Vayeishev 40:14 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 40:14 · not a Torah Temimah citation on this passuk

The Complete Passuk

כִּ֧י אִם־זְכַרְתַּ֣נִי אִתְּךָ֗ כַּאֲשֶׁר֙ יִ֣יטַב לָ֔ךְ וְעָשִֽׂיתָ־נָּ֥א עִמָּדִ֖י חָ֑סֶד וְהִזְכַּרְתַּ֙נִי֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֔ה וְהוֹצֵאתַ֖נִי מִן־הַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּֽה׃

But think of me when all is well with you again, and do me the kindness of mentioning me to Pharaoh, so as to free me from this place.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical source (EXTRA side-ring): Bereshis Rabbah 89:3.

Sefaria — Bereshis Rabbah 89:3

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
כִּי אִם זְכַרְתַּנִי — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁתָּלָה בִּטְחוֹנוֹ בְּשַׂר וָדָם, נִשְׁתַּכַּח שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים.

English: “But remember me” — because he placed his trust in flesh and blood, he was forgotten for two years.

In context: Relying on the cupbearer rather than solely on Hashem costs Yosef two extra years.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bereshis Rabbah) — not a formal named middah of the 13. A request for human intercession is read as a lapse of bitachon.

What Is Learned

When Yosef asked the official to remember him, midrash counts two years of delay as the consequence.