Bereishis
Book 1: Genesis


MIKEITZ - NOTES ON RASHI COMMENTARY


Chapter 41 - Text Notes

1 Why is the fine appearance of the cows also symbolic of the abundant years?

2 Iyov 8, 11.

3 See v. 30.

4 Unlike after the first dream, when Pharaoh intended to return to sleep.

5 {Hebrew Ref} being a play on {Hebrew Ref} .

6 Daniel 2, 1.

7 I.e., those that shout into the bones of the dead.

8 Oholos 17:3.

9 Why the stress on {Hebrew Ref} ---for Pharaoh?

10 I.e., he found what they were saying unacceptable.

11 See above 40, 5, Rashi {Hebrew Ref} .

12 Calling Yoseif, who, at the time, was 30 years old (v. 46), a lad is obviously meant disparagingly.

13 I.e., the subject of the verb is left to the readers understanding.

14 Below 42, 23, meaning "That Yoseif understood."

15 Dev. 28, 49.

16 II Shmuel 13, 4.

17 I.e., the second dream is only a repetition of the first dream.

18 V. 32.

19 V. 25.

20 V. 28.

21 From what occurrence in the dream did Yoseif interpret this?

22 Shemos 13, 18.

23 Rashi's name for what we call a {Hebrew Ref} .

24 Vayikra 7, 25.

25 Rashi's name for what we call {Hebrew Ref} .

26 {Hebrew Ref} can mean: 1) "Can there be found?"--- being in the {Hebrew Ref} conjugation---third-person-singular, or 2) "Can we find?"---in the {Hebrew Ref} conjugation--- first-person-plural. Had Onkelos intended the former he would translate it {Hebrew Ref} ---"Can there be found."

27 Above 15, 2.

28 Tehillim 2, 12.

29 I Melachim 1, 37.

30 I.e., even in the sense of appointing.

31 Devar. 26, 19.

32 Malachi 2, 9.

33 Mishlei 7, 16.

34 Middos 1, 8.

35 Yoma 43b.

36 Rashi points out the connection between the roots {Hebrew Ref} and {Hebrew Ref} .

37 Unlike Ramban and Ibn Ezra who identify the {Hebrew Ref} as the chariot of the viceroy, Rashi explains it as the second-ranking chariot, as does Onkelos.

38 Other version: {Hebrew Ref} ---in Latin, {Hebrew Ref} (Rex) means king.

39 Bava Basra 4a.

40 Sifrei, Devar. 1.

41 I.e., they would subjugate themselves (kneel) to him.

42 I.e., you will rule, but I will be called king.

43 V. 40.

44 {Hebrew Ref} ---[No man shall pick up] his hand to carry a sword, {Hebrew Ref} ---or his foot to ride upon a horse.

45 I.e., {Hebrew Ref} ---the inhabitants of the land stored up.

46 I.e., gathering or storing can be referred to as {Hebrew Ref} , e.g., {Hebrew Ref} --- gathering cattle and goods (Yechezkel 38, 12).

47 I.e., there is no mention of who it is that stopped counting.

48 Unlike the first {Hebrew Ref} of this verse ( {Hebrew Ref} ) which means that. (See above, Rashi 18, 15.)

49 What is the significance of their being born before the famine?

50 But, the previous verse states, "In all the land of Egypt there was bread!"

51 Why was it necessary for Pharaoh to give this order?

52 Onkelos adds the word grain, which is not mentioned in the text.

53 Below 43, 2.

54 Yeshayahu 55, 1.

55 The words of this verse must be transposed to be understood. Instead of {Hebrew Ref} it should be understood as if it had said {Hebrew Ref} .


Chapter 42 - Text Notes

56 V. 2.

57 {Hebrew Ref} (hope) being a play on the word {Hebrew Ref} (food).

58 Mishlei 11, 25. This verse is intended as support for Rashi's first explanation of {Hebrew Ref} ---"Why do you show yourselves to be satiated (or satisfied)?" (M.) Gur Aryeh explains the verse thus: {Hebrew Ref} ---"And he will also satisfy the hungry." Accordingly, Rashi cites the verse as support for his latter explanation of {Hebrew Ref} .

59 {Hebrew Ref} , 200+ {Hebrew Ref} , 4+ {Hebrew Ref} , 6=210.

60 V. 4. Hence we can ourselves deduce that ten brothers went down to Egypt.

61 It is for this reason that in V. 5 it is stated: {Hebrew Ref} ---"The sons of Yisrael came to buy"and they are not referred to as the ten sons of Yisrael.

62 Is it not obvious that they came among the others?

63 Therefore, their appearance had not changed significantly.

64 Thus, his appearance had changed.

65 Why the repetition of the fact that Yoseif recognized them; first in v. 7 and again here? The Midrash explains that the former refers to the physical recognition, whereas the latter, to the way Yoseif treated his brothers.

66 Vayikra 20, 18.

67 Yechezkel 16, 7.

68 II Melachim 12, 6.

69 The statement seems to include all of the people present!

70 Shemos 10, 29.

71 Bamid. 27, 7.

72 Yeshayahu 16, 6.

73 How is this statement a response to Yoseif's accusation that they are spies?

74 I.e., Yoseif accused them of being spies based on their entering the city at ten different gates. Here, the brothers explain why they did so.

75 Rashi explains that Yoseif does not mean that he agrees with the brothers.

76 I.e., "If Pharaoh lives, you will not leave from here!"

77 Rashi (above 51, 56 {Hebrew Ref} ) explained that {Hebrew Ref} can mean either bought or sold. Here it refers to that which was bought.

78 Bamid. 5, 22.

79 I Melachim 8, 26.

80 91, 8.

81 See Rashi above 29, 6 {Hebrew Ref} .

82 {Hebrew Ref} usually refers to hearing or listening. However, sometimes it means understanding. See also Rashi above, 41, 15.

83 Why did he weep rather than be angry?

84 Why Shimon?

85 Above 37, 19.

86 Why stress "Before their eyes"?

87 Why {Hebrew Ref} ---with the definite article {Hebrew Ref} ?

88 {Hebrew Ref} also intimates another item as well.


Chapter 43 - Text Notes

89 Rashi surmises that it was Yehudah because only he responded to Yaakov's request of "Go back and buy a little food for us."

90 Above 24, 22.

91 There is a connection between {Hebrew Ref} , meaning warned and {Hebrew Ref} , meaning witness.

92 Yirmiyahu 11, 7.

93 Shemos 19, 21.

94 Onkelos translates {Hebrew Ref} as unless or only. Rashi, however, translates it as without.

95 In translating {Hebrew Ref} as only, Onkelos was forced to insert {Hebrew Ref} ---when, which does not actually appear in the verse.

96 I.e., as to why {Hebrew Ref} [lit. our birth ] is the word used.

97 Above 24, 33. See Rashi ibid.

98 Below 45, 27.

99 Once Yehudah promised to bring him back, why does he promise to "Set him before you"?

100 There is no literal translation for {Hebrew Ref} in this context.

101 See Rashi above 27, 33 and 37.

102 I.e., now that you have prepared the tribute.

103 What is the source of G-d's Name, {Hebrew Ref} ?

104 For additional explanations of {Hebrew Ref} , see above, Rashi 17, 1; 28, 3.

105 Shemos 21, 26.

106 For he certainly still held out hope for them, indicated by the fact that he prayed for them.

107 Whereas the verse uses the term {Hebrew Ref} ---taking for the gifts and money, as well as for Binyomin. Onkelos, however, uses {Hebrew Ref} for the former and {Hebrew Ref} for the latter.

108 Nevertheless, the intent here is the imperative for, occasionally, the infinitive is used for the imperative as in {Hebrew Ref} . (Shemos 20, 8.)

109 Taanis 11b.

110 Berachos 39b.

111 {Hebrew Ref} with one yud means: "and they saw."

112 Devarim 22, 14.

113 {Hebrew Ref} ---to act as a lord.

114 Koheles 12, 6.

115 Nachum 2, 8.

116 Why did he say both {Hebrew Ref} and {Hebrew Ref} ?

117 Has it not already been stated (in v. 17) that they had been brought into the house?

118 V. 23.

119 What was there to prepare? They had already brought the gift with them!

120 Gur Aryeh is of the opinion that Rashi is referring to the first {Hebrew Ref} in the verse. Where might Yoseif have been that he now came into the house? Thus, "from the vestibule." Others, however, suggest that Rashi is referring to the second {Hebrew Ref} in the verse. Yoseif and his brothers were already in the house. Then, why does it now state that they brought the gift into the house?

121 They had already prostrated themselves in v. 26. Why now again?

122 Above 33, 5.

123 36b.

124 Bava Metzia 74a.

125 Pesachim 58a.

126 Eichah 5, 10.

127 Iyov 41, 7.

128 Ibid, 12, 21.

129 I.e., since the Hebrews eat meat of sheep which the Egyptians worship.

130 Though Leah, too, had already died (see below 49, 37), Yoseif meant to convey that Binyomin was raised without having a mother at all, since Rochel died in childbirth.

131 Gur Aryeh asks: They were not yet aware that he was Yoseif. Why, then, did they now drink? He answers: They thought that he still suspected them of being spies and intended to intoxicate them in order to get the truth from them. Thus, they agreed to drink so as not to further arouse his suspicion.


Chapter 44 - Text Notes

132 What is the difference between {Hebrew Ref} and {Hebrew Ref} ?

133 According to Rashi {Hebrew Ref} is derived from {Hebrew Ref} ---profane. According to Onkelos it is derived from {Hebrew Ref} ---to plead.

134 An inference from minor to major.

135 92, 7.

136 Why does it not say: "And they returned to Egypt"?

137 But, was not the goblet the instrument with which he divined? Rashi answers that Yoseif was referring to his intellectual abilities and not to divining.

138 Since they were innocent of Yoseif 's charge, to what iniquity is Yehudah referring?

139 Yehudah does not admit to any guilt concerning the goblet, only that G-d has found a way of punishing them for an old sin.

140 Daniel 4, 30.

141 Yehoshua 9, 4.

142 Mishlei 13, 17.

143 Yehoshua 9, 12.

144 Above 42, 25.

145 I.e., is placed between.

146 Koheles 12, 5.

147 Daniel 7, 8.

148 Michah 6, 16.

149 Yeshayahu 59, 15.

150 Iyov 12, 17.

151 Shemos 9, 17.

152 Yirmiyahu 18, 15.


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