Saadia's Tafsir on Bereshit 43 (Parashat Miketz)

Bereshit 43:1

וְהָרָעָב כָּבֵד בָּאָרֶץ

And the famine was severe in the land.

Bereshit 43:2

וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר כִּלּוּ לֶאֱכֹל אֶת-הַשֶּׁבֶר אֲשֶׁר הֵבִיאוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם אֲבִיהֶם שֻׁבוּ שִׁבְרוּ-לָנוּ מְעַט-אֹכֶל

. . .

And when they had finished eating the grain-supply which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them: 'Return — buy us a little food.'

Bereshit 43:3

וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו יְהוּדָה לֵאמֹר הָעֵד הֵעִד בָּנוּ הָאִישׁ לֵאמֹר לֹא-תִרְאוּ פָנַי בִּלְתִּי אֲחִיכֶם אִתְּכֶם

. .

Judah said to him: 'The man solemnly warned us, saying, "You shall not see my face except with your brother with you."

Bereshit 43:4

אִם-יֶשְׁךָ מְשַׁלֵּחַ אֶת-אָחִינוּ אִתָּנוּ--נֵרְדָה וְנִשְׁבְּרָה לְךָ אֹכֶל

.

If you send our brother with us, we shall go down and buy food for you.

Bereshit 43:5

וְאִם-אֵינְךָ מְשַׁלֵּחַ לֹא נֵרֵד כִּי-הָאִישׁ אָמַר אֵלֵינוּ לֹא-תִרְאוּ פָנַי בִּלְתִּי אֲחִיכֶם אִתְּכֶם

. .

But if you do not send him, we shall not go down — for the man said to us, "You shall not see my face except with your brother with you."'

Bereshit 43:6

וַיֹּאמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל לָמָה הֲרֵעֹתֶם לִי--לְהַגִּיד לָאִישׁ הַעוֹד לָכֶם אָח

. . .

And Israel said: 'Why have you treated me ill, and told the man that you had still another brother?'

Bereshit 43:7

וַיֹּאמְרוּ שָׁאוֹל שָׁאַל-הָאִישׁ לָנוּ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֵּנוּ לֵאמֹר הַעוֹד אֲבִיכֶם חַי הֲיֵשׁ לָכֶם אָח וַנַּגֶּד-לוֹ עַל-פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הֲיָדוֹעַ נֵדַע--כִּי יֹאמַר הוֹרִידוּ אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם

. . . . . .

They said: 'The man asked specifically about us and about our offspring, saying, "Is your father still alive? And do you have another brother?" And we told him according to the manner of his words. How could we have known that he would say, "Bring down your brother"?'

Bereshit 43:8

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה אֶל-יִשְׂרָאֵל אָבִיו שִׁלְחָה הַנַּעַר אִתִּי--וְנָקוּמָה וְנֵלֵכָה וְנִחְיֶה וְלֹא נָמוּת גַּם-אֲנַחְנוּ גַם-אַתָּה גַּם-טַפֵּנוּ

. . .

Then Judah said to Israel his father: 'Send the boy with us; and let us arise and go, that we may live and not die — we and you and our little ones.

Bereshit 43:9

אָנֹכִי אֶעֶרְבֶנּוּ--מִיָּדִי תְּבַקְשֶׁנּוּ אִם-לֹא הֲבִיאֹתִיו אֵלֶיךָ וְהִצַּגְתִּיו לְפָנֶיךָ וְחָטָאתִי לְךָ כָּל-הַיָּמִים

. . .

I shall be his guarantor; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you, and set him before you, then I shall be at fault before you all my days.

Bereshit 43:10

כִּי לוּלֵא הִתְמַהְמָהְנוּ--כִּי-עַתָּה שַׁבְנוּ זֶה פַעֲמָיִם

.

Had we not lingered, we would by now have returned twice.'

Bereshit 43:11

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבִיהֶם אִם-כֵּן אֵפוֹא זֹאת עֲשׂוּ--קְחוּ מִזִּמְרַת הָאָרֶץ בִּכְלֵיכֶם וְהוֹרִידוּ לָאִישׁ מִנְחָה מְעַט צֳרִי וּמְעַט דְּבַשׁ נְכֹאת וָלֹט בָּטְנִים וּשְׁקֵדִים

. . . . .

Their father Israel said to them: 'If it is so, do this: take of the choice produce of the land in your vessels, and bring down to the man a gift — a little theriac and a little honey, carob and chestnut, terebinth, and almonds.

Bereshit 43:12

וְכֶסֶף מִשְׁנֶה קְחוּ בְיֶדְכֶם וְאֶת-הַכֶּסֶף הַמּוּשָׁב בְּפִי אַמְתְּחֹתֵיכֶם תָּשִׁיבוּ בְיֶדְכֶם--אוּלַי מִשְׁגֶּה הוּא

. .

And take double silver in your hand; and the silver which was returned in the mouths of your sacks, return it with you — perhaps it was an oversight.

Bereshit 43:13

וְאֶת-אֲחִיכֶם קָחוּ וְקוּמוּ שׁוּבוּ אֶל-הָאִישׁ

.

And take your brother; and arise, return to the man.

Bereshit 43:14

וְאֵל שַׁדַּי יִתֵּן לָכֶם רַחֲמִים לִפְנֵי הָאִישׁ וְשִׁלַּח לָכֶם אֶת-אֲחִיכֶם אַחֵר וְאֶת-בִּנְיָמִין וַאֲנִי כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי

. . . .

And the Sufficient Power grant you mercy before him, that he may release to you your other brother along with Benjamin. And as for me, I am afraid — that I be bereaved as I have been bereaved.'

Bereshit 43:15

וַיִּקְחוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים אֶת-הַמִּנְחָה הַזֹּאת וּמִשְׁנֶה-כֶּסֶף לָקְחוּ בְיָדָם וְאֶת-בִּנְיָמִן וַיָּקֻמוּ וַיֵּרְדוּ מִצְרַיִם וַיַּעַמְדוּ לִפְנֵי יוֹסֵף

. . . .

And the men took this gift, and double silver they took with them, and Benjamin; and they arose, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

Bereshit 43:16

וַיַּרְא יוֹסֵף אִתָּם אֶת-בִּנְיָמִין וַיֹּאמֶר לַאֲשֶׁר עַל-בֵּיתוֹ הָבֵא אֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים הַבָּיְתָה וּטְבֹחַ טֶבַח וְהָכֵן כִּי אִתִּי יֹאכְלוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים בַּצָּהֳרָיִם

. . . . .

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his steward: 'Bring the people into the house; slaughter a beast and prepare it — for the people shall eat with me at midday.'

Bereshit 43:17

וַיַּעַשׂ הָאִישׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר יוֹסֵף וַיָּבֵא הָאִישׁ אֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים בֵּיתָה יוֹסֵף

. .

And the man did as Joseph had said; and he brought them to his house.

Bereshit 43:18

וַיִּירְאוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים כִּי הוּבְאוּ בֵּית יוֹסֵף וַיֹּאמְרוּ עַל-דְּבַר הַכֶּסֶף הַשָּׁב בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּ בַּתְּחִלָּה אֲנַחְנוּ מוּבָאִים--לְהִתְגֹּלֵל עָלֵינוּ וּלְהִתְנַפֵּל עָלֵינוּ וְלָקַחַת אֹתָנוּ לַעֲבָדִים וְאֶת-חֲמֹרֵינוּ

. . . . . .

And the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph's house; and they said: 'On account of the silver which was returned in our sacks at the first, we are being brought in — that he may seek a pretext against us, and fall upon us, and take us as slaves, and seize our donkeys.'

Bereshit 43:19

וַיִּגְּשׁוּ אֶל-הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר עַל-בֵּית יוֹסֵף וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֵלָיו פֶּתַח הַבָּיִת

.

And they drew near to Joseph's steward, and spoke with him at the door of the house.

Bereshit 43:20

וַיֹּאמְרוּ בִּי אֲדֹנִי יָרֹד יָרַדְנוּ בַּתְּחִלָּה לִשְׁבָּר-אֹכֶל

.

And they said: 'My lord — we came down at the first to buy food.

Bereshit 43:21

וַיְהִי כִּי-בָאנוּ אֶל-הַמָּלוֹן וַנִּפְתְּחָה אֶת-אַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּ וְהִנֵּה כֶסֶף-אִישׁ בְּפִי אַמְתַּחְתּוֹ כַּסְפֵּנוּ בְּמִשְׁקָלוֹ וַנָּשֶׁב אֹתוֹ בְּיָדֵנוּ

. . . .

And it was, when we came to the lodging-place, we opened our sacks — and behold, each man's silver was in his sack, our silver by its weight; and we have brought it back with us.

Bereshit 43:22

וְכֶסֶף אַחֵר הוֹרַדְנוּ בְיָדֵנוּ לִשְׁבָּר-אֹכֶל לֹא יָדַעְנוּ מִי-שָׂם כַּסְפֵּנוּ בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּ

. . .

And other silver we have brought down with us to buy food. We do not know who placed our silver in our sacks.'

Bereshit 43:23

וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁלוֹם לָכֶם אַל-תִּירָאוּ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבִיכֶם נָתַן לָכֶם מַטְמוֹן בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵיכֶם--כַּסְפְּכֶם בָּא אֵלָי וַיּוֹצֵא אֲלֵהֶם אֶת-שִׁמְעוֹן

. . .

He said: 'Peace to you; do not fear. Your God, and the God of your father, has granted you a treasure in your sacks; your silver came to me.' Then he brought out Simeon to them.

Bereshit 43:24

וַיָּבֵא הָאִישׁ אֶת-הָאֲנָשִׁים בֵּיתָה יוֹסֵף וַיִּתֶּן-מַיִם וַיִּרְחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיהֶם וַיִּתֵּן מִסְפּוֹא לַחֲמֹרֵיהֶם

. . .

And when the man brought the people into Joseph's house, he gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he put down fodder for their donkeys.

Bereshit 43:25

וַיָּכִינוּ אֶת-הַמִּנְחָה עַד-בּוֹא יוֹסֵף בַּצָּהֳרָיִם כִּי שָׁמְעוּ כִּי-שָׁם יֹאכְלוּ לָחֶם

. . .

And they prepared the gift, until Joseph came at midday — for they heard that they would eat there.

Bereshit 43:26

וַיָּבֹא יוֹסֵף הַבַּיְתָה וַיָּבִיאּוּ לוֹ אֶת-הַמִּנְחָה אֲשֶׁר-בְּיָדָם הַבָּיְתָה וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ-לוֹ אָרְצָה

. .

And when Joseph came to his house, they brought him the gift which was with them into the house; and they bowed down to him upon the earth.

Bereshit 43:27

וַיִּשְׁאַל לָהֶם לְשָׁלוֹם וַיֹּאמֶר הֲשָׁלוֹם אֲבִיכֶם הַזָּקֵן אֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּם--הַעוֹדֶנּוּ חָי

. .

And he asked them concerning their welfare, and said: 'Is your aged father, of whom you spoke, still alive? Is he well?'

Bereshit 43:28

וַיֹּאמְרוּ שָׁלוֹם לְעַבְדְּךָ לְאָבִינוּ--עוֹדֶנּוּ חָי וַיִּקְּדוּ וישתחו (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ)

. .

They said: 'Your servant our father is still alive, and he is well.' Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves.

Bereshit 43:29

וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא אֶת-בִּנְיָמִין אָחִיו בֶּן-אִמּוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר הֲזֶה אֲחִיכֶם הַקָּטֹן אֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּם אֵלָי וַיֹּאמַר אֱלֹהִים יָחְנְךָ בְּנִי

. . . . . .

Then he lifted up his eyes, and looked upon Benjamin his brother, his mother's son; and he said: 'Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?' Then he said: 'May God be gracious to you, my son.'

Bereshit 43:30

וַיְמַהֵר יוֹסֵף כִּי-נִכְמְרוּ רַחֲמָיו אֶל-אָחִיו וַיְבַקֵּשׁ לִבְכּוֹת וַיָּבֹא הַחַדְרָה וַיֵּבְךְּ שָׁמָּה

. . .

And Joseph hastened — for his compassion was stirred toward his brother — and he sought to weep; and he entered the chamber, and wept there.

Bereshit 43:31

וַיִּרְחַץ פָּנָיו וַיֵּצֵא וַיִּתְאַפַּק--וַיֹּאמֶר שִׂימוּ לָחֶם

. .

Then he washed his face, and came out, and restrained himself, and said: 'Set out the food.'

Bereshit 43:32

וַיָּשִׂימוּ לוֹ לְבַדּוֹ וְלָהֶם לְבַדָּם וְלַמִּצְרִים הָאֹכְלִים אִתּוֹ לְבַדָּם--כִּי לֹא יוּכְלוּן הַמִּצְרִים לֶאֱכֹל אֶת-הָעִבְרִים לֶחֶם כִּי-תוֹעֵבָה הִוא לְמִצְרָיִם

. . . . .

And they set out for him alone, and for them alone, and for the Egyptians who ate with him alone — for the Egyptians cannot eat with the Hebrews at the same food, for it is an abomination to them.

Bereshit 43:33

וַיֵּשְׁבוּ לְפָנָיו--הַבְּכֹר כִּבְכֹרָתוֹ וְהַצָּעִיר כִּצְעִרָתוֹ וַיִּתְמְהוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים אִישׁ אֶל-רֵעֵהוּ

. . .

And he seated them before him — the firstborn according to his rank, and the youngest according to his rank; and the men marveled, each one with his neighbor.

Bereshit 43:34

וַיִּשָּׂא מַשְׂאֹת מֵאֵת פָּנָיו אֲלֵהֶם וַתֵּרֶב מַשְׂאַת בִּנְיָמִן מִמַּשְׂאֹת כֻּלָּם חָמֵשׁ יָדוֹת וַיִּשְׁתּוּ וַיִּשְׁכְּרוּ עִמּוֹ

. . . .

And portions were brought from before him to them; and Benjamin's portions were five times more than their portions. And they drank with him until they were drunk.