What did Yosef mean when he said, "ha'Sachas Elokim Ani"?
Rashi: He meant that even if he wanted to do them harm, he would not be able to; just as they, who were ten against one, were unable to do him harm, because Ha'Kadosh-Baruch-Hu wanted good to ensue. 1
Seforno: 'Am I a judge in place of Hashem, to punish those who were appointed by Him to do what they did? 2 In other words, you were His emissaries, in which case, it was not you who sent me here, rather, Hashem!' 3
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: He was telling them that they have nothing to be afraid of, because he feared Hashem. 4
Refer to 30:2:151:2*.
Ohr ha'Chayim: If you deserve punishment for the matter, Hashem will judge; I will not take vengeance or bear a grudge. I should judge you favorably!
Malbim: After I see that this matter was via Hashgachah, I cannot have thoughts against what Hashem did. Am I in place of Him to do opposite of His deed - especially since the Hashgachah was that I will benefit you and feed you! How can I change what Hashem did with His Hashgachah - and especially since effectively, you did not do evil to me, for it was reversed to good! If so, I cannot pay to you evil, only like you did, that it will convert to good. Am I in place of Hashem to know whether good or bad will sprout from what I do?!
Ha'amek Davar: You are slaves of Hashem. When you will be slaves to me, I pilfer Hashem's honor and take His slaves to be my slaves! "Ki Li Bnei Yisrael Avadim" (Vayikra 25:55) - they are My slaves. I do not want them sold to be another's slaves!
Why did Yosef say, "do not fear"?
Ha'amek Davar: Do not fear that I think [how to take vengeance].
Did Yosef pardon them?
Midrash Tehilim 10:3, Yalkut Shimoni 648: Yes. We learn from "Lo Atem Shelachtem Osi Henah" (45:8).
R. Bechayei (to 50:17): The Torah does not say that he pardoned them (for he did not). This is why there was retribution later, through Asarah Harugei Malchus.
Ohr ha'Chayim: No. Perhaps this is because pardon does not help for Bnei Noach. If a Ben Noach stole from his colleague, and the victim pardoned him, the thief is not exempt from death! Also regarding Yisrael - if he kidnapped and sold a person, the victim cannot exempt the thief from death (via pardon).
No. Had Yosef forgiven them, how could the Gemara in Bava Kama (92a) derive that one need not request more than three times? They did not ask more, for he pardoned them! 1 (PF)
I saw this brought in the name of Rav Elyashiv, but in his Chidushim on Yoma 87a, he says that Yosef forgave them immediately. (PF)
