בראשית רבה צ׳Bereshit Rabbah 90

Section 1א׳

וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל עֲבָדָיו הֲנִמְצָא כָזֶה (בראשית מא, לח), (שיר השירים ו, ט): אַחַת הִיא יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי אַחַת הִיא לְאִמָּהּ וגו'. אַחַת הִיא יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל לג, כד): אֶחָד הָיָה אַבְרָהָם וַיִּירַשׁ אֶת הָאָרֶץ. אַחַת הִיא לְאִמָּהּ, זֶה יִצְחָק, שֶׁהָיָה יָחִיד לְאִמּוֹ. בָּרָה הִיא לְיוֹלַדְתָּהּ, זֶה יַעֲקֹב, שֶׁהָיָה בָּרוּר לְיוֹלַדְתּוֹ שֶׁהוּא צַדִּיק. רָאוּהָ בָנוֹת וַיְאַשְׁרוּהָ, אֵלּוּ הַשְּׁבָטִים (בראשית מה, טז): וְהַקֹּל נִשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעֹה. מְלָכוֹת וּפִילַגְשִׁים וַיְהַלְּלוּהָ, זֶה יוֹסֵף, וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל עֲבָדָיו הֲנִמְצָא כָזֶה, אִם מְהַלְּכִים אָנוּ מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ אֵין אָנוּ מוֹצְאִים כָּזֶה.

“Pharaoh said to his servants: Can we find a man like this, in whom there is the spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38). “Pharaoh said to his servants: Can we find [a man] like this…?” “One is my faultless dove, the only one of her mother…” (Song of Songs 6:9). “One is my faultless dove” – this is Abraham, as it is stated: “Abraham was one, and he inherited the land” (Ezekiel 33:24). “The only one of her mother” – this is Isaac, who was his mother’s only son. “Pure [bara] to the one who bore her” (Song of Songs 6:9) – this is Jacob, as it was clear [barur] to the one who bore him that he was righteous. “Girls saw her and lauded her” (Song of Songs 6:9) – these are the tribes, “the news was heard in Pharaoh's house, [saying: Joseph's brothers have come; and it was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and the eyes of his servants]” (Genesis 45:16). “Queens and concubines, and praised her” (Song of Songs 6:9) – this is Joseph. “Pharaoh said to his servants: Can we find…like this…?” If we go from one end of the world to the other, we will not find one like this.

Section 2ב׳

וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל יוֹסֵף וגו' אַתָּה תִּהְיֶה עַל בֵּיתִי וגו' (בראשית מא, לט מ), שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא אָדָם נוֹשְׁקֵנִי חוּץ מִמְּךָ, (בראשית מא, מ): וְעַל פִּיךָ יִשַּׁק כָּל עַמִּי, שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא פְּרוֹקוֹפִי חוּץ מִמְּךָ. (בראשית מא, מ): רַק הַכִּסֵּא, אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ שְׁתֵּי פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הִכְתִּיב לָנוּ משֶׁה בַּתּוֹרָה וְאָנוּ לְמֵדִים מִפָּרָשַׁת פַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע, כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (דברים כח, יג): וְהָיִיתָ רַק לְמַעְלָה, יָכוֹל כָּמוֹנִי, אֶתְמְהָא, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר רַק, גְּדֻלָּתִי לְמַעְלָה מִגְדֻלַּתְכֶם, וְאָנוּ לְמֵדִים אוֹתָהּ מִפַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע, אַתָּה תִּהְיֶה, יָכוֹל כָּמוֹנִי, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר רַק, גְּדֻלָּתִי לְמַעְלָה מִגְדֻלָּתֶךָ. וְהָדֵין (ויקרא יט, ב): דַּבֵּר אֶל כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם קְדשִׁים תִּהְיוּ, יָכוֹל כָּמוֹנִי, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (ויקרא יט, ב): כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, קְדֻשָּׁתִי לְמַעְלָה מִקְדֻשַּׁתְכֶם, וְאָנוּ לְמֵדִים אוֹתָהּ מִפַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע, (בראשית מא, מד): אֲנִי פַרְעֹה, יָכוֹל כָּמוֹנִי, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר אֲנִי פַרְעֹה, גְּדֻלָּתִי לְמַעְלָה מִגְּדֻלָּתֶךָ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר מִן אֲנִי שֶׁל בָּשָׂר וָדָם אַתְּ לָמֵד אֲנִי שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מַה אֲנִי שֶׁל בָּשָׂר וָדָם עַל יְדֵי שֶׁאָמַר פַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע לְיוֹסֵף אֲנִי פַרְעֹה הָיָה לוֹ כָּל הַכָּבוֹד הַזֶּה, לִכְשֶׁיָּבוֹא אֲנִי שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (ישעיה מו, ד): אֲנִי עָשִׂיתִי וַאֲנִי אֶשָּׂא, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה.

“Pharaoh said to Joseph: Since God has disclosed all this to you, there is no one as insightful and wise as you” (Genesis 41:39). “You will be in charge of my house, and my entire people will be sustained at your directive; only the throne will I make greater than you” (Genesis 41:40). “Pharaoh said to Joseph…You will be in charge of my house…” – there will be no person who will kiss me other than you. “And my entire people will be sustained [yishak] at your directive” – there will be promotions only through you. “Only the throne” – Reish Lakish said: Moses gave us in writing two portions in the Torah, and we learn them from the portion of the wicked Pharaoh. One verse says: “You will be only [rak] above [and not below]” (Deuteronomy 28:13). Does it, perhaps, [mean you will be] on a par with Me? Impossible! The verse states: “Only” – My greatness will be above your greatness. We learn this from the wicked Pharaoh: “You will be” – does it, perhaps, [mean you will be] on a par with me? The verse states: “Only” – my greatness is above your greatness. And this – “speak to the entire congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: You shall be holy” (Leviticus 19:2) – does it, perhaps, [mean you will be] on a par with Me? The verse states: “For I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2) – My sanctity is above your sanctity. We learn this from the wicked Pharaoh. “I am Pharaoh” (Genesis 41:44) – does it, perhaps, [mean you will be] on a par with me? The verse states: “I am Pharaoh” – my greatness is above your greatness. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: From the “I” of flesh and blood, you derive the “I” of the Holy One blessed be He. Just as regarding the “I” of flesh and blood, through the wicked Pharaoh saying to Joseph: “I am Pharaoh,” [Joseph] received all this honor; when the “I” of the Holy One blessed be He will come: “I have made, and I will bear” (Isaiah 46:4), all the more so.

Section 3ג׳

וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל יוֹסֵף, וַיָּסַר פַּרְעֹה וגו' (בראשית מא, מא מב), אָמַר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, יוֹסֵף מִשֶּׁלּוֹ נָתְנוּ לוֹ, פִּיו שֶׁלֹא נָשַׁק בַּעֲבֵרָה, (בראשית מא, מ): וְעַל פִּיךָ יִשַּׁק כָּל עַמִּי, גּוּפוֹ שֶׁלֹא נָגַע בַּעֲבֵרָה (בראשית מא, מב): וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ בִּגְדֵי שֵׁשׁ, צַוָּארוֹ שֶׁלֹא הִרְכִּין לַעֲבֵרָה (בראשית מא, מב): וַיָּשֶׂם רְבִד הַזָּהָב עַל צַוָּארוֹ, יָדָיו שֶׁלֹא מִשְׁמְשׁוּ בַּעֲבֵרָה וַיָּסַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת טַבַּעְתּוֹ מֵעַל יָדוֹ וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ עַל יַד יוֹסֵף, רַגְלָיו שֶׁלֹא פָּסְעוּ בַּעֲבֵרָה, יֵיתוּן וְיִרְכְּבוּ עַל קָרוֹכִין (בראשית מא, מג): וַיַּרְכֵּב אֹתוֹ בְּמִרְכֶּבֶת הַמִּשְׁנֶה אֲשֶׁר לוֹ, מַחֲשָׁבָה שֶׁלֹא חָשְׁבָה בַּעֲבֵרָה, תָּבֹא וְתִקָּרֵא חֲכָמָה (בראשית מא, מג): וַיִּקְרְאוּ לְפָנָיו אַבְרֵךְ, אָב בְּחָכְמָה וְרַךְ בְּשָׁנִים, אֲבָל נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר (ירמיה נא, כז): טִפְסָר, טִפֵּשׁ בְּחָכְמָה וְשַׂר בְּשָׁנִים. (בראשית מא, מד): וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל יוֹסֵף אֲנִי פַרְעֹה וּבִלְעָדֶיךָ לֹא יָרִים אִישׁ אֶת יָדוֹ, כְּלֵי יָדַיִם. וְאֶת רַגְלוֹ, כְּלֵי רַגְלַיִם.

“Pharaoh said to Joseph: See, I have set you over the entire land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:41). “Pharaoh removed his signet ring from upon his hand, and he placed it upon Joseph's hand, and he dressed him in linen garments, and he placed a gold chain on his neck” (Genesis 41:42). “He had him ride in the alternate chariot that he had, and they cried before him: Kneel [avrekh], and he was set over the entire land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:43). “Pharaoh said to Joseph…Pharaoh removed…” – Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: Joseph was given what he deserved: His mouth [piv] did not kiss [nashak] in transgression – “my entire people will be sustained at your directive [ve’al pikha yishak]” (Genesis 41:40). His body that did not touch in transgression – “he dressed him in linen garments” (Genesis 41:42). His neck that he did not bend for transgression – “he placed a gold chain on his neck” (Genesis 41:42). His hands that did not grope in transgression: “Pharaoh removed his signet ring from upon his hand, and he placed it upon Joseph's hand” (Genesis 41:42). His feet that did not stride in transgression, let them come and ride in coaches –“He had him ride in the alternate chariot that he had” (Genesis 41:43). The thought that he did not think in transgression, let it come and be called wisdom. “They cried before him: Kneel [avrekh]” – great [av] in wisdom, but tender [rakh] in years. But Nebuchadnezzar [is called] “commander [tafsar]” (Jeremiah 51:27) – foolish [tipesh] in wisdom and a prince [sar] in years. “Pharaoh said to Joseph: I am Pharaoh, and without you no man shall lift his hand or his foot in the entire land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:44). “Pharoah said to Joseph: I am Pharaoh, and without you no man shall life his hand” – utensils of the hand. “Or his foot” – utensils of the foot.