Genesis 44:28 - Jacob's tragic loss revisited

Context in the Torah

The verse (Bereishit 44:28) appears in the narrative where Yehuda recounts to Yosef (still unrecognized as the viceroy of Egypt) the sorrow of their father Yaakov over the loss of Binyamin. This is part of Yehuda's impassioned plea to protect Binyamin from being taken as a slave.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi explains that Yaakov feared Binyamin would meet the same fate as Yosef, whom he believed had been torn apart by a wild animal (based on the brothers' deception with Yosef's bloodied coat). The phrase "טָרֹף טֹרָף" ("torn in pieces") echoes the language used earlier in Bereishit 37:33 when Yaakov saw Yosef's coat.

Ibn Ezra's Insight

Ibn Ezra notes that Yaakov's grief was compounded by the fact that he never saw Yosef's body, leaving him without closure. This explains why he was so protective of Binyamin—fearing history would repeat itself.

Midrashic Interpretation

• Midrash Rabbah (Bereishit 91:8) suggests that Yaakov's excessive mourning for Yosef was a form of divine punishment for his earlier lack of trust in Hashem's promise of protection (when he feared Eisav in Bereishit 32:8).
• Kli Yakar adds that Yaakov's assumption of "טָרֹף טֹרָף" reflected his lack of bitachon (complete trust in Hashem), as he should have considered other possibilities for Yosef's disappearance.

Halachic Perspective (Rambam)

Rambam (Hilchot Avel 13:12) derives from this episode that excessive mourning for the dead—beyond halachic requirements—is discouraged, as it demonstrates a lack of acceptance of divine decree. Yaakov's prolonged grief for Yosef serves as a cautionary lesson.