Shabbat Parashat Vayechi - 5782

Shabbat Parashat Vayechi - 5782

Rabbi Hal Miller And his bewailing period passed, and Yosef spoke to Pharaoh's household saying, "If you please, if I have found favor in your eyes, speak now in the ears of Pharaoh saying [Bereishit 50:4] Why did the Torah say "and Yosef spoke to Pharaoh's household"? Yosef spoke regularly with Pharaoh, and had full and complete access to the monarch at all times, plus had the favor of Pharaoh, who had denied him nothing thus far. What need did he have to go round about? Certainly, he was not speaking to the walls of the palace. Bereishit Rabbah asks who in particular Yosef did speak with, and answers, "To the queen's nurse, asking her that she should persuade the queen who in turn should persuade the king. And why did he not enter himself? R'Yehoshua of Siknin said in the name of R'Shmuel, because a mourner might not enter the king's palace." Rav Hirsch gives a second view. "It seems that Yosef was not so sure that it would be granted and therefore preferred this indirect way. A refusal given and received through a third party can more easily be ignored on both sides." The next verse explains that Yosef told the messenger that his father obtained Yosef's promise, so it seemed likely that Pharaoh would approve, but perhaps he feared Pharaoh being upset at not having been consulted in advance. Rav Hirsch continues with another explanation. "The matter could well be connected with the existing general antipathy to foreigners which could have made it much disliked to know that a foreigner was at head of the state." But it is not clear why going indirectly to Pharaoh fits in here. Talelei Oros brings the Steipler who explains that Yosef knew Pharaoh's mind. If he went directly, Pharaoh, knowing that the future of Egypt was in Yosef's hands, would deny permission. But asked in public, for Pharaoh to admit his own inabilities in front of his servants would have embarrassed him, therefore he would have to grant it and do the best he could while Yosef was gone.