Why Joseph Went Down to Egypt First and Spared Israel Chains

Another interpretation (of Gen. 39:1): "And Joseph was brought down to Egypt." This is what Scripture says (Hos. 11:4): "With cords of a man I drew them, with bands of love." Israel deserved to go down to Egypt in chains and in neck-irons, just as they went down to Babylon, had not Joseph gone first. Everything that befell Joseph befell Zion; that which is written of Joseph is written of Zion. Of Joseph it is written (Gen. 39:6): "fair of form and fair of appearance," and of Zion it is written (Lam. 2:15): "the perfection of beauty." Therefore Jacob was afraid to go down to Egypt, because it had been decreed concerning Abraham (Gen. 15:13): "Know surely that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs," and so he settled in the land of Canaan. They came and said to him: Joseph was sold, who was likened to an ox, as it is said (Deut. 33:17): "His firstling ox, majesty is his," and behold, he is set in Egypt. When Jacob heard this, he said: Behold, I am going down to Egypt, even though I am paying off the bonds of Abraham. Immediately (Gen. 45:28): "And Israel said: It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive." Immediately all the tribes went down with him. Who caused them to go down to Egypt? Joseph. (Hos. 11:4): "With cords of a man I drew them" — this is Joseph. (Gen. 39:1): "And Joseph was brought down to Egypt."