And Now, Let Us Kill Him

Our sages taught that the word ve’ata, “and now,” is a phrase of teshuva and yira, repentance and awe. This teaches that the brothers spoke out of fear of Hashem and repentance, not out of hatred or jealousy (37:20). The Be’er Mayim Chaim cites Chazal (Bereishis Rabba 84, 91) that the speakers in this pasuk are Shimon and Levi, who decided not to have mercy on someone they had judged to be wicked and to carry out the punishment as it had been handed down. This is like Moshe’s command to Shevet Levi after the Chet Ha’eigel, where the Torah testifies, “And he did not recognize his brother… because they safeguarded Your word and covenant” (Devorim 33:9). Here too they suspected Yosef of crimes against the Bris Kodesh and took up the sword to avenge the covenant they suspected him of profaning. They were suspicious because, as Dovid HaMelech writes, “I shall not profane my covenant; I shall not alter the utterance of my lips” (Tehillim 89:35). The pasuk connects the lips and the bris: since Yosef spoke against them, he sinned with his lips, and perhaps he had profaned the bris as well.