Yosef had many servants at his disposal. Why did he bind his own chariot?
What does the Torah mean when it writes, "va'Yera Elav"? About whom is the entire Pasuk speaking?
Rashi and Targum Onkelos: Yosef fell around his father's neck. 1
Seforno: Yosef left the vicinity of the servants who were surrounding him and ran to meet his father, even before his father reached his chariot.
Ramban: Yaakov did not initially recognize Yosef (who was dressed in full regalia). Yaakov reacted, once he came close and he recognized Yosef, by falling round his neck and crying for a long time. 2
Targum Yonasan: Before realizing who Yosef was, Yaakov bowed 3 down to him. 4 (Ha'amek Davar - Yosef wanted that his dream, that Yaakov would bow to him, would be fulfilled at this time.)
See Sifsei Chachamim, and Ramban's objections to this explanation.
Ramban: For it is common knowledge as to who is more emotionally impacted, the aged father who meets his long-lost son, or the young, ruling son!
Targum Yonasan: For which Yosef (who did not protest) lost a number of years of his life - since the Torah prescribes long life for honoring one's father and mother.
Why does it say that Yosef "ascended" to Goshen?
Da'as Zekenim #1: It was an ascent for Yosef to greet his father, to honor him.
Da'as Zekenim #2, Hadar Zekenim: Goshen is higher than Egypt, for it is on the border of Eretz Yisrael, which is higher than all other lands. 1
Also refer to 46:31:151.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "Yosef harnessed his chariot - He himself tied the horses." On what is this interpretation based?
Gur Aryeh: Had Yosef merely assigned this task to someone else, it need not have been mentioned. Surely, if Yosef travelled, he used his chariot!
Rashi writes: "'He appeared to him' - [i.e.] Yosef appeared to his father." Surely this is what happened; why does this need to be written?
Gur Aryeh: Yosef appeared before his father in the manner in which one greets a father, showing honor. 1
Gur Aryeh: Ramban asks, if Yosef's intent was to give honor, he should have bowed, rather than falling upon Yaakov's neck? Gur Aryeh answers - Yosef was immediately moved to tears upon seeing his father, out of his great love; which in and of itself showed great honor.
Rashi writes that Yosef fell around his father's neck. Why did Yaakov (who must have been ecstatic at seeing his long-lost son) not do likewise?
Rashi: Because he was reciting the Shema. 1
He reserved that ecstatic moment to demonstrate his love of Hashem (See also Sifsei Chachamim).
Rashi writes: "Our Sages said that Yaakov was reading the Shema." If it was the proper time for Shema, why wasn't Yosef reciting it as well ? Perhaps Yaakov was in the midst of Tefilah?
Gur Aryeh #1: One may interrupt in the middle of Shema to greet another out of fear (Rebbi Yehudah in Berachos 13a), e.g. out of fear of one's father. Yosef therefore interrupted his Shema; while Yaakov did not.
Gur Aryeh #2: [It was not the fixed time for Shema. Rather,] When Yaakov beheld how his son Yosef had become a ruler, he was inspired with love and fear of Hashem. He saw how Hashem's ways are perfect, and how He rewards those who fear him. 1 Yaakov expressed this love for Hashem by reciting Shema.
If so, why was only Yaakov moved to recite the Shema, and not Yosef? During the years of Yosef's absence, Yaakov was in the dark as to what was happening to him. Now, finally, Yaakov saw and understood, and was so inspired as to recite Shema. (EK) Also see Rav Hartman's notes in the Mechon Yerushalayim edition.
