Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Vayigash Shelishi: Yosef instructs his brothers and asks them to bring their father to Mitzrayim (Tuesday, 3rd Teves)

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Shelishi

  • “It is not you who sent me here, but G-d, in order to become ruler of Egypt.”
  1. Yosef instructs his brothers and asks them to bring their father to Mitzrayim:
    • The proposition: Yosef told his brothers to hurry and go back to father and tell him that his son Yosef has become ruler of all Egypt, and that he should come to him. “You will be given the settlement of Goshen to live. You will be close to me, as well as your children and grandchildren, and cattle. I will support you for the remaining five years of famine, lest you all starve.” Yosef then turned to his brothers and said “Your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Binyamin, that it is I who speaks to you. Go tell father of all the honor I have in Egypt, and go and hurry to bring father down here.”
    • The embracing of Yosef and his brothers: Yosef fell on the neck of Binyamin, and he cried, and Binyamin cried on his shoulder. Yosef kissed each one of his brothers and cried on them, and then the brothers spoke to him.
    • Pharaoh instructs Yosef to instruct the brothers/father: The house of Pharaoh heard of the arrival of Yosef’s brothers, and it found favor in his eyes and the eyes of his servants. Pharaoh instructed Yosef to tell his brothers to take back their loaded donkeys and return to the land of Canaan. “Go bring your father, and household, and I will provide you the best of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.”

Revi’i (according to most Chumashim)

  • “Take from Egypt wagons for your children and wives, and carry back your father. Don’t worry of leaving your items, as the best of the land of Egypt is yours.”
  • The brothers listened to the instructions.
    • The presents: Yosef gave the brothers wagons as Pharaoh instructed, and he gave them food for the journey. Everyone received clothing. Binyamin received five pairs of clothing and 300 silver coins. To his father, Yosef sent ten donkeys carrying the best of Egypt. Ten mules carrying bread and food for his father for the journey.
    • The message: The brothers went off on their journey, with a parting message from Yosef, telling them not to quarrel on the journey.
  1. Yaakov is informed that Yosef is alive:
    • The brothers left Egypt and arrived by Yaakov their father.
    • They told him that Yosef is alive and he is ruler of Egypt. Yaakov did not believe them. They told him all the words of Yosef, and Yaakov saw the wagons that Yosef sent from Egypt to carry him, and Yaakov’s spirit was revived.

Revi’i (according to Torah Temima/Chabad) Chamishi (according to most Chumashim)

Q&A on Rashi

According to Rashi, what does Yosef mean when he says “It was not you who sent me here, but G‑d”?
Yosef means that G‑d made him Pharaoh’s colleague and counselor, “as a father” to Pharaoh.

Why does Yosef say “Go up to my father” instead of “Go to my father”? (Rashi)
Because the Land of Israel is higher than all other lands.

What does Yosef promise his family regarding the famine? (Rashi)
He will provide for them in Goshen so they will not become impoverished.

How does Rashi explain “lest you become impoverished”?
It means “lest you become poor,” from the same root as “G‑d impoverishes and makes rich.”

What proof does Yosef give his brothers that he is truly Yosef? (Rashi)
He shows his honor, that he is circumcised, and speaks Hebrew—the Holy Language.

Why does Yosef mention Binyamin specifically when speaking to his brothers? (Rashi)
He equates them all, showing he has no hatred toward Binyamin, and likewise none toward the others.

What does Rashi say about Yosef and Binyamin weeping on each other’s necks?
Yosef wept for the two Holy Temples destined to be in Binyamin’s territory and destroyed; Binyamin wept for the Tabernacle of Shiloh in Yosef’s territory that would be destroyed.

Why did Yosef’s brothers only speak to him after he wept on their necks? (Rashi)
Once they saw he was fully reconciled, their embarrassment faded and they conversed with him.

What does “Pharaoh’s palace” mean in Rashi’s commentary?
It means Pharaoh’s household, not a physical house.

What does Pharaoh command Yosef’s brothers to do? (Rashi)
To load their animals with produce and bring their father and families to Egypt.

What is “the choicest part of Egypt” according to Rashi?
The land of Goshen.

What does “the fat of the land” mean? (Rashi)
It always connotes “the best part.”

Why does Pharaoh tell Yosef to command his brothers to take wagons? (Rashi)
To clarify that it is with Pharaoh’s permission.

What does Yosef send to his father, and what does Rashi say about it?
He sends ten donkeys with Egypt’s finest delicacies, similar to Pharaoh’s gift; Rashi says he sent vintage wine and split beans.

What does Yosef mean by “Do not be hurried on the journey”? (Rashi)
Do not get involved in halachic discussions, do not take long steps, and enter cities before sunset; also, do not quarrel about having sold him.

What sign did Yosef send to Yaakov to prove his identity? (Rashi)
He sent a sign about the section of the decapitated calf (עֶגְלָה) they had studied together.

What happened to Yaakov’s spirit when he saw the wagons? (Rashi)
The Divine Presence returned and rested upon him again.

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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