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Genesis 43:7 - Joseph's hidden identity questioned?

Genesis 43:7 - בראשית 43:7

Hebrew Text

וַיֹּאמְרוּ שָׁאוֹל שָׁאַל־הָאִישׁ לָנוּ וּלְמוֹלַדְתֵּנוּ לֵאמֹר הַעוֹד אֲבִיכֶם חַי הֲיֵשׁ לָכֶם אָח וַנַגֶּד־לוֹ עַל־פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הֲיָדוֹעַ נֵדַע כִּי יֹאמַר הוֹרִידוּ אֶת־אֲחִיכֶם׃

English Translation

And they said, The man asked us particularly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have you another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we possibly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

Transliteration

Vayomru shaol shaal ha'ish lanu ulemoladtenu lemor ha'od avichem chai hayesh lachem ach vanaged lo al pi hadevarim ha'ele hayadoa neda ki yomar horidu et achichem.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֹּאמְר֡וּ שָׁא֣וֹל שָֽׁאַל־הָ֠אִ֠ישׁ לָ֣נוּ וּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֵּ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר הַע֨וֹד אֲבִיכֶ֥ם חַי֙ הֲיֵ֣שׁ לָכֶ֣ם אָ֔ח וַנַּ֨גֶּד־ל֔וֹ עַל־פִּ֖י הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה הֲיָד֣וֹעַ נֵדַ֔ע כִּ֣י יֹאמַ֔ר הוֹרִ֖ידוּ אֶת־אֲחִיכֶֽם׃
וַיֹּאמְר֡וּ שָׁא֣וֹל שָֽׁאַל־הָ֠אִ֠ישׁ לָ֣נוּ וּלְמֽוֹלַדְתֵּ֜נוּ לֵאמֹ֗ר הַע֨וֹד אֲבִיכֶ֥ם חַי֙ הֲיֵ֣שׁ לָכֶ֣ם אָ֔ח וַנַּ֨גֶּד־ל֔וֹ עַל־פִּ֖י הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה הֲיָד֣וֹעַ נֵדַ֔ע כִּ֣י יֹאמַ֔ר הוֹרִ֖ידוּ אֶת־אֲחִיכֶֽם׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context in the Narrative

This verse (Bereishit 43:7) appears when Yosef's brothers return to Yaakov after their first journey to Egypt, where they encountered Yosef (though they did not recognize him). They recount how the Egyptian viceroy (Yosef) questioned them intensely about their family, specifically asking whether their father was alive and whether they had another brother. The brothers express their surprise that these inquiries led to the demand to bring Binyamin down to Egypt.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi notes that the brothers emphasize how the Egyptian ruler (הָאִישׁ) inquired שָׁאוֹל שָׁאַל ("asked particularly")—using a doubled verb to indicate he pressed them with many detailed questions. Rashi explains that this reflects Yosef's strategy to gather information about his family while maintaining his disguise. The brothers, unaware of his identity, interpreted his questioning as suspicious or unusual.

Ibn Ezra's Insight

Ibn Ezra highlights the brothers' retrospective realization that their answers inadvertently led to the demand to bring Binyamin. He points out their rhetorical question, הֲיָדוֹעַ נֵדַע ("could we possibly know?"), showing their regret—had they known the consequences, they might have answered differently.

Midrashic Perspective

The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 91:7) suggests that Yosef's questioning was Divinely orchestrated to fulfill the earlier dreams of his brothers bowing to him. By asking about Binyamin, Yosef ensured the entire family would come to Egypt, setting the stage for the eventual descent of Bnei Yisrael and the fulfillment of the covenant with Avraham (Bereishit 15:13).

Themes and Lessons

  • Divine Providence: The brothers' unwitting compliance with Yosef's requests underscores how Hashem guides events toward His plan, even through human actions.
  • Speech and Consequences: The verse teaches the weight of words—had the brothers withheld information, the outcome might have differed, illustrating the principle of מִדַּבֵּר אֶת הַדָּבָר (guarding one's speech).
  • Family Unity: Yosef's focus on Binyamin hints at his concern for Rachel's other son, showing his enduring bond despite the brothers' past actions.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is happening in Genesis 43:7?
A: In Genesis 43:7, Joseph's brothers are explaining to their father Jacob why they must bring their youngest brother Benjamin down to Egypt. They recount how the Egyptian ruler (Joseph, though they don't know it's him) questioned them about their family and specifically asked if their father was alive and if they had another brother. The brothers are worried because they didn't realize this questioning would lead to the demand to bring Benjamin.
Q: Why did Joseph ask about their family in Genesis 43:7?
A: According to Rashi, Joseph asked these specific questions to see if his brothers still had hatred toward Rachel's children (Benjamin and himself). By inquiring about their father and brother, he was testing whether they had repented for selling him into slavery years earlier. The Ramban adds that Joseph wanted to reunite the family properly, starting by bringing Benjamin to Egypt.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Genesis 43:7?
A: This verse teaches us about divine providence (hashgacha pratis). Though the brothers thought they were just answering simple questions, their words set in motion the reunification of the family. The Midrash teaches that every detail was orchestrated by Hashem to bring about the descent to Egypt which would eventually lead to the Exodus and receiving of the Torah.
Q: Why were Joseph's brothers afraid in Genesis 43:7?
A: The brothers were afraid because they realized the Egyptian ruler (Joseph) might have suspected them of lying or hiding information when they first came to Egypt without Benjamin. As the Ibn Ezra explains, they worried they might be punished as spies if they didn't comply with the request to bring Benjamin, since they had previously claimed to be honest men with a family back home.
Q: How does Genesis 43:7 relate to repentance (teshuva)?
A: The Talmud (Chagigah 4b) sees this moment as part of the brothers' teshuva process. When they say 'could we possibly know...' they're acknowledging their lack of foresight - just as they didn't foresee the consequences of selling Joseph, they didn't anticipate how their words would require bringing Benjamin. This shows growth in recognizing how actions have unintended consequences.