Hashem Was With Yosef and He Became a Successful Man
Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh | December 19, 2024
Print This Article
View Original PDF

Hashem Was With Yosef and He Became a Successful Man

Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh | June 27, 2025

Hashem was with Yosef and he became a successful man; and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.

The Ohr Hachaim explains that this possuk is teaching us how Yosef’s success increased, step by step, in his new slavery.

First, he was sent as a menial slave, to work the fields and outside the home. Important people do not allow menial slaves to enter their homes. After some time, Hashem made Yosef successful enough that he was allowed into the home of his master, and וַיְּהִי בְּבֵית אֲדֹנָיו הַמִצְּרִ י – he was in the home of his master. He was permitted to guard the house, and not only that, he was allowed to serve him personally. וֹתֹא תֶּרָשְּיַו ויָניֵעְּב ןֵח ףֵסוֹי אָצְּמ – he was his personal slave, and he no longer had to live like a slave, suffering privation and want on minimal victuals and supplies.

Eventually, Yosef’s position was elevated and he was in charge of everything that the master wanted to be done, וַיַפְּקִדֵהוּ עַל בֵיתוֹ וְּכׇל יֶּש לוֹ נָתַן בְּיָדוֹ - and he appointed him over his house, and all he had he gave into his hand.

Eventually, he had the sole power over everything that his master did, and his success was complete until his downfall.

Hashem was with Yosef and he became a successful man; and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.

The Ohr Hachaim explains that this possuk is teaching us how Yosef’s success increased, step by step, in his new slavery.

First, he was sent as a menial slave, to work the fields and outside the home. Important people do not allow menial slaves to enter their homes. After some time, Hashem made Yosef successful enough that he was allowed into the home of his master, and וַיְּהִי בְּבֵית אֲדֹנָיו הַמִצְּרִ י – he was in the home of his master. He was permitted to guard the house, and not only that, he was allowed to serve him personally. וֹתֹא תֶּרָשְּיַו ויָניֵעְּב ןֵח ףֵסוֹי אָצְּמ – he was his personal slave, and he no longer had to live like a slave, suffering privation and want on minimal victuals and supplies.

Eventually, Yosef’s position was elevated and he was in charge of everything that the master wanted to be done, וַיַפְּקִדֵהוּ עַל בֵיתוֹ וְּכׇל יֶּש לוֹ נָתַן בְּיָדוֹ - and he appointed him over his house, and all he had he gave into his hand.

Eventually, he had the sole power over everything that his master did, and his success was complete until his downfall.

PDF Preview