“Judah approached him, and said: My lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord's ears, and do not become incensed with your servant, as you are like Pharaoh” (Genesis 44:18). “Judah approached him, and said: Please my lord, may your servant speak a word in my lord's ears, and do not become incensed with your servant, as you are like Pharaoh.” “My son, if you became a guarantor for your friend… you have been snared by the sayings of your mouth…Do this [and be delivered]…” (Proverbs 6:1–3) – Rabbi Ḥanina said: Flee from three things, and adhere to three things: Flee from deposits,1This refers to one who deposits an object with someone for safekeeping. from refusals,2If a girl has been orphaned of her father, the Rabbis instituted a rule that her mother and brothers can accept a betrothal on her behalf.
It is betrothal by rabbinic law, and she has the right to refuse to remain in this relationship when she reaches age twelve. Rabbi Ḥanina said that one should not counsel the girl to refuse to remain. and from serving as a guarantor between one person and another. Adhere to ḥalitza,3If a married man dies without children, it is a mitzva for the man’s brother to marry his widow in a levirate marriage.
If he refuses, the widow performs ḥalitza, in order to dissolve the levirate bond. to nullification of vows, and to introducing peace between one person and another. Rabbi Berekhya said that Rabbi Shimon bar Abba said: Its name is not a deposit [pikadon], but rather, puk don – take this out.4Do not allow a deposit into your house. Another matter, “my son, if you became a guarantor for your friend” – this is Judah, [as it states]: “I will guarantee him” (Genesis 43:9).
“If you have shaken your hands for a stranger”5By which you are agreeing to become a guarantor. (Proverbs 6:1) – “from my hand you can demand him” (Genesis 43:9).6The midrash relates Judah’s acceptance of responsibility for Benjamin, “from my hand you can demand him,” to the statement in the verse in Proverbs about shaking hands when becoming a guarantor. “You have been snared by the sayings of your mouth” – “if I do not bring him to you” (Genesis 43:9).
“Do this, then, my son, and be delivered” (Proverbs 6:3) – go and cleave to the dust of his feet and accept his kingdom and lordship – “Judah approached him.”7According to this, Judah approached Joseph in order to kiss his feet and accept his kingship (Etz Yosef).