My father made me swear, saying: Lo, I die; in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come back.
English: It was taught: When Yosef said to Pharaoh “My father made me swear,” Pharaoh said to him: Have your oath annulled. Yosef replied: Then have my oath to you also annulled — the oath by which I swore that I would not reveal that you do not understand the Holy Tongue. Immediately Pharaoh said to him: Go up and bury your father as he made you swear.
On the daf / in context: Pharaoh had sworn Yosef to secrecy about his inability to speak Lashon ha-Kodesh; Yosef uses that mutual oath to force permission for the burial journey.
Type of Learning
Narrative derash that explains why Pharaoh could not refuse the request.
What Is Learned
Yosef secured permission to bury Yaakov by reminding Pharaoh of the reciprocal oath of secrecy concerning the Holy Tongue.