“It was after these matters…” – there was a contemplation of matters there. Who contemplated? Joseph contemplated. He said: ‘When I was in Father’s house, Father would see which fine portion was there, and he would give it to me.
My brothers would look at me enviously. Now that I am here, I am grateful to You that I have relief.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Carefree one, as you live, I will incite the she-bear against you.’ Another matter, he said: ‘Father was subjected to ordeals, my grandfather was subjected to ordeals, will I not encounter ordeals?’
The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, I will subject you to ordeals greater than theirs.’ Rabbi Menaḥama said in the name of Rabbi Beivai: This was the standard practice of the idolaters: When one of them would acquire slaves, he would go to the astrologer, who would say to him: ‘Behold it is good, a good portent.’ This term, “cast [vatisa],” is nothing other than a term of astrologers, just as it says: “Lest you lift [tisa] your eyes to the heavens [and see the sun and moon and the stars, all the host of the heavens, and you are led astray…]” (Deuteronomy 4:19).
“She said: Lie with me” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: The wicked are accursed. Elsewhere, “spread your garment over your maidservant”7A more modest approach. (Ruth 3:9), but this one, like an animal: “she said: Lie with me.”