בראשית רבה פ״וBereshit Rabbah 86

Section 1א׳

וְיוֹסֵף הוּרַד מִצְרָיְמָה (בראשית לט, א), כְּתִיב (הושע יא, ד): בְּחַבְלֵי אָדָם אֶמְשְׁכֵם, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, (שיר השירים א, ד): מָשְׁכֵנִי אַחֲרֶיךָ נָרוּצָה. (הושע יא, ד): בַּעֲבֹתוֹת אַהֲבָה, דִכְתִיב (מלאכי א, ב): אָהַבְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אָמַר ה'. (הושע יא, ד): וָאֶהְיֶה לָהֶם כִּמְרִימֵי עֹל, שֶׁרוֹמַמְתִּי צָרֵיהֶם עֲלֵיהֶם, כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה (הושע יא, ד): עַל לְחֵיהֶם, בִּשְׁבִיל דָּבָר שֶׁהוֹצִיאוּ מִלְּחָיֵיהֶם, שֶׁאָמְרוּ (שמות לב, ח): אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, וְסוֹף (הושע יא, ד): וְאַט אֵלָיו אוֹכִיל, אֲנִי מַטֶּה עֲלֵיהֶם אֲכִילוֹת הַרְבֵּה, (תהלים עב, טז): יְהִי פִסַּת בַּר בָּאָרֶץ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בְּחַבְלֵי אָדָם אֶמְשְׁכֵם, זֶה יוֹסֵף, (בראשית לז, כח): וַיִּמְשְׁכוּ וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת יוֹסֵף מִן הַבּוֹר. בַּעֲבוֹתוֹת אַהֲבָה, (בראשית לז, ג): וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָהַב אֶת יוֹסֵף מִכָּל בָּנָיו. וְאֶהְיֶה כִּמְרִימֵי עֹל, שֶׁרוֹמַמְתִּי צָרָיו עָלָיו, וְאֵיזוֹ זוֹ, זוֹ אֵשֶׁת פּוֹטִיפַר, כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה עַל לְחֵיהֶם, בִּשְׁבִיל דָּבָר שֶׁהוֹצִיא מִלְּחָיָיו, (בראשית לז, ב): וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶת דִּבָּתָם רָעָה אֶל אֲבִיהֶם. וְסוֹף וְאַט אֵלָיו אוֹכִיל, אֲכִילוֹת הַרְבֵּה.

“Joseph was taken down to Egypt and Potiphar, the official of Pharaoh, the chief executioner, an Egyptian man, purchased him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there” (Genesis 39:1). “Joseph was taken down to Egypt.” It is written: “With ropes of man I drew them, [with bonds of love; I was for them like those who lift the yoke above their jaws, and I leaned to them to provide food]” (Hosea 11:4) – these are Israel, [as it is stated]: “Draw me; after you I will run” (Song of Songs 1:4). “With bonds of love” (Hosea 11:4) – as it is written: “I loved you, said the Lord” (Malachi 1:2). “I was for them like those who lift the yoke” (Hosea 11:4) – as I elevated their enemies over them. Why to that extent? “Above their jaws” (Hosea 11:4) – because of the words that they expressed with their jaws, as they said: “This is your god, Israel” (Exodus 32:8). But ultimately, “I leaned to them to provide food” (Hosea 11:4) – I provide them with many foods to eat; “There will be abundance of grain in the land” (Psalms 72:16). Another matter, “with ropes of man I drew them [emshakhem]” (Hosea 11:4) – this is Joseph, [as it is stated]: “They pulled [vayimshekhu] and lifted Joseph from the pit” (Genesis 37:28). “With bonds of love” (Hosea 11:4) – “Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons” (Genesis 37:3). “I was for them like those who lift the yoke” (Hosea11:4) – as I elevated his enemies over him. Who was that? It was Potiphar’s wife. Why to that extent? “Above their jaws” (Hosea 11:4) – because of the words that he expressed with his jaws – “Joseph brought evil report of them to their father” (Genesis 37:2). But ultimately, “I leaned to them to provide food (Hosea 11:4) – an abundance of food.

Section 2ב׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, (בראשית לט, א): וְיוֹסֵף הוּרַד מִצְרָיְמָה, (בראשית מב, ו): וְיוֹסֵף הוּא הַשַּׁלִּיט. וְיוֹסֵף הוּרַד מִצְרָיְמָה, שָׁלַט בְּהוֹן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים עב, ח): וְיֵרְדְּ מִיָּם עַד יָם, כָּבַשׁ בְּהוֹן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (מלכים א ה, ד): כִּי הוּא רֹדֶה בְּכָל עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר, נָסְחִין נְחַת עֲלֵיהוֹן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר (שופטים יד, ט): וַיִּרְדֵּהוּ אֶל כַּפָּיו, הוֹרִיד לְאָבִינוּ יַעֲקֹב לְמִצְרַיִם. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימוֹן אָמַר, לְפָרָה שֶׁהָיוּ מוֹשְׁכִין אוֹתָהּ לְמַקּוּלִין וְלֹא הָיְתָה נִמְשֶׁכֶת, מֶה עָשׂוּ לָהּ, מָשְׁכוּ אֶת בְּנָהּ לְפָנֶיהָ וְהָיְתָה מְהַלֶּכֶת אַחֲרָיו עַל כָּרְחָהּ שֶׁלֹא בְטוֹבָתָהּ. כָּךְ הָיָה יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ רָאוּי לֵירֵד לְמִצְרַיִם בְּשַׁלְשְׁלָאוֹת וּבְקוֹלָרִין, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּנִי בְּכוֹרִי וַאֲנִי מוֹרִידוֹ בְּבִזָּיוֹן, וְאִם לִתֵּן בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁל פַּרְעֹה אֵינִי מוֹרִידוֹ פּוּמְבִּי, אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי מוֹשֵׁךְ אֶת בְּנוֹ לְפָנָיו, וְהוּא יוֹרֵד אַחֲרָיו עַל כָּרְחוֹ שֶׁלֹא בְטוֹבָתוֹ, וְהוֹרִיד אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה לְמִצְרַיִם עִמּוֹ. רַבִּי פִּינְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר מְנָא לָן שֶׁיָּרְדָה הַשְּׁכִינָה עִמּוֹ, מִדִּכְתִיב (בראשית לט, ב): וַיְהִי ה' אֶת יוֹסֵף, מִצְרָיְמָה, תָּנֵי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁצָּרִיךְ למ"ד בִּתְחִלָּתוֹ נִתַּן בּוֹ ה"א בְּסוֹפוֹ, סְדוֹמָה, שֵׂעִירָה, מִצְרָיְמָה. אֵיתֵיבֵיהּ וְהָא כְתִיב (תהלים ט, יח): יָשׁוּבוּ רְשָׁעִים לִשְׁאוֹלָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר זַבְדָּא, לַבֵּיטִי הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה שֶׁבַּשְּׁאוֹל.

Another matter, “Joseph was taken down to Egypt.” “Joseph was the ruler” (Genesis 42:6). “Joseph was taken down [hurad] to Egypt” – he ruled over them, just as it says: “He will rule [veyerd] from sea to sea” (Psalms 72:8). He subdued them, just as it says: “For he had dominion [rodeh] over the entire region across the River” (I Kings 5:4). He imposed relocation upon them, just as it says: “He scraped it [vayirdehu] into his hands” (Judges 14:9). He caused Jacob our patriarch to descend [horid] to Egypt. Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon: This is analogous to a cow that they were pulling to the slaughterhouse, but it would not be pulled. What did they do to it? They pulled its offspring before it, and it was walking after it despite itself, and to its [ultimate] detriment. So, Jacob was supposed to descend to Egypt in chains and neck chains. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Shall I take My firstborn son down [to Egypt] in disgrace? And if I introduce it into Pharaoh’s heart, would I not be taking him down [to Egypt] in public? Instead, I will draw his son before him, and he will descend after him despite himself and to his [ultimate] detriment.’ He took down the Divine Presence with him. Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Simon: From where do we derive that the Divine Presence descended with him? From what is written: “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). “To Egypt [Mitzraima]” – it is taught in the name of Rabbi Neḥemya: Any word that requires a lamed at its start, a heh [can be] placed at its end [instead]: Sedoma, Se’ira, Mitzraima, Ḥarana. But is it not written: “The wicked will return to the netherworld [lishola]”? (Psalms 9:18). Rabbi Abba bar Zavda said: [They will be sent] to the lowest compartment in the netherworld.

Section 3ג׳

וַיִּקְנֵהוּ (בראשית לט, א), הַקְּנוּיִין קוֹנִין וְכָל הָעֲבָדִים מְחַסְּרִין אֶת בֵּית רַבָּן, אֲבָל זֶה (בראשית לט, ה): וַיְבָרֶךְ ה' אֶת בֵּית הַמִּצְרִי בִּגְלַל יוֹסֵף. כָּל הָעֲבָדִים חֲשׁוּדִים עַל הַגָּזֵל, אֲבָל זֶה (בראשית מז, יד): וַיְלַקֵּט יוֹסֵף אֶת כָּל הַכֶּסֶף. כָּל הָעֲבָדִים חֲשׁוּדִים עַל הָעֶרְוָה, אֲבָל זֶה (בראשית לט, י): וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר כָּל הָעֲבָדִים רַבָּן מַאֲכִילִין תְּרוּמָה לְעַבְדֵיהֶם, אֲבָל זֶה הֶאֱכִיל אֶת רַבּוֹ תְּרוּמָה, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה מִבְּנוֹת יוֹסֵף לָקַח אֶלְעָזָר. פוֹטִיפַר הוּא (בראשית מא, מה): פּוֹטִיפֶרַע, פּוֹטִיפַר שֶׁהָיָה מְפַטֵּם עֲגָלִים לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. פּוֹטִיפֶרַע, שֶׁהָיָה פּוֹרֵעַ עַצְמוֹ לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּרַד הַפָּר לְשָׁם נַעֲשָׂה פּוֹטֶנוֹן. סְרִיס פַּרְעֹה, שֶׁנִּסְתָּרֵס בְּגוּפוֹ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹא לְקָחוֹ אֶלָּא לְתַשְׁמִישׁ וְסֵרְסוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּגוּפוֹ. מָשָׁל לְדֻבָּה שֶׁהָיְתָה מְשַׁכֶּלֶת בִּבְנֵי אֲדוֹנֶיהָ, אֲמַר פַּכְרוּן נִיבֶיהָ. כָּךְ מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹא לְקָחוֹ אֶלָּא לְתַשְׁמִישׁ וְסֵרְסוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים לז, כח): כִּי ה' אֹהֵב מִשְׁפָט וגו' חֲסִידָיו. חֲסִידוֹ כְּתִיב, וְאֵיזֶה זֶה, יוֹסֵף, (תהלים לז, כח): לְעוֹלָם נִשְׁמָרוּ וְזֶרַע רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָת, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹא לְקָחוֹ אֶלָּא לְתַשְׁמִישׁ, וְסֵרְסוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וַיִּקְנֵהוּ פּוֹטִיפַר אִישׁ מִצְרִי, גְּבַר עָרוּם, וּמָה הֲוַת עֲרִימוּתֵיהּ, אֲמַר בְּכָל מָקוֹם גֶּרְמָנִי מוֹכֵר כּוּשִׁי, וְכָאן כּוּשִׁי מוֹכֵר גֶּרְמָנִי, אֵין זֶה עָבֶד, אָמַר לָהֶם הָבִיאוּ לִי עָרֵב, וְאֵין לָשׁוֹן מִיָּד זֶה אֶלָּא עָרֵב, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (בראשית מג, ט): אָנֹכִי אֶעֶרְבֶנּוּ וגו', עַל כֵּן אָמַר מִיַּד הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי עַבְדָא זָבֵן וּבַר אַמְתָא מְזַבֵּן, וּבַר חוֹרִין עֶבֶד לְתַרְוֵיהוֹן.

“[Potiphar...an Egyptian man,] purchased him [from the Ishmaelites]” – those who were acquired were acquiring. All slaves damage the household of their masters. But this one – “the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph’s sake” (Genesis 39:5). All slaves are suspected of robbery, but this one: “Joseph collected all the silver…[Joseph brought the silver to Pharoah’s house]” (Genesis 47:14). All slaves are suspected of licentiousness, but this one: “But he did not heed her” (Genesis 39:10). Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: All slaves, their master feeds teruma to their slaves, but this one fed his master teruma, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: Elazar took a wife from the daughters of Joseph. Potiphar is “Potifera” (Genesis 41:45). Potiphar – because he would fatten [mefatem] calves for idol worship. Potifera – because he would defecate [pore’a atzmo] for idol worship. When the bull [par] descended there, [Potiphar] became wealthy. “The official of [seris] Pharaoh” – he was castrated [nistares]. This teaches that [Potiphar] purchased [Joseph] only for intercourse, but the Holy One blessed be He castrated him. This is analogous to a she-bear that was killing its master’s children. He said: ‘Break its teeth.’ So, it teaches that [Potiphar] purchased him only for intercourse, and the Holy One blessed be He castrated him. That is what is written: “For the Lord loves justice [and does not forsake] His pious ones [ḥasidav]” (Psalms 37:28). Ḥasido is written. Who is that? It is Joseph. “They are guarded forever, while the seed of the wicked is cut off” (Psalms 37:28) – this teaches that [Potiphar] purchased him only for intercourse, and the Holy One blessed be He castrated him. “Potiphar…an Egyptian man, purchased him [from [miyad] the Ishmaelites]” – a clever man. What was his cleverness? He said: In every place, a German sells a Cushite, but here, a Cushite is selling a German? This is no slave. He said to them: ‘Bring me a guarantor,’ as the term “from [miyad]” is nothing other than a guarantor, just as it says: “I will guarantee him, [from me [miyadi] you can demand him]” (Genesis 43:9). That is why it says: “From [miyad] the Ishmaelites.” Rabbi Levi said: A slave purchased, the son of a maidservant sold, and a free man was a slave to both of them.