“The seven years of plenty that was in the land of Egypt concluded” (Genesis 41:53). “The seven years of famine ensued, as Joseph had said; there was famine in all lands, but in all of the land of Egypt there was bread” (Genesis 41:54). “Concluded [vatikhlena]…” – they emerged perfect [mekholalot]. “Ensued [vateḥilena]…” – they entered ill [ḥolaniyot].14Although the Egyptians had eaten on the final day of the seventh year of plenty, on the first day of the first year of famine, they were already afflicted with hunger.
By the time they sat at the table, they sought even coarse bread, but could find none. They said: ‘Is this not what Joseph said: “The food will be as a security [for the land for the seven years of famine]”? (Genesis 41:36).15They needed the security from the beginning of the seven years. “There was famine in all lands” – in three lands: Phoenicia, Arabia, and Philistia. “The entire land of Egypt was hungry, and the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians: Go to Joseph; what he says to you, you shall do” (Genesis 41:55).
“The entire land of Egypt was hungry…what he says to you, you shall do” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: He compelled them to circumcise themselves.16When a Jew purchases a gentile slave, he is obligated to circumcise him. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: “Ḥiyitanu” is not written here, but rather, “you have saved our lives [heḥeyitanu]” (Genesis 47:25)17When the Egyptians tell Joseph “you have saved our lives,” the Hebrew term used is heḥeyitanu instead of the similar form ḥiyitanu.
The extra heh in the word implies that something additional is included, and is interpreted as an allusion to life in the World to Come: By seeing to it that they became circumcised, Joseph assured them of life in the World to Come; alternatively, the meaning is that some Egyptians converted and thereby merited life in the World to Come (see Yefeh To’ar). – you have given us life in this world, and in the World to Come.
“The famine was on the entire face of the earth, and Joseph opened all that was in them, and sold grain to the Egyptians. The famine was intensified in the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:56). “The famine was…everything that [asher] was in them” – the best [hame’usharim] of them.