“He lifted his eyes, saw the women and the children, and said: Who are these to you? He said: The children with whom God has graced your servant” (Genesis 33:5). “He lifted his eyes” – Rabbi Binyamin bar Levi said: Because we heard grace regarding eleven tribes, but we did not hear regarding Benjamin;19He was not yet born when Jacob said: “The children with whom God has graced your servant.” where did we hear?
It was elsewhere: “He said: God be gracious to you, my son” (Genesis 43:29).20Joseph said it to Benjamin. “The maidservants approached, they and their children, and they prostrated themselves” (Genesis 33:6). “Leah too, and her children, approached, and prostrated themselves; and then Joseph and Rachel approached, and prostrated themselves” (Genesis 33:7). “The maidservants approached, they and their children, and they prostrated themselves.
Leah too, and her children, approached…” Regarding Joseph it is written: “And then Joseph and Rachel approached, and prostrated themselves.” Joseph said: This wicked one has a covetous eye. Let him not direct his eyes and look at my mother. He stood tall and obscured her.
That is what is written: “Joseph is a fruitful tree [ben porat], a fruitful tree alongside a spring [alei ayin]” (Genesis 49:22) – Joseph, you grew like a fruitful tree to block an eye [alei ayin].21To obscure Rachel from Esau’s eye. Joseph, you grew due to cows [ben parot].22The reference is to the cows in Pharaoh’s dream. “A fruitful tree alongside a spring [alei ayin]” – you grew due to produce [ben perot].23The reference is to the sheaves in Pharaoh’s dream.
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Simon: It is incumbent upon me to repay you due to that eye.24Due to the eye that you blocked from seeing Rachel. “To repay [lifro’a]” is expounded from the word porat.