Why didn't Yosef, who was extremely strong (as the Midrash describes - refer to 44:18:4:3), grab his cloak from his mistress before fleeing?
Ramban: Out of respect for his mistress.
Oznayim la'Torah: It wasn't from his mistress that Yosef was fleeing, but from the Yetzer ha'Ra. 1
What is the significance of the doubled expression, "va'Yanos va'Yetzei" (he fled and went outside)"?
Seforno, Ha'amek Davar: Yosef initially fled from the room in order not to be overcome by the Yetzer ha'Ra. Once outside, he walked, to avoid suspicion that he had done anything wrong. 1
Hadar Zekenim: "Va'Yetzei" on the merit of Avraham, "va'Yotzei Oso ha'Chutzah... v'He'emin Ba'Shem" (Bereishis 15:5-6).
Da'as Zekenim (to 39:15): On the merit of Yosef fleeing form sin, "va'Yanos," 2 the sea would split in front of Bnei Yisrael when it saw Yosef's coffin. 3
Seforno: Unaware of this, she assumed that he would tell people that he fled her seduction. See below, 39:13:1:1 .
Even though some explain that Yosef needed miraculous help to refrain from sinning (refer to 39:11:3), surely he received the help due to his awesome merits! (PF).
As the Pasuk writes, "ha'Yam Ra'ah va'Yanos!" (Tehilim 114:3). See Oznayim la'Torah as to why the merit extended to the whole of Yisrael.
Why does the Torah add the word "Leimor"?
Peninim mi'Shulchan ha'Gra: When she saw that he refused, she told him, "Say, 'lie with me.'" This would make him more prone to sin. Above (39:7), "va'Tomer" (she said) Shichvah Imi." 1
Ohr ha'Chayim: This was her intent. Actually, she did not say anything. She only grabbed his garment to force him.
This explains why it says here "Shichvah" in the feminine. However, it does not explain why it says "Shichvah" also in verse 39:7. (PF)
