Judah's Confession Before Joseph and the Sins of the Brothers

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 44:16

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And Judah said: What shall we say to my lord?" — concerning the affair of Tamar. "What shall we speak?" — concerning the affair of Bilhah. "How shall we clear ourselves?" — concerning Dinah. "God has found out the iniquity of your servants" — concerning the selling of Joseph. Another interpretation: "What shall we say to my lord?" — concerning the first money. "What shall we speak?" — concerning the second money. "How shall we clear ourselves?" — concerning the goblet. Another interpretation: "What shall we say to my lord?" — to our father who is in the land of Canaan. "What shall we speak?" — concerning Simeon. "How shall we clear ourselves?" — concerning Benjamin. Another interpretation: "What shall we say?" — if we say "we have sinned," the sin is revealed and known before the Name that we have not sinned; and if we say to you that we have not sinned — "God has found out the iniquity of your servants": the creditor has found a way to collect His debt. Another interpretation: "How shall we clear ourselves (nitztadak)?" — by way of notarikon: nun — innocent (neqiyyim); tzadi — righteous (tzaddiqim); tet — pure (tehorim); dalet — crushed/cleansed (dakkim); quf — holy (qedoshim). Another interpretation: "What shall we say to my lord?" — as its plain meaning. "What shall we speak?" — to my father, for I pledged myself as surety for him. "How shall we clear ourselves?" — before the Shekhinah.

Themes

Divine JusticeTribesJosephSinWisdom

Biblical References

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