Shimon in Yosef's Prison

When Yosef took Shimon from his brothers and imprisoned him before their eyes (Bereishis 42:24), the Midrash explains, it was because Shimon was the one who had pushed Yosef into the pit. Yosef was also separating Shimon from Levi, so that the two of them would not conspire against him.

Shimon spoke to his brothers, who were about to return home without him. "This is what you did to Yosef," he said, "and this is what you wish to do to me." "What can we do?" they replied. "Shall the members of our households die of starvation?" "Do as you wish," he said. "Now I shall see who will put me in jail."

When the warriors approached him, Shimon shouted at them, and they fell on their faces and their teeth broke. Then Yosef ordered Menashe, who was sitting before him, "Arise." Menashe rose immediately and, with a single blow, put Shimon in prison and chained him.

As soon as the brothers had left, Yosef fed Shimon, bathed him and anointed him.