Daily Chumash & Rashi Mikeitz Chamishi The brothers return to their father who refuses to send Binyamin (Thursday, 28th Kisleiv)

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Chamishi

  • Yosef said that one brother will remain imprisoned while the remainder can travel home and bring food for their families, and then bring back the youngest brother in order so they can prove their claim and not die. The brothers did as they were told.
  • The brothers bemoan what they did to Yosef: The brothers turned to each other and said “We are guilty over what we did to our brother, when we saw him pleading with us from his suffering, and we ignored him. This is why this suffering has come upon us.” Reuvein replied saying “Did I not tell you to not sin with the lad and you guys did not listen to me. Now, we are being held accountable for his blood.” They did not know that Yosef understood what they were saying, as he had the interpreter present. Yosef walked away from them and cried.
  • The brothers are sent off and Shimon is imprisoned: Yosef returned and placed Shimon in prison, in front of them. Yosef commanded that their bags be filled with food and their money should be replaced, each person in his bag. They should also be given food for the journey, and so was done.
  • The return journey: The brothers traveled with their bags on their donkeys, and during one of their rest stops, one of the brothers noticed that his money was returned to his bag. After he informed his brothers they were very frightened and exclaimed “What has G-d done to us?”

The brothers return home to get Binyamin:

  • The brothers report back to Yaakov: The brothers arrived home and told their father Yaakov all that had occurred, and that the leader of the land spoke with them very harshly and accused them of being spies. “We denied the claims, saying that we are a family of 12 brothers, and the youngest has remained home, and the leader instructed us to prove our innocence by bringing our younger brother back with us.”
  • The brothers discover their moneys were returned: As each brother opened his sack they discovered that their bags of money were all returned.
  • Yaakov refuses to send Binyamin: Yaakov lamented, saying “You have orphaned me. Yosef is no longer; Shimon is no longer and now you want to take Binyamin. Reuvein offered to take responsibility of Binyamin, and that his two sons be put to death if he does not return him. Yaakov refused the offer, as his brother had a tragedy occur to him, and Binyamin is all he has left.
  • Yaakov runs out of food and is forced to send Binyamin: The famine was very severe, and when all the food that was brought from Egypt was consumed, Yaakov instructed his sons to return to Egypt and buy food. Yehuda told his father that the leader forewarned them that they will not receive an audience unless they bring their brother back with them. Yehuda gave his father an ultimatum: “If you agree to send our brother with us we will go and buy you food, otherwise we will not go.” Yisrael replied to them “Why did you cause me evil and tell the man that you have a brother.” The brothers replied that the man inquired about their family and we answered truthfully. “Could we have known that he would ask us to bring our brother down?” Yehuda spoke and told his father that he will be responsible for Binyamin’s return and if he does not bring him back, he will be held accountable for all his days. “Let us go and live and not die. If we had not delayed until now, we could have returned already twice.” Yisrael their father consented and instructed his sons to take from the products of the land as a gift to the leader. “Take some balsam, honey, wax, birthwort, pistachios, and almonds. Take with you a double sum of money, and bring with you the money’s that were returned to your bags. May Hashem grant you mercy before the man and he will release your other brother and send him with you, with Binyamin.

The brothers travel with Binyamin to Mitzrayim and meet the viceroy:

  • The brothers did as they were instructed, and took with them the presents, the moneys, and Binyamin and appeared before Yosef.

Q&A on Rashi

 

Q1: What did Joseph demand from his brothers to prove they were truthful?

A: Joseph told them to leave one brother as a hostage in prison while the rest returned home with grain for their families. They were then required to bring their youngest brother to Egypt to confirm their honesty (Genesis 42:19–20).

 

Q2: What does the phrase “בְּבֵית מִשְׁמַרְכֶם” mean?

A: Literally “in your house of custody,” it refers to the place where they were imprisoned.

Q3: Why did Joseph weep after speaking to his brothers?

A: He overheard them expressing remorse for what they had done to him years earlier. This moved him deeply, so he turned aside and wept (Genesis 42:24).

 

Q4: Who was taken as a hostage in Egypt?

A: Simeon was chosen and bound before their eyes. Later, Joseph secretly treated him well and gave him food and drink.

 

Q5: What was the brothers’ reaction when they found their money in their sacks?

A: They were terrified and said, “What is this that God has done to us?” fearing it was a setup for an accusation (Genesis 42:28).

 

Q6: How did Jacob react when he heard the report and saw the returned money?

A: He lamented, “You are bereaving me of my sons! Joseph is gone, Simeon is gone, and now you want to take Benjamin!” (Genesis 42:36).

 

Q7: What was Reuben’s offer to convince Jacob to send Benjamin?

A: Reuben rashly offered that Jacob could kill his two sons if he failed to bring Benjamin back. Jacob rejected this offer as foolish (Genesis 42:37–38).

 

Q8: What does “הָעֵד הֵעִד” mean in Genesis 43:3?

A: It means “sternly warned.” The root relates to testimony (עֵד), as warnings are given before witnesses.

 

Q9: What gifts did Jacob instruct his sons to take to Egypt?

A: Choice products of Canaan: stacte, honey, beeswax, lotus, pistachios, and almonds (Genesis 43:11).

 

Q10: What is the meaning of “אֵל שַׁדַּי” in Jacob’s prayer?

A: “God Almighty,” meaning the One who is sufficient in granting mercy. Midrashically, it refers to the God who said “Enough!” at creation, now asked to say “Enough!” to Jacob’s troubles (Genesis 43:14).

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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