TT #73 · Parashas Vayechi · Passuk 50:17
So shall ye say unto Joseph: Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father.’ And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him.
Torah Temimah cites Yoma 87a.
Yoma 87a derives the limit of three requests for forgiveness from the brothers’ repeated plea to Joseph.
English: Anyone who asks forgiveness from another should not ask more than three times, as it is stated: “Please, please forgive ... and now, please forgive.”
Halachic-ethical derash on the threefold request for forgiveness.
The three requests embedded in the brothers’ appeal establish a limit: a person seeking forgiveness should not press the other party beyond three requests.