בְּזֹ֖את תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ חֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ אִם־תֵּצְא֣וּ מִזֶּ֔ה כִּ֧י אִם־בְּב֛וֹא אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן הֵֽנָּה׃
Hereby ye shall be proved: by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
Classical midrash on the oath “by the life of Pharaoh.”
חֵי פַרְעֹה. יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע בְּחַיֵּי פַּרְעֹה, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁזֶּה לְשׁוֹן בִּזּוּי.
English of Core Text: “By the life of Pharaoh.” Some say he swore by Pharaoh’s life; others say the phrase is one of disparagement.
On the daf / in context: The midrash debates whether the expression is a formal oath or a contemptuous reference, consistent with Yosef’s still-concealed identity.
Type of Learning: Derash on the verse (classic midrash) — not a formal named middah of the 13.
What Is Learned: The demand that Binyamin be brought is sealed with an oath-formula that keeps Yosef’s Egyptian persona intact while advancing the test to its next stage.