Judah Pleads for Benjamin and Warns of a Plague Upon Egypt

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayigash 6:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of (Genesis 44:18): "Pray, my lord (bi adoni)." It is the way of the world that one who buys a slave and finds him to be a thief returns him. Yet this one (Benjamin), who was found to be a thief — you seek to acquire him as a slave! You are suspect of evil things. If you seek him to serve you, I know how to serve better than he. If you seek him for war, I know how to wage war better than he. (Genesis 44:33:) "Let your servant please remain as a slave to my lord in place of the lad." (Genesis 44:18:) "Let your servant please speak a word." Rabbi Jeremiah ben Shemayah said: He said to him — if I let my voice be heard, a plague will come upon Egypt. "Let your servant please speak (a word) [davar]" — and na ("please") denotes nothing but Egypt, as it is stated (in Nahum 3:8): "Are you better than No-Amon (No-Amon)?"

Themes

EgyptTribesMiraclesWarPlagues

Biblical References

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