ד"א ויוסף הורד מצרימה. שלש מדות היו בו, בן תורה, ונביא, ואת אחיו מכלכל, בן תורה שכן כתיב כי בן זקונים הוא לו (בראשית לז ג), וכתיב שאל אביך ויגדך [זקניך ויאמרו לך] (דברים לב ז), ומנין שהוא נביא, שנאמר והוא נער את בני בלהה וגו' (בראשית לז ב), וכתיב ומשרתו יהושע בן נון נער וגו' (שמות לג יא), וכתיב ויגדל הנער שמואל (שמואל א ב כא). ומנין שהוא זן את אחיו, שנאמר ועתה אל תיראו אנכי אכלכל אתכם וגו' (בראשית נ כא).
Another interpretation (of Gen. 39:1): WHEN JOSEPH WAS TAKEN DOWN TO EGYPT. There were three natures within him. < He was > a Torah scholar, a prophet, and one who nourished his brothers. < He was > a Torah scholar, for it is so written (in Gen. 37:3): BECAUSE HE WAS THE CHILD OF HIS OLD AGE (ZEN).66ZQN here is interpreted in the Talmud as an abbreviation (notarikon) for Zeh Sheqanah Hokhmah, which means, “This is the one who has acquired wisdom.” See Qid. 32b. See also Targum Onqelos, Gen. 37:3: BECAUSE HE WAS A WISE SON TO HIM. It is also written (in Deut. 32:7): ASK YOUR FATHER, AND HE WILL INFORM YOU; [YOUR ELDERS (rt.: ZQN), AND THEY WILL TELL YOU]. And where is it shown that he was prophet? Where it is stated (in Gen. 37:2): SINCE HE WAS A YOUTH WITH THE CHILDREN OF BILHAH…. It is also written (in Exod. 33:11): HIS ATTENDANT, JOSHUA BIN NUN, A YOUTH. Again it is written (in I Sam. 2:21): AND THE YOUTH SAMUEL GREW UP.67Since prophets like Joshua and Samuel are called youths, the designation must mean that Joseph also was a prophet. And where is it shown that he fed his brothers? Where it is stated (in Gen. 50:21): SO NOW, FEAR NOT; I WILL NOURISH YOU….
ד"א ויוסף הורד מצרימה. שלש מדות היו בו, בן תורה, ונביא, ואת אחיו מכלכל, בן תורה שכן כתיב כי בן זקונים הוא לו (בראשית לז ג), וכתיב שאל אביך ויגדך [זקניך ויאמרו לך] (דברים לב ז), ומנין שהוא נביא, שנאמר והוא נער את בני בלהה וגו' (בראשית לז ב), וכתיב ומשרתו יהושע בן נון נער וגו' (שמות לג יא), וכתיב ויגדל הנער שמואל (שמואל א ב כא). ומנין שהוא זן את אחיו, שנאמר ועתה אל תיראו אנכי אכלכל אתכם וגו' (בראשית נ כא).
Another interpretation (of Gen. 39:1): WHEN JOSEPH WAS TAKEN DOWN TO EGYPT. There were three natures within him. < He was > a Torah scholar, a prophet, and one who nourished his brothers. < He was > a Torah scholar, for it is so written (in Gen. 37:3): BECAUSE HE WAS THE CHILD OF HIS OLD AGE (ZEN).66ZQN here is interpreted in the Talmud as an abbreviation (notarikon) for Zeh Sheqanah Hokhmah, which means, “This is the one who has acquired wisdom.” See Qid. 32b. See also Targum Onqelos, Gen. 37:3: BECAUSE HE WAS A WISE SON TO HIM. It is also written (in Deut. 32:7): ASK YOUR FATHER, AND HE WILL INFORM YOU; [YOUR ELDERS (rt.: ZQN), AND THEY WILL TELL YOU]. And where is it shown that he was prophet? Where it is stated (in Gen. 37:2): SINCE HE WAS A YOUTH WITH THE CHILDREN OF BILHAH…. It is also written (in Exod. 33:11): HIS ATTENDANT, JOSHUA BIN NUN, A YOUTH. Again it is written (in I Sam. 2:21): AND THE YOUTH SAMUEL GREW UP.67Since prophets like Joshua and Samuel are called youths, the designation must mean that Joseph also was a prophet. And where is it shown that he fed his brothers? Where it is stated (in Gen. 50:21): SO NOW, FEAR NOT; I WILL NOURISH YOU….