1)

What was it about Yosef seeing Binyamin that made him want to cry?

1.

Rashi: After telling Yosef that he had one maternal brother who had gone missing, Binyamin explained to him how his ten sons were all named in his honor. 1 Understandably, Yosef had difficulty in stopping the tears from flowing. 2

2.

Seforno: He cried because he empathized with the suffering that his father and brothers were going through. 3

3.

Ha'amek Davar: He was pained that he cannot reveal himself, and he will need to pain him through the cup (in order to fulfill the second dream).


1

Rashi: Bela - because he was swallowed up among the nations; Becher - he was the Bechor of his mother; Ashbel - Hashem caused him to be captured; Gera - he was a stranger; Na'aman - he was exceptionally pleasing; Echi and Rosh - he was my brother and my leader, Mupim - he learned Torah from my father; Chupim - he did not see my Chupah, nor did I see his; Ard - he descended among the nations.

2

Oznayim la'Torah: And that explains why it would not have been sufficient to merely turn around and weep - but to leave the room and let the tears flow. He wept [additionally], for he inferred from their answer that his grandfather Yitzchak was no longer alive (refer to 43:27:152:1).

3

Even though the Pasuk implies that it was due to his brother (singular, i.e. Binyamin)! (EC)

2)

What is the translation of "Ki Nichmeru Rachamav"?

1.

Rashi: It means 'because his mercy became hot.' 1

2.

Targum Onkelos: It means 'because his mercy was aroused.'

3.

Targum Yonasan: It means 'because his mercy was stirred.'


1

Rashi: As in Bava Metzia 74a; and in Eichah 5:10.

3)

What is the room to which Yosef went to cry?

1.

Ha'amek Davar: It is an inner room to which only Yosef would enter.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

4)

Rashi writes: "Binyamin said to Yosef, 'I have ten [sons]... They are all named after my brother, and the troubles that befell him.'" Why did Binyamin father specifically the number of ten sons?

1.

Maharal (Chidushei Agados Vol. 2, p. 73, to Sotah 36b): Yosef was to Yaakov like a branch is to the tree; 1 it resembles the tree, but is not in itself complete. Yosef had the potential to father twelve tribes, just as his father Yaakov had. Due to the seed lost in the incident with Potifar's wife, 2 the potential was not actualized in Yosef himself; but rather in his brother Binyamin's sons.


1

Also refer to 37:2:1.09:1.

2

Refer to 37:2:1.1:1.

5)

Rashi writes: "I have ten [sons]... all named after my brother, and the troubles that befell him." Do all the names allude to Yosef's troubles?

1.

Gur Aryeh: Five of the names allude to Yosef's greatness, and only five directly to his troubles. 1 But the distress caused by these sorrows was that much more, because it came after such greatness.


1

See 40:30:1:1*. Gur Aryeh divides these names into five corresponding pairs. Also see Maharal (Chidushei Agados Vol. 2, p. 74, to Sotah 36b).

6)

Rashi writes: "They are all named after my brother, and the troubles that befell him;" (see 40:30:1:1*). But the order in which the names allude to Yosef's greatness, or alternatively to his sorrow, seems to be haphazard?

1.

Gur Aryeh: Binyamin arranged the names such that there would not be three negative names in a row, as three creates a pattern of Chazakah. On the other hand, four positive names do appear in a row. 1


1

Gur Aryeh: The five names alluding to Yosef's troubles are (1) Bela, (3) Ashbel, (4) Gera, (9) Chupim, (10) Ard. The names alluding to his greatness are (2) Becher, (5) Na'aman, (6) Echi, (7) Rosh, (8) Mupim.

7)

Rashi writes: "Echi; he was my brother." What is meant by this name?

1.

Gur Aryeh: This means Yosef was one of the most significant among the brothers.

8)

Rashi writes: "Rosh; he was my Rosh" (lit. my head, my leader). What is the meaning behind this name?

1.

Gur Aryeh: Yosef is described as the "Rosh ha'Mitah" [of Yaakov]. 1 [Yosef was Yaakov's main intention in begetting offspring; refer to 37:2:1.05:1.]


1

See Rashi to 47:31.

9)

Rashi writes: "Mupim; he learned mi'Pi Avi (from my father's mouth)." What is the meaning behind this name?

1.

Gur Aryeh: Yaakov taught Yosef everything he had learned at the Yeshiva of Shem and Ever (Rashi to 37:3); this shows that Yosef was his primary offspring.

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