“They told him, saying: Yosef is still alive, and that he is ruler over all the land of Egypt; but his heart rejected it, for he could not believe them” (45:26) The Or HaChaim asks two questions on the choice of words in this posuk. Why does the Torah use the word “vayagidu,” which denotes harsh speech,” to describe how the brothers informed Yaakov that Yosef was alive instead of “vayomer,” the usual and softer word for speech? Furthermore, why is the word “laimor” then used again afterwards? In answer to the first question, the Or HaChaim writes that it was hard for them to tell Yaakov about Yosef because eventually he would find out how Yosef got to Egypt in the first place and learn that they had sold him. Because this was hard for them, it is termed as “vayagidu.” Alternatively, they were aware that relaying this news would result in traveling to Egypt and eventual slavery in that foreign land, a fact that they were reluctant to accept. However, this is followed by “laimor,” a softer way of speaking, to indicate that they had forethought when they told Yaakov the news. They understood that sudden and unexpected good news can actually cause physical harm and even death because of the surprise. Because of this, they broke the news slowly and in a number of steps. They first informed him that they had good news to share. Once he warmed up to the idea and was expecting to hear something exciting, they told him that Yosef was still alive. Only after he had fully accepted that news did they add that he was a ruler over the entire land of Egypt. We can learn from this story how important forethought is in all of our activities. We learn in Pirkei Avos: “Who is a wise man? He who sees what will be.” Anticipating the results of our words and actions before we do or say anything will ensure that we act wisely at all times
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 16:45:00 +0000
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