EXTRA · Parashas Mikeitz · Passuk 41:56

EXTRA on Mikeitz 41:56

Complete Passuk

וְהָרָעָ֣ב הָיָ֔ה עַ֖ל כׇּל־פְּנֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח יוֹסֵ֜ף אֶֽת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּהֶם֙ וַיִּשְׁבֹּ֣ר לְמִצְרַ֔יִם וַיֶּחֱזַ֥ק הָֽרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

And the famine was over all the face of the earth; and Yosef opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine was sore in the land of Egypt.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Classical midrash on the opening of the storehouses.

Sefaria · Bereshit Rabbah 90

Core Text of Chazal

וַיִּפְתַּח יוֹסֵף אֶת כׇּל אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם. הַמַּחְסָנִים נִפְתָּחִים בְּעִתָּם, וְהַמִּכְרָה מַתְחִילָה.

English of Core Text: “And Yosef opened all the storehouses.” The stores are opened at the proper time, and the selling begins.

On the daf / in context: The midrash notes that the carefully accumulated grain of the seven years of plenty is now released exactly when the need becomes universal.

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

What Is Learned: The long preparation of the years of plenty reaches its purpose; Yosef opens the storehouses and the entire region becomes dependent on the system he established.