Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Vayigash Rishon: Yehuda contends with Yosef to release Binyamin (Sunday, 1st Teves)

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Parshas Vayigash

Pesukim: 106  [Siman: יהללאל]

Haftorah: Yechezkal 37:15-28

 

Number of Mitzvos:

There are no Positive or Negative commands mentioned in Parshas Vayigash.

 

 

Rishon

  1. Yehuda contends with Yosef to release Binyamin:
    • Yehuda confronted Yosef and asked to speak, saying that Yosef is like Pharaoh. Yehuda recounted to Yosef the chain of events of how he was asked to provide information about his family.
    • Yehuda recalled: We stated to you that our youngest brother was home, and you then requested that he be brought before you. We implored you not to make this request, as bringing down our youngest brother can cause the premature death of Yaakov. You replied that we will not be able to see you again until we do so.
    • “When we came to our father and recounted what you asked, our father refused to send our youngest brother, due to fear that tragedy may befall him on the way. If we now return without Binyamin [this could have tragic consequences on Yaakov’s health as] his soul is interconnected with his [i.e. Binyamin’s] soul.”

Q&A from Rashi

Q1: What does “דָבָר בְּאָזְנֵי אֲדֹנִי” mean in Yehudah’s plea?

A: Rashi explains it means “May my words enter your ears”—a request for Yosef to listen attentively.

 

Q2: Why does Yehudah say “וְאַל־יִחַר אַפְּךָ” (Do not become angry)?

A: From here we learn that Yehudah spoke harshly and boldly, fearing Yosef’s wrath.

 

Q3: What is the meaning of “כִּי כָמוֹךָ כְּפַרְעֹה” (For you are the equal of Pharaoh)?

A:

  • Peshat (simple meaning): Yosef is as important as Pharaoh.
  • Midrashic explanations:
    1. You will be stricken with tzara’at like Pharaoh was for detaining Sarah.
    2. Just as Pharaoh makes promises but does not fulfill them, so do you.
    3. If you anger me, I will kill you and your master!

 

Q4: Why did Yehudah accuse Yosef of asking unnecessary questions about their family?

A: Rashi says Yehudah argued: “Were we asking for your daughter in marriage or you for our sister? Why did you need to ask about our father and brother?”

 

Q5: Why did the brothers say “וְאָחִיו מֵת” (His brother is dead) when Yosef was alive?

A: Out of fear—they worried Yosef would demand to see him if they admitted he was alive.

 

Q6: What does “וְעָזַב אֶת־אָבִיו וָמֵֽת” mean?

A: Rashi explains they feared Binyamin might die on the journey, as his mother Rachel died traveling.

 

Q7: Why does Yaakov say “וְקָרָהוּ אָסוֹן” (If disaster befalls him)?

A: Rashi teaches that Satan prosecutes at times of danger, increasing risk during travel.

 

Q8: What is the deeper meaning of “וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּם אֶת־שֵֽׂיבָתִי” (You will bring my white-haired head down to the grave)?

A: Rashi explains that losing Binyamin would feel like losing Rachel and Yosef on the same day, leaving Yaakov inconsolable.

 

Q9: Why does Yehudah emphasize “נַפְשׁוֹ קְשׁוּרָה בְנַפְשׁוֹ” (His soul is bound up with his soul)?

A: To show Yosef that Binyamin’s absence would break Yaakov completely, as their lives are intertwined.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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