What does "k'Zos" refer to?
Rashi, Ramban #1 and Targum Yonasan: It refers to the list that follows. 1
Ramban #2: Just as he provided his brothers with provisions for the journey (45:21), so too did he send his father provisions for the journey. 2
Seforno: It refers to the previous Pasuk (45:22) - He sent to his father the equivalent gift that he gave Binyamin (over and above the things that the Pasuk now lists).
Ohr ha'Chayim: This clarifies "mi'Tuv Mitzrayim" - from the matters mentioned above (45:22), i.e. choice garments and silver Kelim.
Malbim (to 45:22, citing Mahari): It is what he gave to his brothers - garments, money, and (i.e. in addition to) 10 donkeys [laden with the best of Egypt].
Ha'amek Davar: The 10 male donkeys carried Tuv Eretz Mitzrayim worth 300 silver pieces [just like he gave to Binyamin], which is a large amount. Had it not said "k'Zos," we would not know the value.
According to the Ramban, the prefix letter 'Kaf' in the word "k'Zos" is superfluous (as we find in Bereishis 39:19). To Rashi (as explained by Gur Aryeh), it indicates a sum amount; refer to 45:23:1.1:1.
Though the respective list of provisions did not necessarily tally (Ramban).
What does "of the good of Egypt" refer to?
Rashi #1 (from Megilah 16b): It refers to aged wine 1 , which old men are particularly fond of. 2
Rashi #2 (from Bereishis Rabah 94:2): Split beans. 3
Ohr ha'Chayim: This is not "k'Zos"! The Derashah expounds as if it says, 'va'Asarah Chamorim,' with an added Vav.
See Sifsei Chachamim; also refer to 45:23:2.2:1 and the note there.
Refer to 45:23:2.1:1.
What are "Bar" and "Lechem"?
Rashi (citing Targum Onkelos): They are grain and bread, 1 respectively.
Riva: Lechem cannot mean food, for right afterwards it says "Mazon'!
What is the definition of "Mazon"?
Rashi: "Mazon" means condiments. Ha'amek Davar - In the language of the Torah, everything that sustains is called "Mazon." In the language of people, however, Mazon is only the five grains. Therefore, regarding vows and Berachos only the five grains are called Mazon, for both of these Halachos depend on how people speak.
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: "Mazon" means provisions.
Why did Yosef send to his father both male and female donkeys?
Ramban: Since, when sending animal-gifts, what is commonly done is to send both male and female of the same species. 1
Just as Yaakov sent Esav (See 32:16 [Ramban]).
Why did Yosef send the provisions on ten donkeys, seeing as they were eleven brothers?
Rashbam, Moshav Zekenim: He did not want to trouble Binyamin. 1
Moshav Zekenim (to 43:9): Binyamin did not return with his brothers. 2 Refer to 43:9:151:3.
Gur Aryeh: The sum total of ten and ten was to convey a specific message. With the ten he-donkeys, Yosef was hinting to his father not to be angry at the ten brothers who had sold him, and caused him to descend to Egypt. They were like a donkey that carries a big load, without knowing its importance. Hashem placed this task upon them so they would eventually follow Yosef and consume all "the best of Egypt." 3 With the ten she-donkeys, Yosef hinted that Yaakov should not refuse to descend to him in Egypt, for he would support him during the years of famine. 4
Moshav Zekenim: They did not ride on the donkeys; rather, they walked after them to make them go.
Ohr ha'Chayim (to 45:24): This would explain why Yehudah's bones were rolling in his coffin (refer to Devarim 33:7:1:2), i.e. for he returned without Binyamin. However, we need not say so. A Niduy on condition takes effect (even if the stipulation was fulfilled - Makos 11b)!
Gur Aryeh: Pharaoh also used this expression in 45:18,20. Rashi (to 45:18) tells us that it alludes to the spoils taken at Yetzias Mitzrayim.
Gur Aryeh: While the ten he-donkeys alluded to future benefits of the descent to Egypt, the burden of the ten she-donkeys represents filling the family's present needs, for food during the famine. Yosef hinted that this too was brought about by the ten brothers. (CS)
Why is the word "l'Aviv" repeated in the verse?
Ohr ha'Chayim: The 10 male donkeys bearing "Tuv Eretz Mitzrayim" was a Shelichus via his brothers. The 10 female donkeys of food was not a Shelichus; he gave them to his brothers, and said that they are for his father on the road.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'He sent like this (k'Zos)' - [i.e.] at this amount (k'Cheshbon ha'Zeh). What is Rashi explaining?
Gur Aryeh: The prefix letter Kaf in the word "k'Zos," does not mean comparison (as it usually does, which would mean they numbered approximately ten). Rather, it indicates a sum amount.
Rashi writes: "'He sent k'Zos' - at this amount." Couldn't the word k'Zos just be omitted?
Gur Aryeh: The word shows that the sum total of ten and ten was not incidental; rather, Yosef had a specific reason in mind. 1
Rashi writes: "Of the best (Tuv) of Egypt' - The Gemara says that Yosef sent aged wine (Yayin Yashan), from which the elderly benefit; [but] according to the Midrash, it was cracked beans (Gerisin Shel Pol)." Was "the best of Egypt," mere beans? What do these items symbolize?
Gur Aryeh #1: Yaakov knew of the difficult exile we would suffer in Mitzrayim; he was afraid to descend there (Rashi to 46:3). Yosef hinted to his father that the exile and suffering in Egypt would in fact be "Tov" for Bnei Yisrael. They gave us backbreaking labor and made us suffer, breaking our Guf (Shemos 1:12-13 with Rashi). Being broken is exactly what would cause us to multiply exponentially, just like beans ground repeatedly in a mill into more and more pieces. This is what Yosef was hinting to Yaakov. 1
Gur Aryeh #2: "Aged wine" refers to the long-ago decree at the Bris Bein ha'Besarim, 2 that Avraham's descendants would endure this exile. 3
Gur Aryeh #3: Earlier, Rashi (to 45:18) explained that this alludes to the spoils at Yetzias Mitzrayim, when we emptied out the land.
Gur Aryeh: The Midrash Rabah (94:2) says merely that beans are therapeutic for the emotional travail that Yaakov had endured.
Gur Aryeh: The Gematriya of "Yayin Yashan" is 430, the number of years of the Egyptian exile, counting since that Bris (Shemos 12:40-41; see Rashi loc. cit).
A 'cup of wine' is a metaphor for exile and misfortune; refer to Chulin 92a; and Yirmeyahu 25:15-27. (CS)
Rashi writes: "... He sent aged wine, from which the elderly benefit (Da'as Zekenim Nochah Heimenu)." What is the correlation of aged wine for the elderly?
Maharal (Ohr Chadash p. 88, to Esther 1:7): Just as wine becomes more clarified as it ages (i.e. the sediment particles settle down to the bottom), so too is a person's intellect refined as he grows old. 1
Maharal (Gevuros Hashem Ch. 52, p. 228): In old age, as the body's physical abilities wane, the intellect grows stronger, so he can comprehend lofty matters that are over and above the physical - just like old wine that is clarified from its sediment. Also refer to 24:1:1.1:1.
