1)

Why did Yosef ask separately about "their Shalom, and the Shalom of their elderly father?

1.

Seforno: Because old people are not generally well off - they become hard of hearing and have difficulty in speaking. 1

2.

Ohr ha'Chayim: It is proper to first ask the Shalom of those present, before of those not here.


1

See Gemara Shabbos 152a.

2)

Yosef asked about the Shalom of their father. Why did he also need to ask if he is alive?

1.

Ohr ha'Chayim: It was one question - does he still have his strength? This is why he asked first about his Shalom, and afterwards whether he is still alive - i.e. is he like he used to be?

2.

Ha'amek Davar: First he asked, is he b'Shalom with me, or angry with me for demanding Binyamin? We find like this in Melachim II 9:22,31. Then he asked if he is Chai, i.e. healthy. He wanted to know whether or not Yaakov can bear Binyamin being detained. They did not understand; they thought that he asks amidst love.

3)

Why did Yosef call their father "Avichem ha'Zaken"?

1.

Da'as Zekenim, Moshav Zekenim (to 43:26): "Ha'Zaken" refers to Yitzchak. They answered that Yaakov is alive, for it is improper to give bad news (i.e. that Yitzchak had died). 1


1

Pesachim 4a.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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