37. Rabbi Elazar opened the discussion with the verse, "So Yisrael came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham" (Vayikra 1:23). Come and behold, The Holy One, blessed be He, directs events and fulfills vows and oaths in order to fulfill the vow and edict He decreed.
37. ר' אֶלְעָזָר פְּתַח, וַיָּבֹא יִשְׂרָאֵל מִצְרַיִם וְיַעֲקֹב גָּר בְּאֶרֶץ חָם. תָּא חֲזֵי, דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְגַלְגֵּל גִּלְגּוּלִין בְּעַלְמָא, וּמְקַיֵּים אֱסָרִין וְקִיּוּמִין, בְּגִין לְקַיְימָא קִיּוּמָא וּגְזֵרָה דְּאִיהוּ גָּזֵיר.
39. Come and behold, it is written, "So Yisrael came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham." HE ASKS, Because it is written, "So Yisrael came into Egypt," it is understood that Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. Why should he have added that? HE REPLIES, "So Yisrael came into Egypt" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, NAMELY, ZEIR ANPIN CALLED YISRAEL, AND "and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham" refers to Jacob, because it was for the sake of Jacob, and his sons that the Shechinah came down to Egypt. The Holy One, blessed be He, planned events so that Joseph was brought down first; for, as a result of his merit, the Covenant dwelt with him and made him ruler over the whole land.
39. תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב וַיָּבֹא יִשְׂרָאֵל מִצְרַיִם וְיַעֲקֹב גָּר בְּאֶרֶץ חָם, כֵּיוָן דִּכְתִיב וַיָּבֹא יִשְׂרָאֵל מִצְרַיִם, לָא יְדַעְנָא דְּיַעֲקֹב גָּר בְּאֶרֶץ חָם, אַמַּאי אִצְטְרִיךְ הָא. אֶלָּא וַיָּבֹא יִשְׂרָאֵל מִצְרַיִם: דָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וְיַעֲקֹב גָּר בְּאֶרֶץ חָם: דָּא יַעֲקֹב, דְּהָא בְּגִינֵיהּ דְּיַעֲקֹב וּבְנוֹי, אֲתָא שְׁכִינְתָּא לְמִצְרַיִם, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא גִּלְגֵּל גִּלְגּוּלִין, וְאָחֵית לֵיהּ לְיוֹסֵף בְּקַדְמֵיתָא, דְּבִזְכוּתֵיהּ אִתְקַיַּים בְּרִית בַּהֲדֵיהּ, וְשַׁלְטֵיהּ עַל כָּל אַרְעָא.