וַיָּבֹ֨א יְהוּדָ֤ה וְאֶחָיו֙ בֵּ֣יתָה יוֹסֵ֔ף וְה֖וּא עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ שָׁ֑ם וַיִּפְּל֥וּ לְפָנָ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃
When Yehudah and his brothers reentered Yosef’s house, he was still there, and they fell before him on the ground.
Midrash Tanchuma, Miketz 10:11. The Midrash explains why Yosef remained at home that day and connects the brothers’ prostration with the fulfillment of Yosef’s earlier dream.
The Midrash says that Yosef deliberately remained at home rather than publicly judging his brothers, so as not to shame them before the Egyptians. Their falling before him is then understood as fulfillment of the earlier dream of the sun, moon, and stars bowing to Yosef.
What Is Learned: The passuk completes a major element of the earlier dream narrative while also highlighting Yosef’s decision to spare his brothers public humiliation.