In Parshat Vayigash, perek 44, pasuk 18, Yehuda asks to speak with Yosef and says "For you are like Pharaoh". What does Yehuda mean when he says this to Yosef? Rashi asks this question and seems to think that Yehuda said to Yosef that just as Pharaoh doesn't keep his word or promises, neither does Yosef when he says he wants to "set an eye upon" Binyamin.
What other explanations are there for why Yehuda says Yosef is just like Pharaoh?
Sforno explains that when יהודה says that יוסף is like פרעה he is saying that he is adressing יוסף as representing פרעה. Yehuda is saying "since you are representing Pharaoh...."
ReplyDeleteThe Rashbam said that he was literally comparing Yosef to Paroh. He viewed him as an equal to the king, in that he was afraid of Yosef's anger just as he feared Paroh's
ReplyDeleteRashi explains that Yehuda meant that Yosef will eventually get tzara'at, just like pharoah was punished for keeping Sarah for one night.
ReplyDeleteMa'ayanot's very own talelai orot says that the reason Yehuda says Yosef is like Pharoh is to teach the Jewish people a lesson, which is: the value in being honest but still respectful when speaking to someone. The first thing Yehuda tells him is completely blunt- that what he is about to say may anger Yosef. But he then goes on to acknowledge Yosef's title and lower himself to call himself a servant. This teaches us the importance in learning to balance being respectful and honest at the same time.
ReplyDelete-Hannah
Rashi says the simple reason is Yosef is important like Paroh. A deeper meaning is just as Parohs ancestors suffered tzraat from taking Sara, Yosef will exprience tzraat from taking Binyamin.
ReplyDeleteR’ Zvi Yechezkel Michelsohn builds on Rsahi's answer and says that Tehuda thought that the difficulties they were having with Yosef were due to a bad translator. If he were to say "You are like Pharoah" Then it would be interpreted as either "You are as important as Pharoah," "You will get tzraat like Pharoah," or "You do not keep your promises like Pharoah." So for this reason Yehuda asks to speak to Pharoah directly to try and ease their problems and not anger Yosef.
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