Why did they have to rush Yosef from prison?
Seforno: Because there is a fixed time for a person to go free; when that time arrives, he goes free immediately, not a moment later. 1
Because when a despotic king like Pharaoh calls for someone, the servants jump to it.
Seforno: See Yeshayah, 56:1. That is also what happened when the time came to leave Egypt - See Shemos 12:39, and that is what will happen when we go out of the current Galus. See Mal'achi, 3:1.
What is the significance of the fact that Pharaoh himself called for Yosef?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because had they not taken Yosef out of jail in the name of the king, he would have wondered why they were taking him out, and who knows where they were leading him. 1 Now he knew that he was being taken out to greatness.
Oznayim la'Torah: Bearing in mind that he was being held in a prison for prisoners who faced the death-sentence.
Seeing as they rushed Yosef out of prison, why did he first shave?
Rashi: In order to pay the king homage.
Seeing as they rushed Yosef out of prison, why did he first change his clothes?
Seforno: "One does not enter the gate of the king wearing sack-cloth." 1
How could Yosef shave his beard and sideburns? And Midrash says that he came in front of Pharaoh on Rosh Hashanah. How could he shave on Yom Tov?
Moshav Zekenim #1: He shaved the next day. 1
Moshav Zekenim #2: He could shave due to danger of [appearing unkempt in front of] the king.
Bartenura: If the one being shaved does not move his head to help, it is only an Isur mid'Rabanan; it is permitted due to honor of the king.
He did not address shaving the beard. Gur Aryeh implies that he shaved only the head. One opinion (Nazir 58a) permits shaving the entire head, including the sideburns (the beard is not included. - PF)
Why does it say "Es Yosef", and not 'El Yosef'?
Ha'Emek Davar: It says that Pharaoh sent; this hints that the messengers were royal courtiers, and they returned together with Yosef.
