בראשית רבה צ״דBereshit Rabbah 94

Parashah 94 of 100 in Bereshit Rabbah — 9 sections

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Section 1א׳

וְהַקֹּל נִשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעֹה (בראשית מה, טז), כְּתִיב (שיר השירים ו, ט): אַחַת הִיא יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל לג, כד): אֶחָד הָיָה אַבְרָהָם, (שיר השירים ו, ט): אַחַת הִיא לְאִמָּהּ, זֶה יִצְחָק, שֶׁהָיָה יָחִיד לְאִמּוֹ, (שיר השירים ו, ט): בָּרָה הִיא לְיוֹלַדְתָּהּ, זֶה יַעֲקֹב, שֶׁהָיָה בָּרוּר לְאִמּוֹ שֶׁהוּא צַדִּיק, (שיר השירים ו, ט): רָאוּהָ בָנוֹת וַיְאַשְׁרוּהָ, אֵלּוּ הַשְּׁבָטִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהַקֹּל נִשְׁמַע בֵּית פַּרְעֹה וגו'. (שיר השירים ו, ט): מְלָכוֹת וּפִילַגְשִׁים וַיְהַלְּלוּהָ, זֶה יוֹסֵף, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מא, לח): הֲנִמְצָא כָזֶה וגו'.

“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). “The news was heard in Pharaoh's house.” It is written: “One is my faultless dove” (Song of Songs 6:9) – this is Abraham, as it is stated: “Abraham was one” (Ezekiel 33:24). “One to her mother” (Song of Songs 6:9) – 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 his mother that he was righteous. “Girls saw her and lauded her” (Song of Songs 6:9) – these are the tribes, as it is stated: “The news was heard in Pharaoh's house…” “Queens and concubines, and praised her” (Song of Songs 6:9) – this is Joseph, as it is stated: “Can we find [a man] like this [in whom there is the spirit of God]” (Genesis 41:38).

Section 2ב׳

זֹאת עֲשׂוּ, וּקְחוּ אֶת אֲבִיכֶם וגו' אֶת טוּב (בראשית מה, יז יח), זֶה גְּרִיס שֶׁל פּוֹל שֶׁהוּא עַל עִיקַת נֶפֶשׁ. (בראשית מה, כב כג): לְכֻלָּם נָתַן לָאִישׁ וגו' וּלְאָבִיו שָׁלַח כְּזֹאת עֲשָׂרָה חֲמֹרִים וגו', אָמַר רַבִּי יֹאשְׁיָה הָלְכוּ בִנְדָרִים אַחַר שִׂיחַת בְּנֵי אָדָם. בָּר, עִבּוּר. לֶחֶם, כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ. מָזוֹן, אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר אִילָא מִכָּאן שֶׁכָּל הַדְּבָרִים קְרוּיִם מָזוֹן. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן כַּד הֲוָה אָכֵיל חֲלוּטִין הֲוָה אֲמַר לָא אֲכָלִית מָזוֹן יוֹמָא דָא. (בראשית מה, כד): וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת אֶחָיו וגו', אָמַר לָהֶם אַל תִּפְסְעוּ פְּסִיעָה גַסָּה וְאַל תַּעֲמִידוּ עַצְמְכֶם מִדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, וְהַכְנִיסוּ חַמָּה לָעִיר.

“Pharaoh said to Joseph: Say to your brothers: Do this: Load your animals, and go, and come to the land of Canaan, and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the finest of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land” (Genesis 45:17-18). “Do this…and take your father…the finest” – this is split beans, which are effective in soothing the uneasiness of the soul. “To all of them he gave, each man changes of garments, and to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of garments” (Genesis 45:22). “And to his father he sent as follows: Ten donkeys laden with the bounty of Egypt, and ten female donkeys laden with grain, and bread, and food for his father for the journey” (Genesis 45:23). “To all of them he gave, each man…. And to his father he sent as follows: Ten donkeys…[ten female donkeys laden with grain [bar], and bread [veleḥem], and food[mazon]]” – Rabbi Yoshiya said: Regarding vows, one follows colloquial speech. Bar – grain, leḥem – [bread], in its plain sense, mazon – Rav Aḥa bar Eila said: From here [it may be derived] that all foodstuffs are called mazon. [But] Rabbi Yoḥanan, when he would eat boiled grain, would say: I did not eat mazon today. “He sent his brothers and they went, and he said to them: Do not quarrel on the way” (Genesis 45:24). “He sent his brothers…” – he said to them: ‘Do not stride long strides, do not refrain yourselves from [studying] matters of Torah, and enter the city while the sun [still shines].’

Section 3ג׳

וַיַּעֲלוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם, וַיַּגִּדוּ לוֹ לֵאמֹר עוֹד יוֹסֵף חַי וַיָּפָג לִבּוֹ (בראשית מה, כה כו), תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא מַה טִּיבוֹ שֶׁל בַּדָּאי הַזֶּה, אֲפִלּוּ אוֹמֵר דְּבָרִים שֶׁל אֱמֶת אֵין מַאֲמִינִים אוֹתוֹ. (בראשית מה, כז): וַיַּרְא אֶת הָעֲגָלוֹת, אוֹתָן עֲגָלוֹת שֶׁשָּׁלַח פַּרְעֹה לָשֵׂאת אוֹתוֹ, הָיְתָה עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים חֲקוּקָה עֲלֵיהֶם עָמַד יְהוּדָה וּשְׂרָפָן, לָמוּד הוּא הַשֵּׁבֶט לִהְיוֹת שׂוֹרֵף עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. רַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בַּר שָׁאוּל אָמַר לָהֶם אִם יַאֲמִין לָכֶם הֲרֵי מוּטָב, וְאִם לָאו אַתֶּם אוֹמְרִים לוֹ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁפָּרַשְׁתִּי מִמְּךָ לֹא בְּפָרָשַׁת עֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה הָיִיתִי עוֹסֵק, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וַיַּרְא אֶת הָעֲגָלוֹת וַתְּחִי רוּחַ. (בראשית מה, כח): וַיֹּאמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל רַב, רַב כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף בְּנִי, שֶׁכַּמָּה צָרוֹת הִגִּיעוּהוּ וַעֲדַיִן הוּא עוֹמֵד בְּצִדְקוֹ הַרְבֵּה מִמֶּנִּי שֶׁחָטָאתִי שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי (ישעיה מ, כז): נִסְתְּרָה דַּרְכִּי מֵה', וּבָטוּחַ אֲנִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִי בְּמָה רַב טוּבְךָ (תהלים לא, כ).

“They went up from Egypt, and they came to the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father” (Genesis 45:25). “They told him, saying: Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over the entire land of Egypt. His heart was faint because he did not believe them (Genesis 45:26). “They went up from Egypt…. They told him, saying: Joseph is still alive…his heart was faint” – Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: What is the plight of the liar? Even if he says truthful matters, he is not believed. “They spoke to him all the words of Joseph that he had spoken to them, and he saw the wagons that Joseph sent to convey him, and the spirit of Jacob their father was revived” (Genesis 45:27). “He saw the wagons” – the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him had idols etched on them. Judah stood and burned them. That tribe is experienced in burning idols. Rabbi Levi [said] in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan bar Shaul: [Joseph] said to them: ‘If he believes you, fine. If not, say to him: “At the moment that I took my leave of you, was I not engaged in [studying] the passage of the beheaded calf [egla]?’ That is what is written: “He saw the wagons [haagalot]…and the spirit…was revived.” “Israel said: Enough, Joseph my son is still alive; I will go and see him before I die” (Genesis 45:28). “Israel said: Enough [rav]” – the power of my son Joseph is great [rav], as many troubles befell him, but still he remained in his righteousness much more than I did, as I sinned when I said: “My way is hidden from the Lord” (Isaiah 40:27). But I am certain that I have a portion in “how great is Your goodness” (Psalms 31:20).

Section 4ד׳

וַיִּסַּע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וַיָּבֹא בְּאֵרָה שָׁבַע (בראשית מו, א), לְהֵיכָן הָלַךְ, אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן שֶׁהָלַךְ לָקֹץ אֲרָזִים שֶׁנָּטַע אַבְרָהָם זְקֵנוֹ בִּבְאֵר שָׁבַע, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (בראשית כא, לג): וַיִּטַּע וגו'. כְּתִיב (שמות כו, כח): וְהַבְּרִיחַ הַתִּיכֹן בְּתוֹךְ הַקְּרָשִׁים, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי וְהַבְּרִיחַ הַתִּיכֹן שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלשִׁים אַמָּה הָיוּ בוֹ, מֵהֵיכָן מָצְאוּ אוֹתוֹ לַשָּׁעָה, אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ מֻצְנָעִין עִמָּהֶם מִימוֹת יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות לה, כד): וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר נִמְצָא אִתּוֹ עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים, אֲשֶׁר יִמָּצֵא אִתּוֹ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא אֲשֶׁר נִמְצָא אִתּוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי מִמִּגְדַל צְבָעֲיָא קְצָצוּם וֶהֱבִיאוּם עִמָּהֶם לְמִצְרַיִם וְלֹא נִמְצָא בָהֶם לֹא קֶשֶׁר וְלֹא פֶקַע. אָעִין דְּשִׁטִּים הֲוָה בְּמִגְדְּלָא וְהָיוּ נוֹהֲגִים בָּהֶם אִסּוּר מִשּׁוּם קְדֻשַּׁת הָאָרוֹן, אֲתוֹן וְשָׁאֲלוּן לְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא חַבְרֵיהוֹן וְרַבָּנָן, אָמַר לָהֶם אַל תְּשַׁנּוּ מִמִּנְהַג אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם.

“Israel, and everything that he had, traveled and came to Beersheba, and he slaughtered feast-offerings to the God of his father Isaac” (Genesis 46:1). “Israel, and everything that he had, traveled and came to Beersheba” – where did he go? Rav Naḥman said: He went to cut down the cedars that his grandfather Abraham had planted in Beersheba, just as it says: “He planted…[in Beersheba]” (Genesis 21:33). It is written: “And the central bar inside the boards” (Exodus 26:28). Rabbi Levi said: The central bar was thirty-two cubits long. Where did they find it at that time? It teaches that they were hidden with them from the days of Jacob our patriarch. That is what is written: “And everyone with whom acacia wood was found” (Exodus 35:24). “With whom [acacia wood] could be found” is not written here, but rather, “with whom [acacia wood] was found.” Rabbi Levi said: They chopped them down from Migdal Tzevaaya, and they brought them with them to Egypt, and neither was a knot nor a crack was found in them. There were acacia trees in Migdela, and they treated them as prohibited due to the sanctity of the Ark. They came and asked Rabbi Ḥanina, colleague of the Rabbis. He said to them: ‘Do not deviate from the custom of your fathers.’

Section 5ה׳

וַיִּזְבַּח זְבָחִים לֵאלֹהֵי אָבִיו יִצְחָק (בראשית מו, א), אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי חָזַרְתִּי עַל כָּל בַּעֲלֵי אַגָּדָה שֶׁבַּדָּרוֹם שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ לִי פָּסוּק זֶה וְלֹא אָמְרוּ לִי עַד שֶׁעָמַדְתִּי עִם יְהוּדָה בֶּן פְּדָיָה בֶּן אֲחוֹתוֹ שֶׁל בֶּן הַקַּפָּר, וְאָמַר לִי הָרַב וְהַתַּלְמִיד שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בִּתְּחִלָּה שׁוֹאֲלִים בִּשְׁלוֹם הַתַּלְמִיד וְאַחַר כָּךְ שׁוֹאֲלִים בִּשְׁלוֹם הָרַב. אָמַר רַב הוּנָא כַּד אֲתָא רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי לִטְבֶרְיָה שְׁאֵלֵיהּ לְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וּלְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר שֶׁחַיָּב אָדָם בִּכְבוֹד אָבִיו יוֹתֵר מִכְּבוֹד זְקֵנוֹ, וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר עַל בְּרִית הַשְּׁבָטִים הִקְרִיב. בַּר קַפָּרָא וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵף בַּר פַּטְרוֹס חַד מִנְּהוֹן אֲמַר מָה אַבָּא הָיָה לָהוּט אַחַר גְּרוֹנוֹ אַף אֲנִי לָהוּט אַחַר גְּרוֹנִי, וְאוֹחֲרָנָא אָמַר מַה אַבָּא מְשַׁנֶּה בֵּן מִבָּנָיו אַף אֲנִי מְשַׁנֶּה בֵּן מִבָּנָי. חָזַרְתִּי וְאָמַרְתִּי אַבָּא לֹא הָיָה עָלָיו אֶלָּא טַרְחוּת נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת בִּלְבָד, אֲבָל אֲנִי יֵשׁ עָלַי טַרְחוּת שִׁבְעִים נָפֶשׁ. רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר חָמֵשׁ בְּרָכוֹת בֵּרְכַנִי אַבָּא כְּנֶגְדָן נִגְלָה עָלַי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חֲמִשָּׁה פְּעָמִים וּבֵרְכָנִי. רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר חוֹרִי, רַבִּי יוּדָן אָמַר הָיִיתִי סָבוּר שֶׁהוּא מַטְעִימֵנִי מֵאוֹתָן הַבְּרָכוֹת, וּמָה הָיוּ אוֹתָן הַבְּרָכוֹת (בראשית כז, כט): יַעַבְדוּךָ עַמִּים וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ לְאֻמִּים, זֶה יוֹסֵף. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר תַּרְתֵּי, רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְיַחֵד שְׁמוֹ עַל בְּרִיָּה כְּשֶׁהוּא חַי אֶלָּא עַל בַּעֲלֵי יִסּוּרִין, לְפִיכָךְ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן וַיִּזְבַּח זְבָחִים לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, אֶלָּא לֵאלֹהֵי אָבִיו יִצְחָק שֶׁכְּבָר מֵת. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר אוֹחֳרֵי, שֶׁהָיָה בַּעַל יִסּוּרִין. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי רוֹאִים אֶפְרוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק כְּאִלּוּ צָבוּר עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לְכָךְ הִזְכִּיר אֶת יִצְחָק.

“He slaughtered feast-offerings to the God of his father Isaac” – Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: I circulated among all of the aggada experts in the south so that they would explain this verse to me, but they could not tell me [the explanation] until I stood with Yehuda ben Pedaya, the son of ben Kappar’s sister. He said to me: ‘If a teacher and disciple are walking on the way, one first inquires after the wellbeing of the disciple, and then one inquires after the wellbeing of the teacher.’ Rav Huna said: When Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi came to Tiberias, he asked Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: ‘A person is obligated in the honor of his father more than the honor of his grandfather.’ Reish Lakish said: He sacrificed offerings for the covenant of the tribes. Bar Kappara and Rabbi Yosef bar Patros, one said: [Jacob said:] ‘Just as Father was eager to satisfy his throat, I, too, am eager to satisfy my throat.’ The other said: [Jacob said:] ‘Just as Father distinguished one son from his other son, so, too, I distinguished one son from my other sons. Then I said: Father had only the burden of one life, but I have the burden of seventy lives upon me.’ Rabbi Yudan said: [Jacob said:] ‘Father blessed me with five blessings. Corresponding to them, the Holy One blessed be He appeared to me five times and blessed me.’ Rabbi Yudan said another [explanation], Rabbi Yudan said: [Jacob said:] ‘I was under the impression that He would give me a taste of those blessings.’ What were those blessings? “Peoples will serve you and nations will prostrate themselves to you” (Genesis 27:29) – this is Joseph. Rabbi Berekhya said two [statements], Rabbi Berekhya said: The Holy One blessed be He associates His name with a living person only for those who undergo suffering. That is why it is not written here: “He slaughtered feast-offerings to the God of Jacob,” but rather, “to the God of his father Isaac,” who was already dead. Rabbi Berekhya said another [explanation]: It is because he had undergone suffering. The Rabbis say: Isaac’s ashes are viewed as though they are accumulated upon the altar. That is why he mentioned Isaac.

…and 4 more sections in this chapter.

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Bereshit Rabbah — Midrash Rabbah, TE edition, via Sefaria

English: The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022 — CC BY