Midrash Tanchuma, Miketz 10

And God almighty give you mercy before the man (Gen. 43:14). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: For this let everyone that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found (Ps. 32:6). R. Abba maintained: In a time when Thou mayest be found refers to old age. It is essential that a man pray for an old age in which his eyes may see, his mouth may eat, and his feet may walk. Normally, when a man becomes old, his faculties leave him. For example, it is written about Isaac: And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see (Gen. 27:1). And concerning Jacob, Scripture states: Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see (Gen. 48:10). As to a mouth that could not eat, we find that Barzillai said to David: Can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear anymore the voice of singing men and singing women? Therefore, then, should thy servant be a burden unto my lord the king? (II Sam. 19:35).

Another comment on In a time when Thou mayest be found. This refers to the time of death. R. Ishmael said: There are nine hundred and three different kinds of death, as it is said: And unto God the Lord belong the issues of death (Ps. 68:21). By Gematria the letters in the word totza’ah (“issue”) total nine hundred and three mathematically. The most painful death of all is to be choked, the most pleasant is the divine kiss of death.

Another comment on In a time when Thou mayest be found. This suggests that a man should pray over the way his soul will leave his body. R. Ishmael said: There is nothing more painful than the soul leaving the body. How does it depart? R. Yohanan declared: The soul departs from the body like water gushing out of a canal. R. Hanina maintained: It is like a nail drawn out of the gullet. While Samuel said: The soul leaving the body is as painful as an inverted thorn tearing its way out of the throat. This, indeed, describes the pain experienced as the soul leaves the body.

Another explanation of And God Almighty give you mercy. Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Will thy riches avail, that are without stint, or all the forces of thy strength? (Job 36:19). R. Eleazar said: Do not be so arrogant as to fail to pray at a time of well-being.

The Holy One, blessed be He, declared: Just as I am obliged to cause rain and dew to descend, and plants to grow for mankind’s survival, so you are required to pray unto Me and to bless Me, the source of My benefactions to you. You must not assert: “I am prosperous, why should I pray now? But when troubles beset me, I will pray.” Even before trouble comes to you, anticipate its coming by praying. R. Eleazar said: It is written in the Book of Ben Sira: “Honor your physician even before you require his services.”

What is meant by all the forces of thy strength? R. Yohanan maintained: It refers to the righteous ones who pray to the Almighty with all the power of their being. For example, our patriarch Jacob, even while Benjamin was still with him, anticipated trouble and prayed for him, as it is said: And God Almighty give you mercy.

And God Almighty. What did Jacob foresee that he blessed him with the words God Almighty? These words indicate that numerous trials had befallen Jacob. While he was in his mother’s womb, Esau quarreled with him, as it is said: And the children struggled together within her (Gen. 25:22). And it says elsewhere: Because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever (Amos 1:11). Furthermore, he was forced to flee from Esau and live with Laban for twenty years, under the most trying conditions, as is said: Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me (Gen. 31:40). Later Laban pursued him in order to kill him, as it is stated: And he pursued after him seven days’ journey (ibid., v. 23). When he escaped from Laban, Esau approached him to kill him. Because of him, he was compelled to lose two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats.

After he escaped from Esau, the trial of Dinah came upon him. He survived the anguish of Dinah’s experience only to suffer grief over (the death of) Rachel. After all these troubles had passed by, Jacob had hoped to enjoy a period of tranquility, only to experience the sorrow of Joseph. And so Scripture states: I was not at ease, neither was I quiet, neither had I rest; but trouble came (Job 3:26). This was followed by the sorrow he experienced over Simeon, and the anguish over Benjamin. Therefore he prayed unto God Almighty (El Shaddai), saying: “Let Him who hath said to heaven and earth dai (“enough”), say to my afflictions dai (“enough”).” When the Holy One, blessed be He, created the heavens and the earth, they continued to expand until the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them dai (“enough”). Therefore, it is written: God Almighty.

When Joseph’s brothers came to him, He lifted up his eyes and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother’s son (Gen. 43:29). He was deeply moved, for he saw in him the image of his father.10Other sources say that he looked like his mother (Rachel), who was also Joseph’s mother. Thereupon he commanded the steward of his household: Fill the men”s sacks with food … and put my goblet, the silver goblet, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest (ibid. 44:1–2). As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away (ibid., v. 3). Joseph said to himself: “If I should permit them to depart during the night, no one will be able to overcome them, since they have been likened to beasts, as it is said: Judah is lion’s whelp (Deut. 33:22), Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path (Gen. 49:17), and Naphtali is a hind let loose (ibid., v. 21).” After they had journeyed but a short distance from the city, Joseph said (to his steward): “If they go a great distance, no one will be able to overcome them, so arise, and pursue them while the fear of the city is still upon them. When you reach them, reprimand them harshly at first and then gently, saying” Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, etc. (ibid., v. 5).

Then they rent their clothes (ibid., v. 13). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: You caused your father’s clothes to be torn for no reason at all,11Though Joseph was not dead, Jacob tore his clothes in mourning. so you too shall rend your clothes on account of Benjamin. Said R. Isaac: The brothers rent their clothes for Benjamin; therefore Mordecai, descended from them, will rend his clothes because of Israel, as it is said: Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes (Est. 4:1). And laded every man his ass (Gen. 44:13). Not one of them needed to help his companion. They arose, cudgeled Benjamin on his shoulders, and cried out: “O thief, son of a thief, you have disgraced us. You are, indeed, the son of your mother (Rachel), who likewise disgraced our father (by stealing Laban’s teraphim).” In reward for the blows struck upon his shoulders, the Shekhinah hovered between his shoulders, as it is said: He covereth him all the day, and dwelleth between his shoulders (Deut. 33:12)

And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house (Gen. 44:14). Why did they go to Joseph’s house? Did he not leave each day to preside at court? He had said to himself: “I will not disgrace my brothers before the Egyptians.” And they fell before him on the ground…. “Behold, we are my lord’s bondsmen” (ibid., v. 14–16). This fulfilled the verse And behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to me (ibid. 37:9). Whereupon Joseph said to them: What deed is this that ye have done? Know ye not that such a man as I will indeed divine (ibid. 44:15). And he said to them also: “I will tell you why this youth stole it. He did so in order to divine through it and learn the whereabouts of his brother.” And Judah said: “What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves?” (ibid., v. 16). What shall we say concerning the first pieces of silver (that were placed in their sacks by the steward)? How shall we speak concerning the second pieces of silver? How shall we clear ourselves in the matter of the cup? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants (ibid.). Do not read the phrase as matza (“found out”) but as motza (“revealed”).

“Two brothers should never enter a drinking place together, yet we all find ourselves caught now in a single web, by reason of the sin we committed together.” He replied: “This brother was not with you when you sold Joseph.” They answered: “Everyone in the company of a thief is arrested with him.” He retorted: “If you were able to say to your father about your first brother, who did not steal and did not cause you distress, (that) ‘a wild beast has torn him apart,’ surely concerning this brother, who did steal and did cause you distress, you can go to your father and tell him that he has been torn apart. The rope follows after the water bucket.”12A common proverb: One falsehood leads to another.

May we not logically conclude that if a disgraceful deed perpetrated against this righteous man could benefit all mankind, how much more so (would the world have been benefited) if the Holy One, blessed be He, had caused them to perform a meritorious deed?

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