“Pharaoh said to Joseph: See, I have set you over the entire land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:41). “Pharaoh removed his signet ring from upon his hand, and he placed it upon Joseph's hand, and he dressed him in linen garments, and he placed a gold chain on his neck” (Genesis 41:42). “He had him ride in the alternate chariot that he had, and they cried before him: Kneel [avrekh], and he was set over the entire land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:43).
“Pharaoh said to Joseph…Pharaoh removed…” – Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: Joseph was given what he deserved: His mouth [piv] did not kiss [nashak] in transgression – “my entire people will be sustained at your directive [ve’al pikha yishak]” (Genesis 41:40). His body that did not touch in transgression – “he dressed him in linen garments” (Genesis 41:42). His neck that he did not bend for transgression – “he placed a gold chain on his neck” (Genesis 41:42).
His hands that did not grope in transgression: “Pharaoh removed his signet ring from upon his hand, and he placed it upon Joseph's hand” (Genesis 41:42). His feet that did not stride in transgression, let them come and ride in coaches –“He had him ride in the alternate chariot that he had” (Genesis 41:43). The thought that he did not think in transgression, let it come and be called wisdom. “They cried before him: Kneel [avrekh]” – great [av] in wisdom, but tender [rakh] in years.
But Nebuchadnezzar [is called] “commander [tafsar]” (Jeremiah 51:27) – foolish [tipesh] in wisdom and a prince [sar] in years.3He was advanced in years. “Pharaoh said to Joseph: I am Pharaoh, and without you no man shall lift his hand or his foot in the entire land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:44). “Pharoah said to Joseph: I am Pharaoh, and without you no man shall life his hand” – utensils of the hand. “Or his foot” – utensils of the foot.4The reference is to bearing weapons, referred to here as utensils of the hand, or riding on a horse, referred to here as utensils of the foot. No one was to engage in warfare without Joseph’s command (Nezer HaKodesh).