1)

Why did Yaakov's gift comprise a little of this and a little of that?

1.

Seforno: When sending a gift to someone who cannot obtain enough, one sends something big and in large quantities. 1 But when the recipient is a generous person who lacks nothing, one goes for quality rather than quantity, and sends things that are rarer and more expensive, in small quantities.

2.

Malbim: A small gift does not look like a bribe.


1

Seforno: Such as the gift that Yaakov sent Esav.

2)

There was no need for a gift. Why did Yaakov instruct his sons to give a gift to Yosef?

1.

Seforno #1: Before going in to see Yosef, they would be able to determine his attitude towards them, and thereby know what to say when he confronted them. 1

2.

Seforno #2 (to 43:13): It will also serve as a sort of atonement that goes ahead of you. 2

3.

Malbim #1: It will show that you are honest. One who sinned against a person is ashamed to give a gift to him.

4.

Malbim #2: It is normal to give a gift to show honor to esteemed people.

5.

Ha'amek Davar: The gift was in the name of their father, like a slave greeting his master. Perhaps [giving the gift] was fulfillment of the second dream, in which the sun bowed to Yosef.


1

Seforno: Much in the same way as Mano'ach's wife stated "Had Hashem wanted to put us to death, He would not have accepted an Olah and a Minchah!" (Shoftim 13:23).

2

As a sort of bribe. Seforno: See Mishlei 17:8. See also Bereishis 32:21.

3)

What are "Botnim"?

1.

Rashi (citing Rabbi Machir): Pistachio nuts. 1


1

According to Targum Yonasan, Yaakov sent (not pistachios and almonds, but) pistachio-oil and almond-oil. Rav S.R. Hirsch - The nuts themselves had long ago been consumed! Note that "Botnim" have nothing to do with the modern-Hebrew word for "peanuts" (CS).

4)

Why did Yaakov accept Yehudah's offer, but not that of Reuven?

1.

Refer to 42:38:1.

5)

Why does it say "Yisrael"? And why is "Aleihem" written Chaser (without a Yud)?

1.

Ha'amek Davar: He spoke with Ru'ach ha'Kodesh, to teach future generations in exile, when they will be judged with a master, after they are vindicated they should give a gift. "Aleihem" is Chaser, to teach that he does not speak only with them, rather, for generations.

6)

Why does it say "Avihem"?

1.

Ha'amek Davar: If not that he was the father of all of them, and his mercy overpowered, he would not have heeded Yehudah.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

7)

Rashi writes: "'Eifo' - ... a superfluous addition, to improve the expression in Leshon Ivri." What does this mean?

1.

Gur Aryeh: The sentence could have been understood the same way, even without the word "Eifo." 1


1

Rashi continues that the word "Eifo" stands for 'Ayeh-Foh, meaning 'what, then, shall be done?'

8)

Rashi writes: "'Zimras ha'Aretz - ... about which everyone sings (Mezamerin) when it becomes available." How else might I have interpreted it?

1.

Gur Aryeh: Perhaps "Zemirah" is an expression of pruning or cutting, 1 and "Zimras ha'Aretz" refers to anything that was harvested from the Land? However, that then would not be a gift; as a gift must come from the best.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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