Why Joseph Named His Sons and Wept Before His Brothers

Another interpretation: When Judah saw that Joseph would not be appeased, he began to say to his brothers, "[Why] are we standing here? From this one we will begin, and with Pharaoh we will finish." And they did not know that Joseph understood their language, as it is said, "And they did not know that Joseph was listening" (Genesis 42:23). When Joseph saw this, he began to speak to them with pleadings and with soft language. He said to them, "I do not wish to know anything except about this Benjamin: who gave him the counsel to steal the goblet? Perhaps it was you who gave him counsel to steal the goblet." When Benjamin heard this, he said, "They did not give me counsel, and I did not touch the goblet." He said to him, "Swear to me." He began to swear to him. And by what did he swear to him? By the separation of my brother Joseph from me: "I did not touch him, nor in the shooting of the arrows that were shot at him, as it is said, 'And the archers hated him' (Genesis 49:23); nor in the stripping with which they stripped him, as it is said, 'And they stripped Joseph of his tunic' (Genesis 37:23); nor in the throwing with which they threw him into the pit, as it is said, 'And they cast him into the pit' (Genesis 37:24); nor in the selling with which they sold him to the Ishmaelites; nor in the dipping with which they dipped his tunic in blood — that they did not give me counsel, and I did not touch the goblet." Joseph said, "Who will make known to me that you are swearing about your brothers truthfully?" He said to him, "From the names of my sons you can know how much I cherish him, for I brought forth their names according to what happened to him." He said to him, "And what are the names of your sons?" He said to him, "Bela, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard" (Genesis 46:21). He said to him, "Why Bela?" He said to him, "Because my brother was swallowed up (nivla) from me. And Becher, because he was the firstborn (bekhor) to my mother. And Ashbel, because my brother was taken captive (shenishbah). Gera, because he was a sojourner (ger) in lodging. Naaman, because his words were pleasant (ne'imim). Ehi, because he was my brother (ahi) from the same mother, and I have none but him. And Rosh, because he was greater than I. Muppim, because he learned Torah from the mouth (mi-pi) of our father and taught it to me — and all his brothers would return and shepherd, while he sat beside my father and learned from him the traditions which he had received from Shem and Eber. And Huppim, because he was covered over (shenithapeh) until this very day. Another interpretation of Huppim: because I did not see his wedding canopy (huppah) and he did not see my wedding canopy. Another interpretation of Huppim: because until now I am mourning for him and go barefoot (yahef). And Ard, because he brought down (horid) all of us here. Another interpretation of Ard: 'For I will go down (ered) to my son mourning, to Sheol' (Genesis 37:35). I beg of you, do not bring down my father in grief to Sheol." And likewise Judah said, "For how shall I go up to my father, [and the lad not be with me]" (Genesis 44:34). When Joseph heard this, he could not restrain his compassion, as it is said, "And Joseph could not restrain himself" (Genesis 45:1), "and he gave forth his voice in weeping" (Genesis 45:2), "and Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph'" (Genesis 45:3). When he said to them, "I am Joseph (your brother)," his brothers could not answer him, for they were terrified before him (Genesis 45:3). Rabbi Eleazar son of Rabbi Simeon said in the name of Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah: If, in the case of Joseph, who said to his brothers, "I am Joseph," and they knew what they had done to him, they could not answer him — when the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to contend with each and every one of the creatures and to tell him his deeds, as it is written, "For behold, He who forms the mountains and creates the wind and declares to a man what his thought is" (Amos 4:13) — how much more so will no creature be able to stand.