַל אִישׁ יָשִׂים עוֹד (איוב ל"ד), לְשׁוֹן רִבּוּי הוּא – אֵינוֹ שָׂם עָלָיו עֲלִילוֹת נוֹסָפוֹת עַל חֲטָאָיו; אַף כָּאן הִרְבָּה וְהוֹסִיף בִּבְכִי יוֹתֵר עַל הָרָגִיל; אֲבָל יַעֲקֹב לֹא נָפַל עַל צַוְּארֵי יוֹסֵף וְלֹא נְשָׁקוֹ, וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁהָיָה קוֹרֵא אֶת שְׁמַע:
30Then Israel said to Joseph, “Now I can die content, having seen your face and having seen that you are still alive.”		לוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף אָמ֣וּתָה הַפָּ֑עַם אַֽחֲרֵי֙ רְאוֹתִ֣י אֶת־פָּנֶ֔יךָ כִּ֥י עֽוֹדְךָ֖ חָֽי:
אָמוּתָה הַפָּעַם - (lit.) This time I can die. The straightforward meaning is as Onkelos translates it: אִלּוּ אֲנָא מָאִית זִמְנָא הָדָא מְנַחֵם אֲנָא “If I were to die at this time, I would find comfort.” But its Midrashic explanation is: “I thought I would die twice, in this world and in the World to Come, because the Divine Presence left me and I thought that the Holy One, blessed be He, would demand punishment for your death from me. Now that you are still alive, I will only die once, in this world.”		אָמוּתָה הַפָּעַם. פְּשׁוּטוֹ כְתַרְגּוּמוֹ. וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ סָבוּר הָיִיתִי לָמוּת שְׁתֵּי מִיתוֹת, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְלָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנִּסְתַּלְּקָה מִמֶּנִּי שְׁכִינָה, וְהָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁיִּתְבָּעֵנִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִיתָתְךָ, עַכְשָׁו שֶׁעוֹדְךָ חַי, לֹא אָמוּת אֶלָּא פַעַם אַחַת:
31Joseph then said to his brothers and to his father’s entire household, “I will go up to the palace and tell Pharaoh that you have arrived. I will say to him, ‘My brothers and all my father’s household who were in Canaan have come to me.		לאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֤ף אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ וְאֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יו אֶֽעֱלֶ֖ה וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לְפַרְעֹ֑ה וְאֹֽמְרָ֣ה אֵלָ֔יו אַחַ֧י וּבֵֽית־אָבִ֛י אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־כְּנַ֖עַן בָּ֥אוּ אֵלָֽי:
וְאֹֽמְרָה אֵלָיו אַחַי וגו' - I will say to him, “my brothers…”. and I will say to him further, “These men are shepherds….” 2		וְאֹֽמְרָה אֵלָיו אַחַי וגו'. וְעוֹד אֹמַר לוֹ, והאנשים רועי צאן וגו':
32These men are shepherds, for they have always owned livestock, and they have brought along their flocks, their herds, and all their possessions.’		לבוְהָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ רֹ֣עֵי צֹ֔אן כִּֽי־אַנְשֵׁ֥י מִקְנֶ֖ה הָי֑וּ וְצֹאנָ֧ם וּבְקָרָ֛ם וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם הֵבִֽיאוּ:
33Now, when Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’		לגוְהָיָ֕ה כִּֽי־יִקְרָ֥א לָכֶ֖ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְאָמַ֖ר מַה־מַּֽעֲשֵׂיכֶֽם:
34you should answer, ‘Your servants have been livestock dealers from our youth up until now, both we and our father and forefathers, and we know no other trade,’ so that you will be able to settle in Goshen, for all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians.”		לדוַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם אַנְשֵׁ֨י מִקְנֶ֜ה הָי֤וּ עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ֙ מִנְּעוּרֵ֣ינוּ וְעַד־עַ֔תָּה גַּם־אֲנַ֖חְנוּ גַּם־אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ בַּֽעֲב֗וּר תֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גּ֔שֶׁן כִּי־תֽוֹעֲבַ֥ת מִצְרַ֖יִם כָּל־רֹ֥עֵה צֹֽאן:
בַּֽעֲבוּר תֵּֽשְׁבוּ בְּאֶרֶץ גּשֶׁן - So that you will be able to settle in Goshen - which you need, since it is a land of pasture; so if you tell him that you are not skilled in any other work, he will keep you away from him and settle you there.		בַּֽעֲבוּר תֵּֽשְׁבוּ בְּאֶרֶץ גּשֶׁן. וְהִיא צְרִיכָה לָכֶם שֶׁהִיא אֶרֶץ מִרְעֶה, וּכְשֶׁתֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ שֶׁאֵין אַתֶּם בְּקִיאִין בִּמְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת, יַרְחִיקְכֶם מֵעָלָיו וְיוֹשִׁיבְכֶם שָׁם:
כִּי־תֽוֹעֲבַת מִצְרַיִם כָּל־רועה צֹֽאן - For all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians - because sheep are considered by them as deities.		כִּי־תֽוֹעֲבַת מִצְרַיִם כָּל־רועה צֹֽאן. לְפִי שֶׁהֵם לָהֶם אֱלֹהוּת:

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 47

1Joseph then came and told Pharaoh as follows: “My father and my brothers have come from Canaan, together with their flocks and their herds and all their possessions, and they are now in Goshen.”		אוַיָּבֹ֣א יוֹסֵף֘ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְפַרְעֹה֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אָבִ֨י וְאַחַ֜י וְצֹאנָ֤ם וּבְקָרָם֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָהֶ֔ם בָּ֖אוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְהִנָּ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ גּֽשֶׁן:
2He selected from among his brothers five men and introduced them to Pharaoh.		בוּמִקְצֵ֣ה אֶחָ֔יו לָקַ֖ח חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וַיַּצִּגֵ֖ם לִפְנֵ֥י פַרְעֹֽה:
וּמִקְצֵה אֶחָיו - From among his brothers - i.e., from those of lesser strength, who would not appear strong, for if Pharaoh would view them as strong he would make them his warriors. And these were the weaker brothers: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Benjamin – those whose names Moses did not repeat when he blessed them – but the names of the stronger ones he repeated: “And this blessing he gave to Judah and said, ‘God, hearken to the voice of Judah’”; 3 “Of Gad he said, ‘Blessed be He who expands Gad’s territory’”; 4 “Of Naphtali he said, ‘Naphtali’”; 5 “Of Dan he said, ‘Dan’”; 6 and similarly with Zebulun 7 and with Asher. 8 This is the version of Bereshit Rabbah, 9 which is the aggadah of the Land of Israel. But in our Babylonian Talmud we find that those whose names Moses repeated – they were the weaker ones and them he brought before Pharaoh; and Judah, whose name was repeated, was not repeated because of weakness but for a specific reason, as is stated in Bava Kama. 10 In the Baraita of Sifrei on Vezot HaBerachah, 11 we have the same version as our Talmud.		וּמִקְצֵה אֶחָיו. מִן הַפְּחוּתִים שֶׁבָּהֶם לִגְבוּרָה, שֶׁאֵין נִרְאִים גִּבּוֹרִים, שֶׁאִם יִרְאֶה אוֹתָם גִּבּוֹרִים יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָם אַנְשֵׁי מִלְחַמְתּוֹ, וְאֵלֶּה הֵם: רְאוּבֵן, שִׁמְעוֹן, לֵוִי, יִשָּׂשכָר וּבִנְיָמִין – אוֹתָן שֶׁלֹּא כָּפַל מֹשֶׁה שְׁמוֹתָם כְּשֶׁבֵּרְכָן; אֲבָל שְׁמוֹת הַגִּבּוֹרִים כָּפַל וְזֹאת לִיהוּדָה שְׁמַע ה' קוֹל יְהוּדָה; וּלְגָד אָמַר בָּרוּךְ מַרְחִיב גָּד; וּלְנַפְתָּלִי אָמַר נַפְתָּלִי, וּלְדָן אָמַר דָּן, וְכֵן לִזְבוּלוּן, וְכֵן לְאָשֵׁר; זֶהוּ לְשׁוֹן בּרֵאשִׁית רַבָּה, שֶׁהִיא אַגָּדַת אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אֲבָל בְּתַלְמוּד בַּבְלִית שֶׁלָּנוּ (בבא קמא צ"ב) מָצִינוּ, שֶׁאוֹתָן שֶׁכָּפַל מֹשֶׁה שְׁמוֹתָן הֵם הַחַלָּשִׁים, וְאוֹתָן הֵבִיא לִפְנֵי פַרְעֹה, וִיהוּדָה שֶׁהֻכְפַּל שְׁמוֹ לֹא הֻכְפַּל מִשּׁוּם חַלָּשׁוּת, אֶלָּא טַעַם יֵשׁ בַּדָּבָר, כִּדְאִיתָא בְּבָּבָא קַמָּא וּבְבָרַיְתָא דְּסִפְרֵי שָׁנִינוּ בָהּ בִּוְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה, כְּמוֹ תַּלְמוּד שֶׁלָּנוּ:
3Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers, “What is your occupation?” They replied to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.”		גוַיֹּ֧אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֛ה אֶל־אֶחָ֖יו מַה־מַּֽעֲשֵׂיכֶ֑ם וַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֗ה רֹעֵ֥ה צֹאן֙ עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ גַּם־אֲנַ֖חְנוּ גַּם־אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ:
4They further said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, because there is no grazing for your servants’ flocks in Canaan, since the famine is severe in Canaan. So now, please, let your servants settle in Goshen.”		דוַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֗ה לָג֣וּר בָּאָ֘רֶץ֘ בָּ֒אנוּ֒ כִּי־אֵ֣ין מִרְעֶ֗ה לַצֹּאן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַֽעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ כִּֽי־כָבֵ֥ד הָֽרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְעַתָּ֛ה יֵֽשְׁבוּ־נָ֥א עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ גּֽשֶׁן:
5Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and your brothers have come to you,		הוַיֹּ֣אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֔ה אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף לֵאמֹ֑ר אָבִ֥יךָ וְאַחֶ֖יךָ בָּ֥אוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ:
6all Egypt is at your disposal. Settle your father and your brothers in the choicest part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know that there are men among them who are capable shepherds, you must appoint them as stewards over my livestock.”		ואֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ לְפָנֶ֣יךָ הִ֔וא בְּמֵיטַ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ הוֹשֵׁ֥ב אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ וְאֶת־אַחֶ֑יךָ יֵֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גּ֔שֶׁן וְאִם־יָדַ֗עְתָּ וְיֶשׁ־בָּם֙ אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֔יִל וְשַׂמְתָּ֛ם שָׂרֵ֥י מִקְנֶ֖ה עַל־אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי:
אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל - Capable - i.e., proficient in their craft of tending sheep.		אַנְשֵׁי־חַיִל. בְּקִיאִין בְּאֻמָּנוּתָן לִרְעוֹת צֹאן:
עַל־אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי - Over (lit.) what is mine - i.e., over my flocks.		עַל־אֲשֶׁר־לִֽי. עַל צֹאן שֶׁלִּי:
7Joseph then brought his father Jacob and introduced him to Pharaoh, and Jacob greeted Pharaoh.		זוַיָּבֵ֤א יוֹסֵף֙ אֶת־יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב אָבִ֔יו וַיַּֽעֲמִדֵ֖הוּ לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־פַּרְעֹֽה:
וַיְבָרֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹב - Jacob (lit.) blessed. This refers to greeting, as is the manner of all who occasionally appear before kings; “saluer” in Old French.		וַיְבָרֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹב. הִיא שְׁאִילַת שָׁלוֹם כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הַנִּרְאִים לִפְנֵי הַמְּלָכִים לִפְרָקִים, שלו"איר בְּלַעַז:
8Pharaoh asked Jacob, “How many are the years of your life?”		חוַיֹּ֥אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֖ה אֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כַּמָּ֕ה יְמֵ֖י שְׁנֵ֥י חַיֶּיֽךָ:
9Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my sojourning have been 130. The years of my life have been few and hard, and have not equaled the happiness of the years of my forefathers’ lifetimes in the days of their sojourning.”		טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַֽעֲקֹב֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה יְמֵי֙ שְׁנֵ֣י מְגוּרַ֔י שְׁלשִׁ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת שָׁנָ֑ה מְעַ֣ט וְרָעִ֗ים הָיוּ֙ יְמֵי֙ שְׁנֵ֣י חַיַּ֔י וְלֹ֣א הִשִּׂ֗יגוּ אֶת־יְמֵי֙ שְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּי֣ אֲבֹתַ֔י בִּימֵ֖י מְגֽוּרֵיהֶֽם:
שְׁנֵי מְגוּרַי - means “the years of my sojourning” - i.e., all my life I have been a sojourner in the land.		שְׁנֵי מְגוּרַי. יְמֵי גֵרוּתִי; כָּל יָמַי הָיִיתִי גֵּר בָּאָרֶץ:
וְלֹא הִשִּׂיגוּ - And have not equaled - in regards to goodness.		וְלֹא הִשִּׂיגוּ. בְּטוֹבָה:
10With that, Jacob blessed Pharaoh. He took leave of Pharaoh and left Pharaoh’s presence.		יוַיְבָ֥רֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַיֵּצֵ֖א מִלִּפְנֵ֥י פַרְעֹֽה:
וַיְבָרֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹב - Jacob blessed - in the manner of all who leave the presence of princes: they bless them and take permission to leave. And what blessing did he give him? That the Nile rise at his approach, since Egypt is not irrigated by rainwater, but the Nile overflows and irrigates it; and from the blessing of Jacob onwards Pharaoh would come to the Nile and it would rise towards him and irrigate the land. Tanchuma. 12		וַיְבָרֶךְ יַֽעֲקֹב. כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הַנִּפְטָרִים מִלִּפְנֵי שָׂרִים מְבָרְכִים אוֹתָם וְנוֹטְלִים רְשׁוּת, וּמַה בְּרָכָה בֵּרְכוֹ? שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה נִילוּס לְרַגְלָיו, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מִצְרַיִם שׁוֹתָה מֵי גְשָׁמִים אֶלָּא נִילוּס עוֹלֶה וּמַשְׁקֶה, וּמִבִּרְכָתוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב וָאֵילָךְ הָיָה פַרְעֹה בָא אֶל נִילוּס וְהוּא עוֹלֶה לִקְרָאתוֹ וּמַשְׁקֶה אֶת הָאָרֶץ (תַּנְחוּמָא):

Footnotes

Bereshit Rabbah 95:4.

10.

Bava Kama 92a.

11.

Sifrei on Vayikra 354.

12.

Tanchuma Naso 26.

Seventh Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 47

11Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them an estate in Egypt, in the choicest part of the land, in the Rameses region of Goshen, as Pharaoh had instructed.		יאוַיּוֹשֵׁ֣ב יוֹסֵף֘ אֶת־אָבִ֣יו וְאֶת־אֶחָיו֒ וַיִּתֵּ֨ן לָהֶ֤ם אֲחֻזָּה֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּמֵיטַ֥ב הָאָ֖רֶץ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ רַעְמְסֵ֑ס כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֥ה פַרְעֹֽה:
רַעְמְסֵס - Rameses. This is part of the land of Goshen.		רַעְמְסֵס. מֵאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן הִיא:
12Joseph provided bread for his father and his brothers and all his father’s household, providing them with bread according to the needs of their young children.		יבוַיְכַלְכֵּ֤ל יוֹסֵף֙ אֶת־אָבִ֣יו וְאֶת־אֶחָ֔יו וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יו לֶ֖חֶם לְפִ֥י הַטָּֽף:
לְפִי הַטָּֽף - (lit.) According to the young children - i.e., according to the requirements of all the members of their household, including their children.		לְפִי הַטָּֽף. לְפִי הַצָּרִיךְ לְכָל בְּנֵי בֵיתָם:
13There was no bread in the entire region, since the famine was very severe. The people of Egypt and Canaan languished due to the famine.		יגוְלֶ֤חֶם אֵין֙ בְּכָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּֽי־כָבֵ֥ד הָֽרָעָ֖ב מְאֹ֑ד וַתֵּ֜לַהּ אֶ֤רֶץ מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ וְאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן מִפְּנֵ֖י הָֽרָעָֽב:
וְלֶחֶם אֵין בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ - There was no bread in the entire region. Here the Torah returns to the original subject – to the account of the beginning of the years of famine.		וְלֶחֶם אֵין בְּכָל־הָאָרֶץ. חוֹזֵר לָעִנְיָן הָרִאשׁוֹן – לִתְחִלַּת שְׁנֵי הָרָעָב:
וַתֵּלַהּ - This is the same as וַתִּלְאֶה – an expression of tiredness, as Onkelos translates it: וְאִשְׁתַּלְהֵי. A similar word to it is “Like one wearing himself out (כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּ) throwing firebrands.” 1		וַתֵּלַהּ. כְּמוֹ וַתִּלְאֶה, לְשׁוֹן עֲיֵפוּת, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ; וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּ הַיֹּרֶה זִקִּים (משלי כ"ו):
14Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and in Canaan in payment for the produce they were buying, and Joseph brought the money to Pharaoh’s palace.		ידוַיְלַקֵּ֣ט יוֹסֵ֗ף אֶת־כָּל־הַכֶּ֨סֶף֙ הַנִּמְצָ֤א בְאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ וּבְאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן בַּשֶּׁ֖בֶר אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֣ם שֹֽׁבְרִ֑ים וַיָּבֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־הַכֶּ֖סֶף בֵּ֥יתָה פַרְעֹֽה:
בַּשֶּׁבֶר אֲשֶׁר־הֵם שֹֽׁבְרִים - For the produce they were buying - they gave him the money.		בַּשֶּׁבֶר אֲשֶׁר־הֵם שֹֽׁבְרִים. נוֹתְנִין לוֹ אֶת הַכֶּסֶף:
15When the money from Egypt and Canaan was exhausted, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread! Why should we die before your very eyes just because the money has run out?”		טווַיִּתֹּ֣ם הַכֶּ֗סֶף מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֘יִם֘ וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֒עַן֒ וַיָּבֹ֩אוּ֩ כָל־מִצְרַ֨יִם אֶל־יוֹסֵ֤ף לֵאמֹר֙ הָֽבָה־לָּ֣נוּ לֶ֔חֶם וְלָ֥מָּה נָמ֖וּת נֶגְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֥י אָפֵ֖ס כָּֽסֶף:
אָפֵס - Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: שְׁלִים “finished.”		אָפֵס. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ שְׁלִים:
16Joseph replied, “Bring your livestock, and I will give you bread in exchange for your livestock, if there is no more money.”		טזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹסֵף֙ הָב֣וּ מִקְנֵיכֶ֔ם וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם בְּמִקְנֵיכֶ֑ם אִם־אָפֵ֖ס כָּֽסֶף:
17So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for their horses, flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and donkeys. Thus he took care of them during that year with regard to bread, in exchange for all their livestock.		יזוַיָּבִ֣יאוּ אֶת־מִקְנֵיהֶם֘ אֶל־יוֹסֵף֒ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָהֶם֩ יוֹסֵ֨ף לֶ֜חֶם בַּסּוּסִ֗ים וּבְמִקְנֵ֥ה הַצֹּ֛אן וּבְמִקְנֵ֥ה הַבָּקָ֖ר וּבַֽחֲמֹרִ֑ים וַיְנַֽהֲלֵ֤ם בַּלֶּ֨חֶם֙ בְּכָל־מִקְנֵהֶ֔ם בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הַהִֽוא:
וַיְנַֽהֲלֵם - Although this term usually means “leading,” here it is the same as וַיְנַהֲגֵם - “He guided them like a flock in the desert,” 2 which denotes taking care of all needs, not merely leading. Similar words are: “She has no one to guide (מְנַהֵל) her”; 3 and: “He guides me (יְנַהֲלֵנִי) over still water.” 4		וַיְנַֽהֲלֵם. כְּמוֹ וַיְנַהֲגֵם, וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ אֵין מְנַהֵל לָהּ (ישעיהו נ"א), עַל מֵי מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי (תהילים כ"ג):
18When that year came to an end, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not deny the truth to my lord: inasmuch as all our money and livestock are gone—since we gave them all to my lord last year—there is now nothing left for my lord as payment other than ourselves and our land.		יחוַתִּתֹּם֘ הַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַהִוא֒ וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ אֵלָ֜יו בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשֵּׁנִ֗ית וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ לֹֽא־נְכַחֵ֣ד מֵֽאֲדֹנִ֔י כִּ֚י אִם־תַּ֣ם הַכֶּ֔סֶף וּמִקְנֵ֥ה הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֑י לֹ֤א נִשְׁאַר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י בִּלְתִּ֥י אִם־גְּוִיָּתֵ֖נוּ וְאַדְמָתֵֽנוּ:
בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית - (lit.) In the second year - second of the years of famine.		בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית. לִשְׁנֵי הָרָעָב:
כִּי אִם־תַּם הַכֶּסֶף וגו' - means “but that the money and animal livestock have run out, everything having been transferred to my lord.”		כִּי אִם־תַּם הַכֶּסֶף וגו'. כִּי אֲשֶׁר תַּם הַכֶּסֶף וְהַמִּקְנֶה וּבָא הַכֹּל אֶל יַד אֲדוֹנִי:
בִּלְתִּי אִם־גְּוִיָּתֵנוּ - is the same as אִם לֹא גְוִיָּתֵנוּ “if not our bodies.”		בִּלְתִּי אִם־גְּוִיָּתֵנוּ. כְּמוֹ אִם לֹא גְּוִיָּתֵנוּ:
19Why should we perish before your very eyes, both we by starvation, and our land by becoming barren? Buy us and our land in exchange for bread, and we with our land will be serfs to Pharaoh. And give us seed so that we may live and not die, and so that the land not become barren.”		יטלָ֧מָּה נָמ֣וּת לְעֵינֶ֗יךָ גַּם־אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ גַּם־אַדְמָתֵ֔נוּ קְנֵֽה־אֹתָ֥נוּ וְאֶת־אַדְמָתֵ֖נוּ בַּלָּ֑חֶם וְנִֽהְיֶ֞ה אֲנַ֤חְנוּ וְאַדְמָתֵ֨נוּ֙ עֲבָדִ֣ים לְפַרְעֹ֔ה וְתֶן־זֶ֗רַע וְנִֽחְיֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א נָמ֔וּת וְהָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה לֹ֥א תֵשָֽׁם:
וְתֶן־זֶרַע - And give us seed - with which to sow the ground. Although Joseph had said, “and there are still five years to come in which there will be neither plowing nor reaping,” 5 once Jacob came to Egypt, blessing came through him, they began to sow, and the famine ended. So we have learned in Tosefta of Sotah. 6		וְתֶן־זֶרַע. לִזְרֹעַ הָאֲדָמָה; וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָמַר יוֹסֵף וְעוֹד חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים אֲשֶׁר אֵין חָרִישׁ וְקָצִיר, מִכֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא יַעֲקֹב לְמִצְרַיִם בָּאָה בְרָכָה לְרַגְלָיו וְהִתְחִיל לִזְרֹעַ, וְכָלָה הָרָעָב, וְכֵן שָׁנִינוּ בְּתוֹסֶפְתָּא דְּסוֹטָה:
לֹא תֵשָֽׁם - means “it shall not become desolate.” Onkelos translates it as לָא תְבוּר “it shall not be uncultivated,” a similar expression to שְׂדֵה בוּר “an uncultivated field” – i.e., one which is not plowed.		לֹא תֵשָֽׁם. לֹא תְהֵא שְׁמָמָה; לָא תְבוּר – לְשׁוֹן שְׂדֵה בּוּר, שֶׁאֵינוֹ חָרוּשׁ:
20So Joseph acquired all Egypt for Pharaoh, for each of the Egyptians sold his field because the famine had become too severe for them, and the land thus became Pharaoh’s.		כוַיִּ֨קֶן יוֹסֵ֜ף אֶת־כָּל־אַדְמַ֤ת מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה כִּי־מָֽכְר֤וּ מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ אִ֣ישׁ שָׂדֵ֔הוּ כִּֽי־חָזַ֥ק עֲלֵהֶ֖ם הָרָעָ֑ב וַתְּהִ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ לְפַרְעֹֽה:
וַתְּהִי הָאָרֶץ לְפַרְעֹה - And the land became Pharaoh’s - i.e., it became his property.		וַתְּהִי הָאָרֶץ לְפַרְעֹה. קְנוּיָה לוֹ:
21Joseph then transferred the Egyptian people from city to city, from one end of Egypt’s border to the other.		כאוְאֶ֨ת־הָעָ֔ם הֶֽעֱבִ֥יר אֹת֖וֹ לֶֽעָרִ֑ים מִקְצֵ֥ה גְבֽוּל־מִצְרַ֖יִם וְעַד־קָצֵֽהוּ:
וְאֶת־הָעָם הֶֽעֱבִיר - He transferred the people - i.e., Joseph moved them from city to city as a reminder that they no longer had a portion in the land, and he settled the people of one city in another. There was no need for Scripture to write this except to show you Joseph’s praise, for his intent was to remove disgrace from his brothers, that the Egyptians not call them exiles.		וְאֶת־הָעָם הֶֽעֱבִיר. יוֹסֵף מֵעִיר לְעִיר לְזִכָּרוֹן, שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם עוֹד חֵלֶק בָּאָרֶץ, וְהוֹשִׁיב שֶׁל עִיר זוֹ בַחֲבֶרְתָּהּ, וְלֹא הֻצְרַךְ הַכָּתוּב לִכְתֹּב זֹאת אֶלָּא לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ שִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף שֶׁנִּתְכַּוֵּן לְהָסִיר חֶרְפָּה מֵעַל אֶחָיו, שֶׁלֹא יִהְיוּ קוֹרִין אוֹתָם גּוֹלִים (חולין ס'):
מִקְצֵה גְבֽוּל־מִצְרַיִם וגו' - From one end of Egypt’s border…. i.e., so he did with all the cities in Egypt’s kingdom, from one end of its territory to the other end of its territory.		מִקְצֵה גְבֽוּל־מִצְרַיִם וגו'. כֵּן עָשָׂה לְכָל הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר בְּמַלְכוּת מִצְרַיִם, מִקְצֵה גְבוּלָהּ וְעַד קְצֵה גְבוּלָהּ:
22The only land he did not buy up was that of the priests, since the priests had a food allotment from Pharaoh, and they lived off the allotment that Pharaoh gave them; they therefore did not have to sell their land.		כברַ֛ק אַדְמַ֥ת הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֖ים לֹ֣א קָנָ֑ה כִּי֩ חֹ֨ק לַכֹּֽהֲנִ֜ים מֵאֵ֣ת פַּרְעֹ֗ה וְאָֽכְל֤וּ אֶת־חֻקָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤ן לָהֶם֙ פַּרְעֹ֔ה עַל־כֵּ֕ן לֹ֥א מָֽכְר֖וּ אֶת־אַדְמָתָֽם:
הַכֹּֽהֲנִים - means “the priests.” The term כֹּהֵן always denotes one who serves a deity, except for those instances that denote high rank, as in “ruler (כֹּהֵן) of Midian,” 7 and “lord (כֹּהֵן) of On.” 8		הַכֹּֽהֲנִים. הַכּוּמָרִים, כָּל לְשׁוֹן כֹּהֵן מְשָׁרֵת לֶאֱלֹהוּת הוּא, חוּץ מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁהֵם לְשׁוֹן גְּדֻלָּה, כְּמוֹ כֹּהֵן מִדְיָן, כֹּהֵן אוֹן:
חֹק לַכֹּֽהֲנִים - The priests had a food allotment - i.e., an allowance of a certain quantity of bread per day.		חֹק לַכֹּֽהֲנִים. חֹק כָּךְ וְכָךְ לֶחֶם לַיּוֹם:
23Joseph then said to the people, “Since today I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh, here is seed grain for you so you can sow the ground.		כגוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹסֵף֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם הֵן֩ קָנִ֨יתִי אֶתְכֶ֥ם הַיּ֛וֹם וְאֶת־אַדְמַתְכֶ֖ם לְפַרְעֹ֑ה הֵֽא־לָכֶ֣ם זֶ֔רַע וּזְרַעְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה:
הֵֽא־ - is the same as הִנֵּה “behold,” as in: “and I, too, behold (הֵא), have placed the result of your conduct on your own head.” 9		הֵֽא־. כְּמוֹ הִנֵּה, כְּמוֹ וְגַם אֲנִי הֵא דַּרְכֵּךְ בְּרֹאשׁ נָתַתִּי (יחזקאל ט"ז):
24When harvest comes, you must give a fifth to Pharaoh. The remaining four parts will be yours, for seed grain for the fields, and for food for yourselves and for those in your households, and for feeding your young children.”		כדוְהָיָה֙ בַּתְּבוּאֹ֔ת וּנְתַתֶּ֥ם חֲמִישִׁ֖ית לְפַרְעֹ֑ה וְאַרְבַּ֣ע הַיָּדֹ֡ת יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶם֩ לְזֶ֨רַע הַשָּׂדֶ֧ה וּלְאָכְלְכֶ֛ם וְלַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּבָֽתֵּיכֶ֖ם וְלֶֽאֱכֹ֥ל לְטַפְּכֶֽם:
לְזֶרַע הַשָּׂדֶה - For seed grain for the fields - for sowing each year.		לְזֶרַע הַשָּׂדֶה. שֶׁבְּכָל שָׁנָה:
וְלַֽאֲשֶׁר בְּבָֽתֵּיכֶם - And for those in your households - i.e., and for food for the bondmen and bondwomen who are in your household.		וְלַֽאֲשֶׁר בְּבָֽתֵּיכֶם. וְלֶאֱכֹל הָעֲבָדִים וְהַשְּׁפָחוֹת אֲשֶׁר בְּבָתֵּיכֶם:
לְטַפְּכֶֽם - Your young children - i.e., your small children.		לְטַפְּכֶֽם. בָּנִים קְטַנִּים:
25They said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in my lord’s eyes, and let us be serfs to Pharaoh.”		כהוַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ הֶֽחֱיִתָ֑נוּ נִמְצָא־חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְהָיִ֥ינוּ עֲבָדִ֖ים לְפַרְעֹֽה:
נִמְצָא־חֵן - Let us find favor - that you do for us that which you said you would.		נִמְצָא־חֵן. לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ זֹאת כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ:
וְהָיִינוּ עֲבָדִים לְפַרְעֹֽה - And let us be serfs to Pharaoh - by paying him this tax annually.		וְהָיִינוּ עֲבָדִים לְפַרְעֹֽה. לְהַעֲלוֹת לוֹ הַמַּס הַזֶּה בְּכָל שָׁנָה:
26Joseph made it a permanent law regarding all the lands of Egypt, which until today was never changed, that one-fifth of its produce belong to Pharaoh. Only the lands of the priests did not belong to Pharaoh.		כווַיָּ֣שֶׂם אֹתָ֣הּ יוֹסֵ֡ף לְחֹק֩ עַד־הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה עַל־אַדְמַ֥ת מִצְרַ֛יִם לְפַרְעֹ֖ה לַחֹ֑מֶשׁ רַ֞ק אַדְמַ֤ת הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ לְבַדָּ֔ם לֹ֥א הָֽיְתָ֖ה לְפַרְעֹֽה:
27Thus Israel settled in Egypt, in Goshen. They established residence there, were fruitful, and increased greatly.		כזוַיֵּ֧שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גּ֑שֶׁן וַיֵּאָֽחֲז֣וּ בָ֔הּ וַיִּפְר֥וּ וַיִּרְבּ֖וּ מְאֹֽד:
וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם - Israel settled in Egypt - and where? “In Goshen,” which is part of Egypt.		וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם. וְהֵיכָן? בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן שֶׁהִיא מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם:
וַיֵּאָֽחֲזוּ בָהּ - They established residence there. An expression denoting ownership of property (אֲחֻזָּה).		וַיֵּאָֽחֲזוּ בָהּ. לְשׁוֹן אֲחֻזָּה):

Footnotes

Toseftah Sota ch. 10.

Exodus 2:16.

Genesis 41:45.

Ezekiel 16:43.

Maftir Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 47

25They said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in my lord’s eyes, and let us be serfs to Pharaoh.”		כהוַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ הֶֽחֱיִתָ֑נוּ נִמְצָא־חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י וְהָיִ֥ינוּ עֲבָדִ֖ים לְפַרְעֹֽה:
נִמְצָא־חֵן - Let us find favor - that you do for us that which you said you would.		נִמְצָא־חֵן. לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ זֹאת כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַרְתָּ:
וְהָיִינוּ עֲבָדִים לְפַרְעֹֽה - And let us be serfs to Pharaoh - by paying him this tax annually.		וְהָיִינוּ עֲבָדִים לְפַרְעֹֽה. לְהַעֲלוֹת לוֹ הַמַּס הַזֶּה בְּכָל שָׁנָה:
26Joseph made it a permanent law regarding all the lands of Egypt, which until today was never changed, that one-fifth of its produce belong to Pharaoh. Only the lands of the priests did not belong to Pharaoh.		כווַיָּ֣שֶׂם אֹתָ֣הּ יוֹסֵ֡ף לְחֹק֩ עַד־הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֜ה עַל־אַדְמַ֥ת מִצְרַ֛יִם לְפַרְעֹ֖ה לַחֹ֑מֶשׁ רַ֞ק אַדְמַ֤ת הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ לְבַדָּ֔ם לֹ֥א הָֽיְתָ֖ה לְפַרְעֹֽה:
27Thus Israel settled in Egypt, in Goshen. They established residence there, were fruitful, and increased greatly.		כזוַיֵּ֧שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גּ֑שֶׁן וַיֵּאָֽחֲז֣וּ בָ֔הּ וַיִּפְר֥וּ וַיִּרְבּ֖וּ מְאֹֽד:
וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם - Israel settled in Egypt - and where? “In Goshen,” which is part of Egypt.		וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם. וְהֵיכָן? בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן שֶׁהִיא מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם:
וַיֵּאָֽחֲזוּ בָהּ - They established residence there. An expression denoting ownership of property (אֲחֻזָּה).		וַיֵּאָֽחֲזוּ בָהּ. לְשׁוֹן אֲחֻזָּה):

Haftarah

Yechezkel (Ezekiel) Chapter 37

15And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:		טווַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר:
16"And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write upon it, 'For Judah and for the children of Israel his companions'; and take one stick and write upon it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.'		טזוְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֗ם קַח־לְךָ֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְתֹ֚ב עָלָיו֙ לִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וְלִבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָ֑יו (כתיב חֲבֵרָ֑ו) וּלְקַח֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וּכְת֣וֹב עָלָ֗יו לְיוֹסֵף֙ עֵ֣ץ אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְכָל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָֽיו (כתיב חֲבֵרָֽו) :
And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write upon it, ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel his companions’. These four words write upon it, to say that this stick is Judah’s and the tribe of Benjamin’s, who joined him.		ואתה בן אדם קח לך עץ אחד וגו'. וכתוב עליו ליהודה ולבני ישראל חבריו. ארבע תיבות הללו כתוב עליו לאמר עץ זה ליהודה ולשבט בנימין שנלוה עליו:
and take one stick and write upon it. This is for Joseph: the stick of Ephraim and the remaining nine tribes, which followed Jeroboam, who was of the tribe of Ephraim.		ולקח עץ אחד וכתיב עליו. זה ליוסף עץ אפרי' ושאר תשעה שבטים שהיו אחרי ירבע' שהיו משבט אפרי':
17And bring them close, one to the other into one stick, and they shall be one in your hand.		יזוְקָרַ֨ב אֹתָ֜ם אֶחָ֧ד אֶל־אֶחָ֛ד לְךָ֖ לְעֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֑ד וְהָי֥וּ לַֽאֲחָדִ֖ים בְּיָדֶֽךָ:
and they shall be one. I shall join the two sticks, so that they will be one stick in your hand.		והיו לאחדים. אני אחבר' לשני העצים שיהא עץ אחד בידך:
18And when the children of your people say to you, saying, 'Will you not tell us what these are to you?'		יחוְכַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ יֹֽאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ בְּנֵ֥י עַמְּךָ֖ לֵאמֹ֑ר הֲלֽוֹא־תַגִּ֥יד לָ֖נוּ מָה־אֵ֥לֶּה לָּֽךְ:
19Say to them, So says the Lord God: Behold I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel his companions, and I will place them with him with the stick of Judah, and I will make them into one stick, and they shall become one in My hand.		יטדַּבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם כֹּֽה־אָמַר֘ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ הִנֵּה֩ אֲנִ֨י לֹקֵ֜חַ אֶת־עֵ֚ץ יוֹסֵף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיַד־אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְשִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲבֵרָ֑יו (כתיב חֲבֵרָ֑ו) וְנָֽתַתִּי֩ אוֹתָ֨ם עָלָ֜יו אֶת־עֵ֣ץ יְהוּדָ֗ה וַֽעֲשִׂיתִם֙ לְעֵ֣ץ אֶחָ֔ד וְהָי֥וּ אֶחָ֖ד בְּיָדִֽי:
Behold I will take the stick, etc.. that they shall no longer be two kingdoms.		הנה אני לוקח את עץ וגו'. שלא יהיו עוד לשתי ממלכות:
20And the sticks upon which you shall write shall be in your hand before their eyes.		כוְהָי֨וּ הָעֵצִ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־תִּכְתֹּ֧ב עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם בְּיָֽדְךָ֖ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם:
21And say to them, So says the Lord God: Behold I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side, and I will bring them to their land.		כאוְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כֹּֽה־אָמַר֘ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ הִנֵּ֨ה אֲנִ֚י לֹקֵ֙חַ֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִבֵּ֥ין הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָֽלְכוּ־שָׁ֑ם וְקִבַּצְתִּ֚י אֹתָם֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב וְהֵֽבֵאתִ֥י אוֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אַדְמָתָֽם:
22And I will make them into one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be to them all as a king; and they shall no longer be two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms anymore.		כבוְעָשִׂ֣יתִי אֹ֠תָם לְג֨וֹי אֶחָ֚ד בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ בְּהָרֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמֶ֧לֶךְ אֶחָ֛ד יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לְכֻלָּ֖ם לְמֶ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֚א יִֽהְיוּ־ (כתיב יִֽהְיֻה) עוֹד֙ לִשְׁנֵ֣י גוֹיִ֔ם וְלֹ֨א יֵחָ֥צוּ ע֛וֹד לִשְׁתֵּ֥י מַמְלָכ֖וֹת עֽוֹד:
23And they shall no longer defile themselves with their idols, with their detestable things, or with all their transgressions, and I will save them from all their habitations in which they have sinned, and I will purify them, and they shall be to Me as a people, and I will be to them as a God.		כגוְלֹ֧א יִֽטַמְּא֣וּ ע֗וֹד בְּגִלּֽוּלֵיהֶם֙ וּבְשִׁקּ֣וּצֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְכֹ֖ל פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֑ם וְהֽוֹשַׁעְתִּ֣י אֹתָ֗ם מִכֹּ֚ל מֽוֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָֽטְא֣וּ בָהֶ֔ם וְטִֽהַרְתִּ֚י אוֹתָם֙ וְהָֽיוּ־לִ֣י לְעָ֔ם וַֽאֲנִ֕י אֶֽהְיֶ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִֽים:
24And My servant David shall be king over them, and one shepherd shall be for them all, and they shall walk in My ordinances and observe My statutes and perform them.		כדוְעַבְדִּ֚י דָוִד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְרוֹעֶ֥ה אֶחָ֖ד יִהְיֶ֣ה לְכֻלָּ֑ם וּבְמִשְׁפָּטַ֣י יֵלֵ֔כוּ וְחֻקֹּתַ֥י יִשְׁמְר֖וּ וְעָשׂ֥וּ אוֹתָֽם:
25And they shall dwell on the land that I have given to My servant, to Jacob, wherein your forefathers lived; and they shall dwell upon it, they and their children and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.		כהוְיָֽשְׁב֣וּ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֚ר נָתַ֙תִּי֙ לְעַבְדִּ֣י לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽשְׁבוּ־בָ֖הּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְיָֽשְׁב֣וּ עָלֶ֡יהָ הֵ֠מָּה וּבְנֵיהֶ֞ם וּבְנֵ֚י בְנֵיהֶם֙ עַד־עוֹלָ֔ם וְדָוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֔י נָשִׂ֥יא לָהֶ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם:
to My servant, to Jacob. As I gave it to Jacob, without boundaries.		לעבדי ליעקב. כעין שנתתיה ליעקב בלי מצרי':
26And I will form a covenant of peace for them, an everlasting covenant shall be with them; and I will establish them and I will multiply them, and I will place My Sanctuary in their midst forever.		כווְכָרַתִּ֚י לָהֶם֙ בְּרִ֣ית שָׁל֔וֹם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָ֖ם יִֽהְיֶ֣ה אוֹתָ֑ם וּנְתַתִּים֙ וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֣י אוֹתָ֔ם וְנָֽתַתִּ֧י אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בְּתוֹכָ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם:
27And My dwelling place shall be over them, and I will be to them for a God, and they shall be to Me as a people.		כזוְהָיָ֚ה מִשְׁכָּנִי֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָהֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וְהֵ֖מָּה יִֽהְיוּ־לִ֥י לְעָֽם:
28And the nations shall know that I am the Lord, Who sanctifies Israel, when My Sanctuary is in their midst forever."		כחוְיָֽדְעוּ֙ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם כִּי אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה מְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בִּֽהְי֧וֹת מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בְּתוֹכָ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם:

Translation of Chumash and Rashi courtesy Chabad House Publications’ forthcoming English Chumash with an annotated translation of Rashi based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, published by Kehot Publications Society. Translated and adapted by Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky, Editor-in-Chief. Rabbi Chaim N. Cunin, Director and General Editor.

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