Bereishis
Book 1: Genesis


VAYIGASH - NOTES ON RASHI COMMENTARY


Chapter 44 - Text Notes

1 This does not mean that Yehudah intended to whisper in Yoseif's ear, for he was addressing the interpreter, as is mentioned above (42, 23).

2 Why did Yehudah anticipate anger from Yoseif?

3 V. 21.

4 What is the point of Yehudah's informing Yoseif of a conversation of which Yoseif is obviously aware?

5 I.e., "Your questions about the family would apply only if marriage between our families were contemplated.

6 V. 20.

7 But Yehudah did not know for certain that he was dead!

8 Unlike Ibn Ezra, Rashbam, Sforno, etc. who explain {Hebrew Ref} that Yaakov would die, Rashi's opinion is that it refers to Binyomin. See also Rashi v. 31.

9 See Rashi above 42, 4.

10 Unlike v. 22, here {Hebrew Ref} refers to Yaakov.

11 "For your servant, etc.," implies an answer to a question.

12 Why should Yoseif agree to this exchange?


Chapter 45 - Text Notes

13 1. Why did Yoseif not call them closer before he made himself known to them? (previous verse). 2. Why did he again identify himself saying {Hebrew Ref} ---"I am Yoseif" as he did in the previous verse?

14 Thus, he now asks them to come close to him.

15 Upon seeing that they are incredulous that he is Yoseif, he again identifies himself and convinces them by showing that he is circumcised.

16 Often in Scripture travel to Eretz Yisrael is referred to as {Hebrew Ref} ---going up. See above 44, 17 and 33, Shemos 33, 1; Devarim 1, 24; 32, 13.

17 I Shmuel 2, 7, "He impoverishes and makes rich."

18 Why does he mention Binyomin's eyes separately from all the brothers' eyes?

19 Why is the word {Hebrew Ref} (lit. necks) in the plural form?

20 {Hebrew Ref} ---the neck, is symbolic of the Temple. See Shir Hashirim Rabbah 4, 11.

21 See above v. 20.

22 When he told them that he will give them the best of the Land of Egypt.

23 Fish are found nearer to the surface of the sea and not in its depths. Rashi's use of the word {Hebrew Ref} --- depths is a play on {Hebrew Ref} (Shemos 12, 36) "They emptied Egypt of its wealth."

24 See Rashi Vayikra 3, 9.

25 Pharaoh was addressing Yoseif alone, then why does he use {Hebrew Ref} ---you (secondperson plural) shall do?

26 Megillah 16b.

27 B.R. 94, 2.

28 Which, according to the Midrash have a soothing effect on a troubled soul.

29 I.e., lest you become so involved in discussion that you lose your way.

30 Very large steps are injurious to health (Taanis 10b).

31 See above 40, 14; 43, 7.

32 For up to that point he had believed that Yoseif may still be alive.

33 Beitzah 14a. "Spices lose their taste ( {Hebrew Ref} )," i.e., their taste ceases to exist.

34 Eichah 3, 49.

35 Yirmiyahu 48, 11.

36 {Hebrew Ref} ---wagon being an allusion to {Hebrew Ref} ---heifer.

37 Which should have been the case had {Hebrew Ref} referred to the wagons.

38 See Onkelos.


Chapter 46 - Text Notes

39 See Rashi, above, 28, 2.

40 Is He not also the G-d of his grandfather, Avraham?

41 But, Yaakov never came back alive to Eretz Yisrael!

42 Below 50, 5. See Rashi, ibid.

43 Thus: {Hebrew Ref} ---I piled up.

44 {Hebrew Ref} is actually in the present tense: "who are coming."

45 This cannot be taken literally because Avraham and Yitzchok forbade their children from marrying Canaanites. See above 24, 3; 28, 6.

46 I.e., Shechem.

47 As to the question of how Shimon was permitted to marry his sister, see lengthy discussion in Gur Aryeh.

48 Bamidbar 26, 59.

49 See Rashi above 31, 4.

50 Esther 2, 4.

51 Above 29, 6.

52 V. 27.

53 See Rashi above 35, 17---then there should have been more than seventy souls.

54 4, 6.

55 Eisov and his five sons (above 36, 3-5).

56 Above 36, 6.

57 {Hebrew Ref} has various meanings: 1) in the presence of (Shemos 4, 21), 2) before or earlier (above 29, 26), 3) ahead of the one behind (above 32, 30). According to Onkelos' explanation {Hebrew Ref} means ahead of his arrival. According to the Midrashic explanation it means: in his presence, i.e., {Hebrew Ref} ---so that there be a house of study in the presence of Yaakov.

58 B.R. 95, 3.

59 Did Yoseif not have servants to do this?

60 Iyov 34, 23.

61 {Hebrew Ref} ---Even if I die now I will have been consoled.

62 According to the plain meaning {Hebrew Ref} means: at this time. According to the Midrashic explanation it means: once.


Chapter 47 - Text Notes

63 Devarim 33.

64 Ibid, 7.

65 Ibid, 20.

66 Ibid, 23.

67 Ibid, 22.

68 Ibid, 18.

69 Ibid, 24.

70 Bava Kamma 92a.

71 The reason being that Moshe said a special prayer that Yehudah's bones should no longer rattle in the coffin as his remains were carried on the forty-year trek through the dessert. (See Bava Kamma 92a. Also see Rashi Deut. 33, 7.)

72 Though elsewhere in Scripture {Hebrew Ref} refers to "men of valour," but, here, it could not have that meaning for they were the weak ones.

73 Yaakov could not have meant that he did not live as long as his fathers, for he was still alive.

74 Again?

75 Were the adult members of the household not provided for?

76 The intent here is that bread was provided even for the children, who tend to waste much of the bread.

77 This verse must be chronologically out of order since Rashi tells us (v. 19) that the famine ended once Yaakov arrived in Egypt.

78 I.e., the account of the first two years of the famine.

79 Mishlei 26, 18.

80 Yeshayahu 51, 18.

81 Tehillim 23, 3.

82 Unlike Ramban, who renders it: the second year after all the money was ended.

83 The word {Hebrew Ref} , here, could not possibly mean "if  ", for, obviously, they knew whether the money was used up.

84 I.e., here {Hebrew Ref} has the meaning as {Hebrew Ref} --- that.

85 Here, {Hebrew Ref} means not.

86 Above 45, 6.

87 Then why did they ask for seeds to sow?

88 10, 8.

89 In the moving of people from city to city.

90 This should not be taken to mean that he transferred the people who lived at one end of Egypt to the other end because, then, what would he have done with those living in central Egypt?

91 Shemos 2, 16.

92 Above 41, 45.

93 Yechezkel 16, 43.

94 This [slaves] is not to be taken literally.


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