“Joseph commanded to fill their vessels with grain, and to restore each man's silver to his sack, and to give them provisions for the way, and he did so to them” (Genesis 42:25). “They loaded their grain onto their donkeys, and went from there” (Genesis 42:26). “One of them opened his sack to give feed to his donkey at the inn. He saw his silver; behold, it was in the opening of his sack” (Genesis 42:27).

“He said to his brothers: My silver was returned and, behold, it is in my sack. Their hearts sank, and they trembled one with another, saying: What is this that God has done to us?” (Genesis 42:28). “Joseph commanded to fill…They loaded their grain onto their donkeys…One of them opened…Each one said to his brother.”52The last citation is a paraphrase of Genesis 42:28. When Rabbi Simon bar Zevida died, Rabbi Ela entered and began [his eulogy] for him: “But wisdom, where will it be found? …It is vanished from the eyes of all living… The deep says: It is not…” (Job 28:12, 21, 14).

There are four matters that are essential for the world’s needs, and all of them have replacements. These are: “For there is a source of silver and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the dust, and copper is smelted from rock” (Job 28:1–2). But when a Torah scholar dies, we cannot find a replacement for him.

Rabbi Levi said: When the tribes found something,53Whey they found the silver that had been returned to the sack. it is written: “Their hearts sank”; we who lost Rabbi Simon, all the more so. “They came to their father Jacob, to the land of Canaan, and they told him all that had befallen them, saying” (Genesis 42:29). “They came to their father Jacob…[and they told him all that had befallen [hakorot] them]” – it teaches that the matters weighed heavily upon them like beams [kekorot].54Like the beams of an olive-press that weigh heavily upon the olives.

“The man, lord of the land, spoke harshly with us, and accused us as spies of the land” (Genesis 42:30). “It was as they were emptying their sacks, and, behold, each man's packet of silver was in his sack. They and their father saw their bags of silver, and they were afraid” (Genesis 42:35). “The man, lord of the land, spoke… It was as they were emptying their sacks…” – it teaches that their father suspected them.55When Jacob saw the silver, he suspected them of stealing it, and therefore also suspected them of wrongdoing regarding the disappearance of Joseph and Simeon, as the following verse suggests.

“Jacob their father said to them: You have bereaved me: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and Benjamin you will take; all of these have come upon me” (Genesis 42:36). “Jacob their father said to them… [all of these have come upon me]” – Joseph is already not [with us], and Simeon is not, but it is incumbent “upon me” to produce twelve tribes. “Reuben said to his father, saying: Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; place him in my charge, and I will return him to you” (Genesis 42:37).

“Reuben said to his father…” – Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: This is a firstborn imbecile. Are your sons not my sons? I wonder. “He said: My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and only he remains, and disaster will befall him on the path on which you will go; you will cause my old age to descend in sorrow to the grave” (Genesis 42:38).

“He said: My son will not go down with you…” – Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Marinos, both of them said in the name of Abba Nehorai: When a person would say a worthy statement before Rabbi Tarfon, he would say: “A knob and a flower [kaftor vaferaḥ].”56These were parts of the ornamentation of the candelabrum and referring to them indicates that the statement was pleasing. But when he would say nonsense, he would say: “My son will not go down with you.”57Just as Jacob refused to agree to Reuben’s suggestion, Rabbi Tarfon was indicating his refusal to agree with the statement that had been made.

“On the path on which you will go; [you will cause my old age to descend in sorrow to the grave]” – but not in the house?58Was it only on the path that disaster could befall Benjamin? From here it is derived that the accuser accuses only in a time of danger.