126. Come and behold, "And Joseph knew his brethren" means that when they fell into his hands, he felt pity for them, because he was whole. "...but they knew him not" REFERS TO Simeon and Levi, who came from the side of harsh Judgment and therefore did not have pity on him. For all those from the side of harsh Judgment have no pity on the people who fall into their hands. THEY ARE OF THE ASPECT OF THE DAYS OF EVIL, WHICH DO NOT PITY MEN, AS HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID.

163. "And they said one to the other, truly we are guilty concerning our brother" (Beresheet 42:21). The phrase, "one to another (lit. 'man to his brother')" refers to Simeon and Levi, just as in an earlier passage, "And they said one to another, behold, this dreamer comes" (Beresheet 37:19). Both verses refer to Simeon and Levi.

164. Come and behold, Who is the "man" and who is "his brother?" HE ANSWERS, The man is Simeon, who is here mentioned as man, as he is elsewhere, IN THE VERSE, "And behold, a man of the children of Yisrael came" (Bemidbar 25:6). In both verses, the man is Simeon. And since he repented, he cried and felt remorse for what he did and said to Levi, "truly we are guilty." Therefore WHEN HE REPENTED, Simeon's sign became Taurus. THERE ARE TWELVE SIGNS THAT CORRESPOND TO THE TWELVE TRIBES, ARIES TO REUBEN, TAURUS TO SIMEON, AND SO ON. Simeon's sign is Taurus, just as Joseph's sign is, as it is written, "His firstling bullock, majesty is his" (Devarim 33:17).

165. He therefore "took from them Simeon" (Beresheet 42:24) so that he would not indict him together with Levi. For when they came together, Simeon and Levi might bring accusations. The phrase, "and bound him before their eyes" means that he arrested him only in front of their eyes. When they left, he gave him food and drink.

166. It may be said that Joseph acted according to the verse, "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink" (Mishlei 25:21). FOR THIS REASON HE FED SIMEON, WHO WAS HIS ENEMY. How could the righteous Joseph have behaved in such a manner? As the verse ends with the words, "for you shall heap coals of fire on his head, and Hashem shall reward you." IT IS NOT SEEMLY FOR A RIGHTEOUS MAN TO TAKE REVENGE UPON HIS BROTHER.

172. Another interpretation of "Thus says Hashem, 'If they be whole and likewise many'" is that these are the children of Jacob, who, as long as they were with Joseph, were whole, because they were joined with the Covenant, WHICH IS JOSEPH. "Even so they shall be cut down (Heb. nagozu)" MEANS when they went away and left Joseph and Simeon. NAGOZU IS DERIVED FROM PASSING AWAY, AS IN "IT IS SOON PAST (HEB. GAZ), AND WE FLY AWAY" (TEHILIM 90:10). Then "it shall pass away" means that then Judgment is passed upon them, as it is written, "and Hashem will pass through to smite Egypt" (Shemot 12:23). IN BOTH VERSES, PASS ALLUDES TO JUDGMENT.

174. When judgment is executed upon Yisrael, it is mild and not strengthened by harsh Judgment. When executed upon idolatrous nations, the mild Judgment is strengthened by the supernal harsh Judgment. This is the meaning of the verse "and Hashem will pass (Heb. ve'avar) through to smite Egypt." The word "ve'avar" also means that He was filled with wrath (Heb. evra) and indignation, which was supported by harsh Judgment. In this same verse, pass away MEANS THAT HE IS FILLED WITH WRATH, ALTHOUGH IT IS MILD JUDGMENT NOT POWERED BY HARSH JUDGMENT, BECAUSE IT IS EXECUTED UPON YISRAEL. And come and behold, When ten gather together in the synagogue and one of them leaves, then the Holy One, blessed be He, is angered with him. FOR THE BROTHERS OF JOSEPH WERE TEN. AFTER THEY SEPARATED FROM JOSEPH AND SIMEON THEY REMAINED NINE, AND THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, BECAME ANGRY.