After Yosef revealed his true identity, he freed his imprisoned brother Simeon (whom he had been holding to ensure the brothers’ return), and gave lavish gifts to all of his brothers. He then urged them to hastily return to the Land of Canaan and bring their father Yaakov, along with the rest of the family, to settle in Egypt:
Hasten and go up to my father, and say to him, “So said your son, Yosef: ‘G‑d has made me a lord over all the Egyptians. Come down to me, do not tarry... You shall tell my father [of] all my honor in Egypt and all that you have seen, and you shall hasten and bring my father down here.’ ” (45:9-13)
Pharaoh also heard that Yosef’s brothers were in Egypt and promptly extended his hospitality:
And Pharaoh said to Yosef, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: load up your beasts and go, enter the land of Canaan. And take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and [you will] eat the fat of the land.’ ” (45:18-19)
We then read that Yosef issued the wagons according to Pharaoh’s instruction and “he gave them [food] provisions for the way.” (45:21)
Having carried out Pharaoh’s order, he sent his own provisions:
And to his father he sent the following: ten he-donkeys carrying of the best of Egypt, and ten she-donkeys carrying grain, bread, and [other] food, for his father for the way. (45:23)
A Perplexing Comment
Commenting on the words, “he sent the following,” Rashi explains:
According to this amount. And what is the amount? Ten he-donkeys, etc.
What is Rashi saying and why does he feel the need to say it?
Presumably, Rashi feels that the words “the following” are superfluous. What would have been lost had the verse simply read: “And to his father he sent ten he-donkeys...” (without the words “the following”)?
But if that is the problem, how does Rashi’s comment provide an answer? How does interpreting “the following” as “this amount” solve the problem?
Moreover, what does “this amount” even mean? As opposed to what? Any ordinary reader who saw the words “the following” would understand that it means the amount specified immediately in the words that follow.
Too Much of a Good Thing?
One may be forgiven for thinking that this is a rather technical question relating to an obscure word in an otherwise fascinating story. But the Rebbe shows that
