“The men took that gift, and they took in their hand double the silver, and Benjamin, and they arose, and they went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph” (Genesis 43:15). “Joseph saw Benjamin with them, and he said to the one in charge of his house: Bring the men to the house and slaughter and prepare, as the men shall dine with me at noon” (Genesis 43:16). “The men took…Joseph saw…with them…and prepare [vehakhen]” – prepare is for nothing other than Shabbat, just as it says: “It will be on the sixth day, they shall prepare…” (Exodus 16:5).
This is to say that Joseph observed the Shabbat before it was given. “The man did as Joseph said, and the man brought the men to Joseph's house” (Genesis 43:17). “The men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph's house; they said: We have been brought on the matter of the silver that was restored before to our sacks, to falsely accuse us, and attack us, and take us as slaves, and our donkeys” (Genesis 43:18).
“They approached the man in charge of Joseph's house, and they spoke to him at the entrance of the house” (Genesis 43:19). “The man did…The men were afraid…They approached the man” – it teaches that he was pushing them inside, and they were pushing him outside. “They said: Please my lord, we initially descended to acquire food” (Genesis 43:20). “We…descended” – it is a descent for us.
In our land, we would support others, now we need your support. “He said: Peace be with you, fear not; your God, and the God of your father, gave you hidden treasure in your sacks; your silver came to me. And he took Simeon out to them” (Genesis 43:23). “He said: Peace be with you, fear not” – whether it is due to your merit or due to the merit of your fathers.
“Your God…gave you hidden treasure…” – in any case, “your silver came to me.” “He took Simeon out to them” – Rabbi Ḥagai said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: He rendered him like a cruse of oil when he incarcerated him,8A cruse of oil is wide on the bottom. So too, Simeon had grown fat due to the large quantity of food with which he was provided (Etz Yosef; see Bereshit Rabba 91:8). as it is written: “And incarcerated him before their eyes” (Genesis 42:24). “They prepared…Joseph came…” (Genesis 43:25–26).