Another matter, “Joseph was taken down to Egypt.” “Joseph was the ruler” (Genesis 42:6). “Joseph was taken down [hurad] to Egypt” – he ruled over them, just as it says: “He will rule [veyerd] from sea to sea” (Psalms 72:8). He subdued them, just as it says: “For he had dominion [rodeh] over the entire region across the River” (I Kings 5:4).

He imposed relocation upon them,3See Genesis 47:21. just as it says: “He scraped it [vayirdehu] into his hands” (Judges 14:9). He caused Jacob our patriarch to descend [horid] to Egypt. Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon: This is analogous to a cow that they were pulling to the slaughterhouse, but it would not be pulled. What did they do to it?

They pulled its offspring before it, and it was walking after it despite itself, and to its [ultimate] detriment. So, Jacob was supposed to descend to Egypt in chains and neck chains.4This is because of the decree of enslavement in the Covenant between the Pieces (see Genesis 15:13). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Shall I take My firstborn son down [to Egypt] in disgrace? And if I introduce it into Pharaoh’s heart, would I not be taking him down [to Egypt] in public?5If I introduce it into Pharaoh’s heart to bring Jacob down to Egypt in an honorable fashion, the public nature of the spectacle of his leaving the Land of Israel would itself cause Jacob great discomfort (Etz Yosef).

Instead, I will draw his son before him, and he will descend after him despite himself and to his [ultimate] detriment.’ He took down the Divine Presence with him. Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Simon: From where do we derive that the Divine Presence descended with him? From what is written: “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2).

“To Egypt [Mitzraima]” – it is taught in the name of Rabbi Neḥemya: Any word that requires a lamed at its start, a heh [can be] placed at its end [instead]: Sedoma, Se’ira, Mitzraima, Ḥarana.6The lamed as a prefix or the heh as a suffix both mean “to.” These are examples where the verse uses the heh at the end of the name of the place, indicating “to Sodom” and the like. But is it not written: “The wicked will return to the netherworld [lishola]”? (Psalms 9:18).7Lishola has both a lamed at the start and a heh at the end. Rabbi Abba bar Zavda said: [They will be sent] to the lowest compartment in the netherworld.