Judah Approaches Joseph for War, Prayer, or Appeasement

"Then Judah approached him" (Genesis 44:18). This "approaching" we find is used in three senses: for war, for appeasement, and for prayer. For war, as it is written, "And Joab approached, and the people who were with him, to the battle" (II Samuel 10:13). For appeasement, as it is written, "And they approached him and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle" (Numbers 32:16). For prayer, as it is written, "And Elijah the prophet approached" (I Kings 18:36). And so Judah said to Joseph: if it is for war I come, and if it is for prayer I come, and if it is for appeasement I come. "Pray, my lord" (Genesis 44:18) — by the life of [God], you pass this over us, for so you said to us, "Bring him down to me," etc. (Genesis 44:21). "Let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears" (Genesis 44:18) — let my words enter your ears. The grandmother of this one [Benjamin], because Pharaoh detained her one night, he and all his house were stricken with plagues; beware, lest this man be stricken with leprosy. And they said concerning Judah that at the time he grew hot with anger, the hairs of his heart would pierce his garments and come out, and he would put bars of iron into his mouth and bring them out as dust. "For you are like Pharaoh" (Genesis 44:18) — just as Pharaoh decrees and does not fulfill, so too you decree and do not fulfill; just as Pharaoh lusts after males, so too you lust after males.