Saadia's Tafsir on Bereshit 42 (Parashat Miketz)

Bereshit 42:1

וַיַּרְא יַעֲקֹב כִּי יֶשׁ-שֶׁבֶר בְּמִצְרָיִם וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב לְבָנָיו לָמָּה תִּתְרָאוּ

. . .

And Jacob heard that grain-supply was available in Egypt; and he said to his sons: 'Do not delay.'

Bereshit 42:2

וַיֹּאמֶר--הִנֵּה שָׁמַעְתִּי כִּי יֶשׁ-שֶׁבֶר בְּמִצְרָיִם רְדוּ-שָׁמָּה וְשִׁבְרוּ-לָנוּ מִשָּׁם וְנִחְיֶה וְלֹא נָמוּת

. .

He said: 'Behold, I have heard that grain-supply is available in Egypt. Go down there, and buy us some from it; and we shall live, and not die.'

Bereshit 42:3

וַיֵּרְדוּ אֲחֵי-יוֹסֵף עֲשָׂרָה לִשְׁבֹּר בָּר מִמִּצְרָיִם

.

And Joseph's ten brothers went down, to buy grain from Egypt.

Bereshit 42:4

וְאֶת-בִּנְיָמִין אֲחִי יוֹסֵף לֹא-שָׁלַח יַעֲקֹב אֶת-אֶחָיו כִּי אָמַר פֶּן-יִקְרָאֶנּוּ אָסוֹן

. . .

But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob did not send with his brothers; for he said: 'Lest calamity befall him.'

Bereshit 42:5

וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִשְׁבֹּר בְּתוֹךְ הַבָּאִים כִּי-הָיָה הָרָעָב בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן

. .

And the children of Israel came to buy grain among those who came — for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

Bereshit 42:6

וְיוֹסֵף הוּא הַשַּׁלִּיט עַל-הָאָרֶץ--הוּא הַמַּשְׁבִּיר לְכָל-עַם הָאָרֶץ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֲחֵי יוֹסֵף וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ-לוֹ אַפַּיִם אָרְצָה

. . . .

And Joseph was the governor of the land; and he was the one supplying all the people. And his brothers came, and bowed down before him with their faces upon the earth.

Bereshit 42:7

וַיַּרְא יוֹסֵף אֶת-אֶחָיו וַיַּכִּרֵם וַיִּתְנַכֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם וַיְדַבֵּר אִתָּם קָשׁוֹת וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם מֵאַיִן בָּאתֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ מֵאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן לִשְׁבָּר-אֹכֶל

. . . . .

And Joseph saw his brothers, and identified them; but he made himself a stranger to them, and spoke harshly with them, and said to them: 'Where do you come from?' They said: 'From the land of Canaan, to buy food.'

Bereshit 42:8

וַיַּכֵּר יוֹסֵף אֶת-אֶחָיו וְהֵם לֹא הִכִּרֻהוּ

.

And Joseph identified his brothers with certainty, though they did not identify him.

Bereshit 42:9

וַיִּזְכֹּר יוֹסֵף--אֵת הַחֲלֹמוֹת אֲשֶׁר חָלַם לָהֶם וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם לִרְאוֹת אֶת-עֶרְוַת הָאָרֶץ בָּאתֶם

. . .

And when he recalled the dreams which he had seen about them, he said to them: 'You are spies. You have come only to see the weak points of the land.'

Bereshit 42:10

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו לֹא אֲדֹנִי וַעֲבָדֶיךָ בָּאוּ לִשְׁבָּר-אֹכֶל

They said to him: 'No, my lord — but your servants have come to buy food.

Bereshit 42:11

כֻּלָּנוּ בְּנֵי אִישׁ-אֶחָד נָחְנוּ כֵּנִים אֲנַחְנוּ לֹא-הָיוּ עֲבָדֶיךָ מְרַגְּלִים

. .

We are all sons of one man; we are trustworthy. Your servants have never been spies.'

Bereshit 42:12

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם לֹא כִּי-עֶרְוַת הָאָרֶץ בָּאתֶם לִרְאוֹת

.

He said to them: 'No — you have come only to see the weak points of the land.'

Bereshit 42:13

וַיֹּאמְרוּ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר עֲבָדֶיךָ אַחִים אֲנַחְנוּ בְּנֵי אִישׁ-אֶחָד--בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן וְהִנֵּה הַקָּטֹן אֶת-אָבִינוּ הַיּוֹם וְהָאֶחָד אֵינֶנּוּ

. . .

They said: 'Your servants are twelve brothers, sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father this day; and one is no more.'

Bereshit 42:14

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יוֹסֵף הוּא אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי אֲלֵכֶם לֵאמֹר--מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם

.

Joseph said to them: 'It is as I said to you — you are spies.

Bereshit 42:15

בְּזֹאת תִּבָּחֵנוּ חֵי פַרְעֹה אִם-תֵּצְאוּ מִזֶּה כִּי אִם-בְּבוֹא אֲחִיכֶם הַקָּטֹן הֵנָּה

. .

By this shall you be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not depart from here unless your youngest brother comes here.

Bereshit 42:16

שִׁלְחוּ מִכֶּם אֶחָד וְיִקַּח אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם וְאַתֶּם הֵאָסְרוּ וְיִבָּחֲנוּ דִּבְרֵיכֶם הַאֱמֶת אִתְּכֶם וְאִם-לֹא--חֵי פַרְעֹה כִּי מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם

. . . . .

Send one of you to bring your brother and present him; and you shall be held in custody — that your words may be tested, whether truth is with you; and if not — by the life of Pharaoh, you are spies.'

Bereshit 42:17

וַיֶּאֱסֹף אֹתָם אֶל-מִשְׁמָר שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים

.

And he placed them in custody for three days.

Bereshit 42:18

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יוֹסֵף בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי זֹאת עֲשׂוּ וִחְיוּ אֶת-הָאֱלֹהִים אֲנִי יָרֵא

. .

And on the third day Joseph said to them: 'Do this and live — for I fear God concerning you.

Bereshit 42:19

אִם-כֵּנִים אַתֶּם--אֲחִיכֶם אֶחָד יֵאָסֵר בְּבֵית מִשְׁמַרְכֶם וְאַתֶּם לְכוּ הָבִיאוּ שֶׁבֶר רַעֲבוֹן בָּתֵּיכֶם

. . . .

If you are trustworthy, let one of you be held in your house of custody; and you, go and convey grain for the hunger of your households.

Bereshit 42:20

וְאֶת-אֲחִיכֶם הַקָּטֹן תָּבִיאוּ אֵלַי וְיֵאָמְנוּ דִבְרֵיכֶם וְלֹא תָמוּתוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ-כֵן

. .

And bring your youngest brother to me, that your words may be verified, and you shall not perish.' And they did so.

Bereshit 42:21

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו אֲבָל אֲשֵׁמִים אֲנַחְנוּ עַל-אָחִינוּ אֲשֶׁר רָאִינוּ צָרַת נַפְשׁוֹ בְּהִתְחַנְנוֹ אֵלֵינוּ וְלֹא שָׁמָעְנוּ עַל-כֵּן בָּאָה אֵלֵינוּ הַצָּרָה הַזֹּאת

. . . .

Then they said one to another: 'Indeed we are guilty concerning our brother — for we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we did not accept from him; therefore this distress has come upon us.'

Bereshit 42:22

וַיַּעַן רְאוּבֵן אֹתָם לֵאמֹר הֲלוֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם לֵאמֹר אַל-תֶּחֶטְאוּ בַיֶּלֶד--וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם וְגַם-דָּמוֹ הִנֵּה נִדְרָשׁ

. .

And Reuben answered them, saying: 'Did I not say to you, "Do not sin against the boy" — and you did not accept? And now, behold, his blood is required.'

Bereshit 42:23

וְהֵם לֹא יָדְעוּ כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ יוֹסֵף כִּי הַמֵּלִיץ בֵּינֹתָם

. .

And they did not know that Joseph understood — for he had set up an interpreter between him and them.

Bereshit 42:24

וַיִּסֹּב מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וַיֵּבְךְּ וַיָּשָׁב אֲלֵהֶם וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵהֶם וַיִּקַּח מֵאִתָּם אֶת-שִׁמְעוֹן וַיֶּאֱסֹר אֹתוֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶם

. . .

And he turned away from them, and wept. Then he returned to them and spoke with them; and he took from among them Simeon, and bound him in their presence.

Bereshit 42:25

וַיְצַו יוֹסֵף וַיְמַלְאוּ אֶת-כְּלֵיהֶם בָּר וּלְהָשִׁיב כַּסְפֵּיהֶם אִישׁ אֶל-שַׂקּוֹ וְלָתֵת לָהֶם צֵדָה לַדָּרֶךְ וַיַּעַשׂ לָהֶם כֵּן

. .

And Joseph commanded — and they filled their vessels with grain, and returned each man's silver to his sack; and he gave them provisions for the way. And when he had done so for them,

Bereshit 42:26

וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת-שִׁבְרָם עַל-חֲמֹרֵיהֶם וַיֵּלְכוּ מִשָּׁם

.

they loaded their grain upon their donkeys, and went from there.

Bereshit 42:27

וַיִּפְתַּח הָאֶחָד אֶת-שַׂקּוֹ לָתֵת מִסְפּוֹא לַחֲמֹרוֹ--בַּמָּלוֹן וַיַּרְא אֶת-כַּסְפּוֹ וְהִנֵּה-הוּא בְּפִי אַמְתַּחְתּוֹ

. . . .

Then one of them opened his sack, to put down fodder for his donkey at the lodging-place; and he saw his silver — and behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.

Bereshit 42:28

וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל-אֶחָיו הוּשַׁב כַּסְפִּי וְגַם הִנֵּה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּי וַיֵּצֵא לִבָּם וַיֶּחֶרְדוּ אִישׁ אֶל-אָחִיו לֵאמֹר מַה-זֹּאת עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לָנוּ

. . . .

And he said to his brothers: 'My silver has been returned — and behold, it is in my sack!' And their hearts shook; and each one was terrified with his brother, saying: 'What is this that God has done to us?'

Bereshit 42:29

וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל-יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם אַרְצָה כְּנָעַן וַיַּגִּידוּ לוֹ אֵת כָּל-הַקֹּרֹת אֹתָם לֵאמֹר

. . .

And they came to Jacob their father, to the land of Canaan; and they told him all that had befallen them, saying:

Bereshit 42:30

דִּבֶּר הָאִישׁ אֲדֹנֵי הָאָרֶץ אִתָּנוּ--קָשׁוֹת וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָנוּ כִּמְרַגְּלִים אֶת-הָאָרֶץ

.

'The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly with us, and accused us of spying on the land.

Bereshit 42:31

וַנֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו כֵּנִים אֲנָחְנוּ לֹא הָיִינוּ מְרַגְּלִים

.

We said to him, "We are trustworthy; we have never been spies.

Bereshit 42:32

שְׁנֵים-עָשָׂר אֲנַחְנוּ אַחִים בְּנֵי אָבִינוּ הָאֶחָד אֵינֶנּוּ וְהַקָּטֹן הַיּוֹם אֶת-אָבִינוּ בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן

. . .

We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of Canaan."

Bereshit 42:33

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֵינוּ הָאִישׁ אֲדֹנֵי הָאָרֶץ בְּזֹאת אֵדַע כִּי כֵנִים אַתֶּם אֲחִיכֶם הָאֶחָד הַנִּיחוּ אִתִּי וְאֶת-רַעֲבוֹן בָּתֵּיכֶם קְחוּ וָלֵכוּ

. . .

Then the man said to us, "By this I shall know that you are trustworthy: leave one of you with me, and take grain for the hunger of your households, and go.

Bereshit 42:34

וְהָבִיאוּ אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם הַקָּטֹן אֵלַי וְאֵדְעָה כִּי לֹא מְרַגְּלִים אַתֶּם כִּי כֵנִים אַתֶּם אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם אֶתֵּן לָכֶם וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ תִּסְחָרוּ

. . .

And bring your youngest brother to me, that I may know you are trustworthy and not spies; then I shall give you your brother, and you may trade in the land."'

Bereshit 42:35

וַיְהִי הֵם מְרִיקִים שַׂקֵּיהֶם וְהִנֵּה-אִישׁ צְרוֹר-כַּסְפּוֹ בְּשַׂקּוֹ וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת-צְרֹרוֹת כַּסְפֵּיהֶם הֵמָּה וַאֲבִיהֶם--וַיִּירָאוּ

. .

And as they emptied their sacks — behold, each man's bundle of silver was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of silver, they were afraid.

Bereshit 42:36

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יַעֲקֹב אֲבִיהֶם אֹתִי שִׁכַּלְתֶּם יוֹסֵף אֵינֶנּוּ וְשִׁמְעוֹן אֵינֶנּוּ וְאֶת-בִּנְיָמִן תִּקָּחוּ עָלַי הָיוּ כֻלָּנָה

. .

And Jacob their father said to them: 'You have bereaved me. Joseph is no more, and Simeon is held, and you would take Benjamin! Upon me all these things have come.'

Bereshit 42:37

וַיֹּאמֶר רְאוּבֵן אֶל-אָבִיו לֵאמֹר אֶת-שְׁנֵי בָנַי תָּמִית אִם-לֹא אֲבִיאֶנּוּ אֵלֶיךָ תְּנָה אֹתוֹ עַל-יָדִי וַאֲנִי אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ אֵלֶיךָ

. . . .

And Reuben said to him: 'You may put to death my two sons, if I do not return him to you. Give him into my hand, and I shall return him to you.'

Bereshit 42:38

וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא-יֵרֵד בְּנִי עִמָּכֶם כִּי-אָחִיו מֵת וְהוּא לְבַדּוֹ נִשְׁאָר וּקְרָאָהוּ אָסוֹן בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר תֵּלְכוּ-בָהּ וְהוֹרַדְתֶּם אֶת-שֵׂיבָתִי בְּיָגוֹן שְׁאוֹלָה

. . . . . .

He said: 'My son shall not go down with you — for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If calamity should befall him on the way which you go, you would bring down my old age with sorrow to the dust.'