What prompted Yaakov to complain to Pharaoh about his Tzaros?
Ramban, Hadar Zekenim: In answer to Pharaoh's question, he was merely explaining to him why he looked so old. 1
Moshav Zekenim: He explained why he aged quickly, and did not live as long as his fathers. 2
His advanced age plus the Tzaros that he had suffered made him look even older than he really was. Nevertheless, Hashem reprimanded him for complaining - bearing in mind that He saved him from all his troubles. Consequently, he would lose 33 years of his life (his father Yitzchak lived until 180, and Yaakov until 147), corresponding to the 33 words of complaint (Da'as Zekenim).
I.e., therefore I expect to live many more years. (PF)
What was the gist of Yaakov's complaint?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: He complained that, wherever he lived, he was always a stranger (never in his own land). 1
Seforno: In reply to Pharaoh's question regarding the years of his life, he replied that, due to the worries of Parnasah and trials and tribulations that he had suffered, he had lived very few years. But as far as the years that he had sojourned in this world were concerned, they numbered 130.
What message was he conveying with the final words of his speech?
Ramban: He was telling Pharaoh not to be surprised at his advanced age, since his fathers had lived even longer than him, 1 and, as he said earlier, he only looked considerably older because of his ongoing suffering.
According to Rashi, he was saying that they lived better lives than him.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "Megurai - 'Geirusi' (my being a stranger)." How else might I have translated this term?
Gur Aryeh: I might have translated "Megurai" as 'Dirasi' (my dwelling, i.e. in a building; as in Tehilim 15:1). [Rather, Yaakov was telling Pharaoh that he had lived in foreign lands all his life.]
