EXTRA · Parashas Mikeitz · Passuk 41:55

EXTRA on Mikeitz 41:55

Complete Passuk

וַתִּרְעַב֙ כׇּל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּצְעַ֥ק הָעָ֖ם אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה לַלָּ֑חֶם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר פַּרְעֹה֙ לְכׇל־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְכ֥וּ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֥ר לָכֶ֖ם תַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃

And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, “Go unto Yosef; what he saith to you, do.”

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical midrash on Pharaoh’s complete deferral to Yosef.

Sefaria · Bereshit Rabbah 90

Core Text of Chazal

לְכוּ אֶל יוֹסֵף אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר לָכֶם תַּעֲשׂוּ. פַּרְעֹה מַעֲבִיר אֶת כׇּל הַסַּמְכוּת לְיוֹסֵף.

English of Core Text: “Go unto Yosef; what he saith to you, do.” Pharaoh transfers all authority to Yosef.

On the daf / in context: The midrash highlights that at the moment of crisis Pharaoh does not attempt to manage the famine himself; the entire population is redirected to the Hebrew viceroy.

Type of Learning: Derash on the verse (classic midrash) — not a formal named middah of the 13.

What Is Learned: When the famine strikes, Pharaoh’s only answer is “Go to Yosef”; the earlier investiture is now publicly ratified by the king’s complete deference.