## Radak on Genesis Chapter 45

###### Radak on Genesis 45:1:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:1:1)

**וְלֹא יָכֹל.** כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִזְכִּיר כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים רָעַת אָבִיו שֶׁיִּמְצָאֶנּוּ, נִכְמְרוּ רַחֲמָיו עָלָיו וְלֹא יָכוֹל לְהַחֲזִיק עַצְמוֹ מִלִּבְכּוֹת, וּבַעֲבוּר כֹּל הַנִּצָּבִים עָלָיו קָרָא **הוֹצִיאוּ כָל אִישׁ מֵעָלָי**, וְאוֹתָם שֶׁקָּרָא לָהֶם לְהוֹצִיא יָצְאוּ גַּם כֵּן עִם הָאֲחֵרִים לְפִי שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם **כָּל אִישׁ**.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ולא יכול, the repeated references by Yehudah to the mental anguish experienced by his aged father proved too much for Joseph to maintain his composure. It kindled his sense of compassion also towards his brothers so that he could not restrain himself from weeping. In order not to make a public spectacle of himself in front of people whom it did not directly concern, he ordered הוציאו כל איש מעלי, “remove everybody from my presence! The ones present not only left themselves but made sure that no one entered until invited. Joseph had said after all, כל איש, “everybody!”


###### Radak on Genesis 45:2:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:2:1)

**וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ מִצְרַיִם.** הַמִּצְרִים שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִן הַבַּיִת שָׁמְעוּ קוֹל הַבְּכִי, וְהָלַךְ הַדָּבָר מֵאִישׁ לְאִישׁ עַד שֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ אַנְשֵׁי בֵּית פַּרְעֹה כִּי יוֹסֵף בּוֹכֶה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וישמעו מצרים, the Egyptians who had left the house heard the sound of weeping, and the matter spread like a wildfire until it came to the attention of Pharaoh’s servants that Joseph was crying.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:3:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:3:1)

**וַיֹּאמֶר.** אַחַר שֶׁשָּׁתַק מֵהַבְּכִי אָמַר לָהֶם **אֲנִי יוֹסֵף**.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויאמר, After Joseph had finished weeping he told his brothers אני יוסף.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:3:2
[Radak on Genesis 45:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:3:2)

**נִבְהֲלוּ.** לְפִי שֶׁמְּכָרוּהוּ, בּוֹשׁוּ וְנִבְהֲלוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
They were dumbfounded, remembering that they had sold him and now being utterly ashamed, unable to face him.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:4:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:4:1)

**גְּשׁוּ־נָא אֵלַי.** כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה אוֹתָם נִבְהָלִים קָרָא לָהֶם שֶׁיִּגְּשׁוּ אֵלָיו וְלֹא יִפְחֲדוּ מִמֶּנּוּ. וּבַדְּרָשׁ שֶׁהֶרְאָה לָהֶם בְּרִית מִילָה לְמַעַן יַאֲמִינוּ לְכָל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁדִּבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם (בראשית רבה צג:ח).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
גשו נא אלי, seeing his brothers in a state of shock, Joseph called to them and encouraged them to come closer and to stop being afraid of him. According to Bereshit Rabbah 93,8 he showed them that he was circumcised in order that they should believe him when he claimed to be their brother. Everything else he told them is quite clear and does not require further explanation.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:12:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:12:1)

**וְהִנֵּה עֵינֵיכֶם.** שֶׁהֲרֵי תַּכִּירוּנִי בְּצוּרָתִי שֶׁאַתֶּם רוֹאִים, וְתַכִּירוּנִי גַּם כֵּן בִּלְשׁוֹנִי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
והנה עיניכם, you can recognise my features with your own eyes. You can also identify me by my speaking Hebrew.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:12:2
[Radak on Genesis 45:12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:12:2)

**כִּי־פִי הַמְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם.** בִּלְשׁוֹנְכֶם, וְעַד עַתָּה הָיָה הַמֵּלִיץ בֵּינוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁהָיִיתִי מְכַסֶּה עַצְמִי מִכֶּם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי פי המדבר אליכם, for I am speaking to you without the services of an interpreter. I used his services only in order to conceal my true identity from you.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:14:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:14:1)

**וַיִּפֹּל.** כִּי הָיוּ אַחִים מֵאָב וָאֵם, לְפִיכָךְ הָיוּ אוֹהֲבִים זֶה אֶת זֶה יוֹתֵר, וּבָכוּ כָּל אֶחָד זֶה עַל זֶה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויפול, seeing that Joseph and Binyamin were full brothers the bond between them was stronger. They cried one after another.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:15:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:15:1)

**וַיֵּבְךְּ עֲלֵיהֶם.** אֲבָל הֵם לֹא בָכוּ כִּי הָיָה לָהֶם בֹּשֶׁת מִמֶּנּוּ. **וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן דִּבְּרוּ אֶחָיו.** כֵּיוָן שֶׁנָּשַׁק לָהֶם וּבָכָה עֲלֵיהֶם יָדְעוּ כִּי לִבּוֹ עִמָּהֶם, וּשְׁאָלוּהוּ עַל אֲשֶׁר קָרָהוּ מִיּוֹם שֶׁנִּפְרַד מֵהֶם וְאֵיךְ עָלָה לִגְדֻלָּה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויבך עליהם, but the brothers did not cry being too ashamed to do so ואחרי כן דברו אחיו אתו, seeing that he had wept and kissed them they knew that he did not harbour a grudge against them and they now asked him about what had happened to him during all the years since he had left his father’s house.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:16:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:16:1)

**וַיִּיטַב.** כִּי רָאוּ כִּי הוּא מִמִּשְׁפָּחָה נִכְבֶּדֶת, כִּי מִשְׁפַּחַת אַבְרָהָם הָיְתָה יְדוּעָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וייטב, the Egyptians were very relieved to see that Joseph was the member of a distinguished family. Avraham’s family was an internationally known family.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:17:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:17:1)

**טַעֲנוּ אֶת בְּעִירְכֶם.** עִנְיַן מַשָּׂא, וְכֵן בִּדְבָרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (סנהדרין לב) ״אַחַת טְעוּנָה וְאַחַת שֶׁאֵינָהּ טְעוּנָה״. וַאֲדֹנִי אָבִי זְקֵנִי זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה פֵּרֵשׁ עִנְיַן דְּקִירָה, דִּקְרוּ חֲמוֹרֵיכֶם בְּדָרְבָּן שֶׁלָּהֶם לְמַהֲרָם לָלֶכֶת כְּמוֹ שֶׁעוֹשִׂין לַחֲמוֹרִים, וְכֵן תִּרְגֵּם רַב סַעַדְיָה בַּעֲרָבִי ״סוּקוּ״.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
טענו את בעירכם, the word טען is an expression for “loading;” we find it used in this sense in Sanhedrin 32 אחת טעונה ואחת שאינה טעונה, “one which was loaded whereas the other was not loaded.” My grandfather of blessed memory explained the word טען as related to Isaiah 14,19 מטועני חרב, meaning that something had been stabbed, pierced. Accordingly, Joseph urged his brothers to spur on their beasts of burden by means of the דרבן, a spur or goad in order that the good news of his survival should reach his father sooner. Rabbi Saadyah gaon also translated the word in this fashion into Arabic.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:17:2
[Radak on Genesis 45:17:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:17:2)

**בְּעִירְכֶם.** דֶּרֶךְ כְּלָל, כְּמוֹ ״עַד צְמַח זְקַנְכֶם״ (שמואל ב י:ה), ״כַּף רַגְלְכֶם״ (יהושע א:ג), וְהַדּוֹמִים לָהֶם רַבִּים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בעירכם, a collective term [seeing that surely each brother had an animal of his own to ride on and to carry the grain. Ed.] Other examples of the collective term being used where a plural seemed indicated are Samuel II 10,5 עד יצמח זקנכם “until your beard (sing.) grows back.” [David had addressed several people, each of whose beard had been shaved off on one side of his face. Ed.] Joshua 1,3 is another such construction where we read כף רגלכם, “the sole of your feet,” instead of “the soles of your feet.” There are many other similar examples in Scripture.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:19:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:19:1)

**וְאַתָּה צֻוֵּיתָה.** צֻוֵּיתָ מִמֶּנִּי שֶׁתֹּאמַר לָהֶם **זֹאת עֲשׂוּ**. וַאֲדֹנִי אָבִי זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה פֵּרֵשׁ כִּי יוֹסֵף צִוָּה שֶׁלֹּא יוֹצִיאוּ עֲגָלוֹת מִמִּצְרַיִם בִּתְבוּאָה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תֶחְסַר הַתְּבוּאָה מִמִּצְרַיִם, וְאָמַר לוֹ פַּרְעֹה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאַתָּה צֻוֵּיתָה בָּזֶה, אֱמֹר לְאַחֶיךָ שֶׁיִּקְחוּ לָהֶם עֲגָלוֹת וְיִטְעִינוּם תְּבוּאָה וּבְשׁוּבָם יִהְיוּ לָהֶם לָשֵׂאת טַפָּם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ואתה צויתה you have been commanded by me to tell them: זאת עשו, this is what you are to do, etc. My grandfather of blessed memory explained that Joseph commanded that that no carriages loaded with grain should depart from his house so as not to make Egypt short of food in the future. Upon hearing this, Pharaoh said that the standing orders prohibiting the export of grain in carriages notwithstanding, tell your brothers to commandeer carriages and load them with grain so that after arrival at your homes these same carriages can serve to carry their wives and children on their journey to Egypt.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:20:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:20:1)

**וְעֵינְכֶם אַל־תָּחֹס.** מִנְהַג לְשׁוֹן הַקֹּדֶשׁ לִסְמֹךְ הַחֶמְלָה בָּרֹב אֶל הָעַיִן, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הַחֶמְלָה אֶלָּא בַּלֵּב. לְפִי כִּי לִרְאוֹת הָעַיִן תִּהְיֶה הַחֶמְלָה בַּלֵּב.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ועינכם אל תחוס, it is the custom of the Holy Tongue to use the verb חוס, to take pity, in connection with the eyes, although we would expect that it should be used in connection with the heart, seeing it describes an emotion of the heart.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:21:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:21:1)

**וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵן.** כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר ״טַעֲנוּ אֶת־בְּעִירְכֶם וּתְקַנּוּ אֶת־דַּרְכְּכֶם לְמַהֵר לָלֶכֶת״.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויעשו כן. They did in accordance with what Joseph had told them to do. They loaded their beasts and they were quick about it in order to get started on the way home to Canaan.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:21:2
[Radak on Genesis 45:21:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:21:2)

**עַל פִּי פַרְעֹה.** זֶה מוֹרֶה עַל מַה שֶּׁכָּתַב אֲדֹנִי אֲבִי זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה, כִּי בְּלֹא רְשׁוּת לֹא הָיָה יָכוֹל לָתֵת לָהֶם עֲגָלוֹת.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
על פי פרעה, these words prove what my father wrote that without Pharaoh’s express permission it was not possible for these carriages to be removed beyond Egypt’s borders.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:22:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:22:1)

**לָאִישׁ.** לְכָל אִישׁ וְאִישׁ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לאיש, to each of them separately, individually.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:23:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:23:1)

**וּלְאָבִיו שָׁלַח כְּזֹאת.** חֲלִיפוֹת שְׂמָלוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁנָּתַן לְאַחָיו, וְעוֹד שָׁלַח לוֹ עֲשָׂרָה חֲמֹרִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ולאביו שלח כזאת, changes of clothes, similar to what he had already given to the brothers. In addition he sent עשרה חמורים


###### Radak on Genesis 45:23:2
[Radak on Genesis 45:23:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:23:2)

**בָּר.** הוּא הַתְּבוּאָה שֶׁהוּא מִסְפּוֹא לַחֲמוֹרִים, **וָלֶחֶם**, הוּא הַתְּבוּאָה הַנְּקִיָּה לְמַאֲכַל בְּנֵי אָדָם, **וּמָזוֹן** שְׁאָר דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵם מָזוֹן לְאָדָם כְּמוֹ תְּמָרִים וּשְׁאָר מְגָדִים.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
בר, ten donkeys loaded with grain, fodder for the animals. ולחם, not literally bread, but the kind of grain for human consumption used to make into flour and bake into bread. The word לחם applies to food generally, not only food made from cereals. It includes even delicacies such as dates, etc.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:24:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:24:1)

**אַל־תִּרְגְּזוּ.** בְּכוֹר שׁוֹר פֵּרֵשׁ לְשׁוֹן פַּחַד, וְרַשְׁבַּ״ם פֵּרֵשׁ לְשׁוֹן דְּאָגָה וְיִרְאָה, וְהָרַב רַבֵּנוּ יוֹנָה פֵּרֵשׁ צַעַר, בְּשַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק שֶׁלּוֹ קָרוֹב לְרֵאשִׁיתוֹ, אַל תִּתְקוֹטְטוּ זֶה עִם זֶה עַל מְכִירָתִי לֵאמֹר זֶה לַחֲבֵרוֹ אַתָּה גָּרַמְתָּ מְכִירָתוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
אל תרגזו בדרך, do not quarrel with one another on the journey concerning your having sold me, blaming each other for the decision taken at the time.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:26:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:26:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:26:1)

**עוֹד... וְכִי הוּא מֹשֵׁל.** וְעוֹד שֶׁזָּכַר בְּמָקוֹם שְׁנַיִם עוֹמֵד.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וכי הוא, and in addition to this he is מושל, the first word עוד in our verse performs a dual function, also applying to the portion relating to Joseph being a ruler.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:26:2
[Radak on Genesis 45:26:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:26:2)

**וַיָּפָג לִבּוֹ.** חָלַשׁ לִבּוֹ וְנִרְפָּה עַל שֶׁזְּכָרוּהוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויפג לבו, it became weak. The very mention of Joseph provoked such a reaction from Yaakov.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:26:3
[Radak on Genesis 45:26:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:26:3)

**כִּי לֹא־הֶאֱמִין לָהֶם.** לְמַה שֶּׁאָמְרוּ לוֹ כִּי הוּא חַי וְכִי הוּא מוֹשֵׁל, וְנִרְפָּה וְחָלוּשׁ לִבּוֹ עַל זִכְרוֹנוֹ, כִּי נִרְאֶה כִּי הֵם קִדְּמוּ לָבֹא קֹדֶם שֶׁבָּאוּ הַחֲמוֹרִים וְהָעֲגָלוֹת לְבַשֵּׂר אֶת אֲבִיהֶם, לְפִיכָךְ כְּשֶׁדִּבְּרוּ אֵלָיו בָּנָיו אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי יוֹסֵף וְרָאָה אֶת הָעֲגָלוֹת שֶׁבָּאוּ הֶאֱמִין.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי לא האמין להם, he did not believe them as he could not fathom why they would make such a statement. Presumably, the brothers rushed in with the information, not having shown Yaakov any supporting evidence yet, such as the ten donkeys’ loads of food, the carriages etc. Once when the brothers elaborated and showed Yaakov what they had brought with them from Egypt, especially the carriages, he did believe them.


###### Radak on Genesis 45:27:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:27:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:27:1)

**וַתְּחִי.** רוּחוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה כְּמוֹ מֵתָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר ״וַיָּפָג לִבּוֹ״ (בראשית מה:כו). וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה אָמְרוּ (אבות דרבי נתן סוף פרק ל) כִּי זֶה רוּחַ נְבוּאָה שֶׁפָּרְשָׁה מִמֶּנּוּ מִיּוֹם שֶׁיָּצָא יוֹסֵף, כִּי אֵין רוּחַ נְבוּאָה שׁוֹרָה אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ שִׂמְחָה, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמַע בִּבְשׂוֹרַת בְּנוֹ חָזְרָה אֵלָיו רוּחַ נְבוּאָה, זֶהוּ שֶׁאָמַר **וַתְּחִי**. וְזֶהוּ שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר לוֹ בִּנְבוּאָה בִּדְבַר יוֹסֵף כָּל אוֹתָן הַשָּׁנִים, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה אָבֵל וְנֶעֱצָב, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁאֵין הָרוּחַ פָּנוּי מֵעִסְקֵי חֹמְרִי לֹא יִדְבַּק בּוֹ הַשֵּׂכֶל, כִּי לֹא יִדְבַּק אֶלָּא בַּדּוֹמֶה לוֹ, וּבִבְאֵר שֶׁבַע נִגְלָה אֵלָיו אֱלֹהִים בְּמַרְאֹת הַלַּיְלָה (בראשית מו:ב) אַחַר שֶׁשָּׁבָה אֵלָיו רוּחַ נְבוּאָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ותחי רוח, his spirit which had been as dead from shock, now revived. Our sages (compare Rashi) have said that the “spirit” mentioned in our verse which was revived in Yaakov was the spirit of prophetic insights which had departed from him 22 years ago when Joseph had been sold. We have an ancient tradition, amply documented in history, that in the absence of joy in one’s life a person cannot enjoy such a spirit of prophecy. On the way to Egypt, at Beer Sheva, the prophetic spirit of Yaakov (Yisrael) did indeed become manifest again (46,2)


###### Radak on Genesis 45:28:1
[Radak on Genesis 45:28:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Radak%20on%20Genesis/r/45:28:1)

**רַב.** טוֹב יֵשׁ לִי, אַחַר שֶׁיוֹסֵף בְּנִי חָי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
רב, I enjoy much goodness seeing that my son Joseph is alive.