1)

What did Yaakov mean when he said to the brothers, "You bereaved me!"?

1.

Rashi: We see from here that Yaakov suspected them of having killed or sold Shimon, like [they did to] Yosef. 1

2.

Seforno: 'None of these incidents affect your children, only mine! It must therefore be a result of your squabbling with each other - and it is therefore you who have bereaved me.'

3.

Targum Yonasan: 'You told me that Yosef was killed by a wild beast and that the king of the land took Shimon; and now you want to take Binyamin!'


1

Rashi (to 49:9): Yaakov suspected that Yehudah had killed Yosef. Refer to 49:9:2:1.

2)

Why did Yaakov say "Alai Hayu Kulanah"? It is obvious that a father is most pained over the loss of his children?

1.

Moshav Zekenim citing Chulin 95b: Even though one may not divine, one may make a Siman - and once something is repeated three times 1 (if I will lose a third son), it is established - for bad or for good.

2.

Divrei Eliyahu, Kol Eliyahu: My mother told me "Alai Kilelascha" (Bereishis 27:13); i.e. your great afflictions will be 'Alai' - an acronym for Esav, Lavan, Yosef. I already suffered all of them. I need not endure more, i.e. taking Binyamin!

3.

Yerushalmi (Shabbos 6:9): A Siman [to lose people on the road] was already established through the loss of Rachel, Yosef and Shimon.

4.

Malbim: I fear that punishment for their deaths is upon me, for I sent them to dangerous places. Therefore, I will not send Binyamin.

5.

Ha'amek Davar: He said this to himself. All my children quarrel with each other until they kill each other, embittering my life!


1

Moshav Zekenim says unlike this below! Refer to 44:29:151:1. Radak (to Shmuel I 14:9) - Nichush does not apply [to building] a house, [birth of] child or [marrying a] wife, but Siman applies (95b). If he stipulated from the beginning, it is a proper Siman after one occurrence; if he did not stipulate, it is after three times These three matters occurred after Binyamin's birth. (Why are they attributed to his birth? They occurred nine and 22 years later! - PF)

3)

Why is "Aleihem" written Chaser (without a Yud)?

1.

Ha'amek Davar: Yaakov did not speak to them, to say that he suspects them of killing Yosef, rather, to himself; they heard, and understood that he suspects them. 1


1

If he spoke to himself, he should have said 'Shiklu... Yikachu'! Perhaps it says "Shikaltem... Tikachu" to teach that they heard, and understood that he suspects them. (PF)

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

4)

Rashi writes: "'You have made me bereaved' - He suspected... that they had sold [Shimon], like Yosef." But Yaakov did not believe that Yosef was still alive; as we see from his words, "... he surely must have been torn apart" (44:28)!

1.

Gur Aryeh: Although Yaakov did not know for a fact that the brothers had sold Yosef, he did suspect them.

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