Main Text
כִּי לוּלֵי הִתְמַהְמָהְנוּ וגו’ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבִיהֶם אִם כֵּן אֵפוֹא (בראשית מג, י יא), רַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם בֶּן חֲנִילָאי תֹּאמַר אוֹתָהּ הַחֲרָדָה שֶׁהֶחֱרַדְתִּי אֶת אַבָּא (בראשית כז, לג): וַיֹּאמֶר מִי אֵפוֹא הוּא, שֶׁנִּזְדַּעְזְעָה עָלַי כָּאן, אֶתְמְהָה. (בראשית מג, יא): קְחוּ מִזִּמְרַת הָאָרֶץ בִּכְלֵיכֶם, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵן מְזַמְּרִין בָּעוֹלָם, חִלָּזוֹן, חֲמַר קְטָף, וּמוֹר, אֶגוֹרִי, (בראשית מג, יא): וּמְעַט צֳרִי בַּלְסָם קְטָף, (בראשית מג, יא): מְעַט דְּבַשׁ, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר רַבִּי אָמַר דְּבַשׁ בָּרִיא כָּאֶבֶן, (בראשית מג, יא): וּנְכֹאת, שַׁעֲוָה, (בראשית מג, יא): וָלֹט, מוּצְטָבָה, (בראשית מג, יא): בָּטְנִים וּשְׁקֵדִים, מְשַׁח דְּבָטְנִים, מְשַׁח דִּשְׁקֵדִים. (בראשית מג, יב): וְכֶסֶף מִשְׁנֶה קְחוּ בְיֶדְכֶם, רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר שֶׁמָּא הוּקַר הַשַּׁעַר. (בראשית מג, יב): וְאֶת הַכֶּסֶף הַמּוּשָׁב וגו’ וְאֶת אֲחִיכֶם וגו’, אָמַר לָהֶם הֲרֵי הַכֶּסֶף וַהֲרֵי הַדּוֹרוֹן וַהֲרֵי אֲחִיכֶם, צְרִיכִין אַתּוּן מִלְתָא אוֹחֲרִי, אָמְרֵי לֵיהּ צְלוֹתָךְ אֲנַן בָּעֲיִין, אֲמַר לְהוֹן אִם צְלוֹתִי אַתּוּן בָּעֳיָין (בראשית מג, יד): וְאֵל שַׁדַּי יִתֵּן לָכֶם רַחֲמִים וגו’.
English Translation
From Sefaria:
“Since, had we not tarried, we would now have returned twice” (Genesis 43:10).
“Their father, Israel, said to them: If so then, do this: Take of the choice produce of the land in your vessels, and take a gift down to the man, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and ladanum, pistachio nuts and almonds” (Genesis 43:11).
“Since, had we not tarried… Their father, Israel, said to them: If so then [efo]” – Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Tanḥum ben Ḥanilai: Can it be that the same trembling that I caused my father to tremble – “[Isaac was overcome with great trembling, and he said:] Who then [efo] is he [who hunted game and brought it to me? And I ate from all before you came, and I blessed him]” (Genesis 27:33) – is causing my trembling here? I wonder.
“Take of the choice produce [mizimrat] of the land in your vessels” – Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: Items that bring song [mizmarin] to the world: Snail [ḥilazon], wine with balsam, myrrh with the oil accumulated within it. “A little balm” – balsam oil, “a little honey” – Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi said: Honey that is hard as a rock; “spices” – beeswax; “ladanum” – gum Arabic; “pistachio nuts and almonds” – nut oil and almond oil.
“And take double the silver in your hand, and the silver that was returned in the opening of your sacks return in your hand; perhaps it was an oversight” (Genesis 43:12).
“And take your brother, and arise and return to the man” (Genesis 43:13).
“And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and he will send with you your other brother, and Benjamin; and me, as I am bereaved, I am bereaved” (Genesis 43:14).
“And take double the silver in your hand” – Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Perhaps the price has risen.
“And the silver that was returned…And…your…brother” – he said to them: ‘Here is the silver, here is the gift, and here is your brother, do you need anything else?’ They said to him: ‘We need your prayer.’ He said to them: ‘If you need my prayer, “and may God Almighty grant you mercy…”.’