TT · Parashas Mikeitz · Passuk 43:9
אָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּ אִם־לֹ֨א הֲבִיאֹתִ֤יו אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ וְהִצַּגְתִּ֣יו לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְחָטָ֥אתִֽי לְךָ֖ כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃
I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible: if I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, I shall stand guilty before you forever.
Torah Temimah points to Avot de-Rabbi Natan 37.
אנכי אערבנו. שואל כענין – זה יהודה, שאמר אנכי אערבנו.
English of Core Text: “I will be surety for him…” One who asks properly — this is Yehudah, who said, “I will be surety for him.”
On the daf / in context: In contrast to Reuven’s extreme offer of his own sons’ lives, Yehudah’s pledge of himself is regarded as the appropriate form of guarantee.
Type of Learning: Derash on the verse (midrashic) — not a formal named middah of the 13.
What Is Learned: Yehudah’s offer to stand as personal surety is the model of a proper request and guarantee, in contrast to Reuven’s inappropriate proposal.