The brothers stand before a harsh Egyptian ruler, completely unaware of his true identity. In a moment of deep regret and soul-searching, they openly confess the sin of selling their brother, speaking freely in their native language right in his presence. They do not realize that the ruler does not merely hear their voices, but actually understands every word they say [רשב״ם, רלב״ג, רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
The brothers are entirely convinced that the man before them is a native Egyptian with no knowledge of Hebrew. Up until this vulnerable moment, all their communication has been managed by an interpreter who bridges the gap between the two languages [רש״י, ביאור יש״ר, שד״ל]. This official is skilled in the art of translating thoughts and words clearly so that difficult concepts are easily understood [רש״ר הירש, מחוקקי יהודה, אבן עזרא].
A natural question arises. If the interpreter is present, why are the brothers not afraid that he will understand their confession and pass the information to the ruler? The primary approach among commentators is that the interpreter is only present to mediate when the brothers speak directly to the ruler. However, at the specific moment they turn to speak among themselves, the interpreter is no longer in the room. It is precisely his absence that gives them the confidence to speak freely, assuming the ruler sitting before them cannot understand a word [מזרחי, שפתי חכמים, גור אריה, דברי דוד, אור החיים, ברכת אשר על התורה].
The identity of this interpreter draws special interest, as he is understood to be a specific, well-known figure constantly at the ruler's side [גור אריה, דברי דוד]. According to tradition, this mediator is none other than Manasseh, Joseph's eldest son [רש״י, צאינה וראינה, משכיל לדוד, ביאור יש״ר]. Joseph was careful to fulfill a father's duty by teaching his son the holy language. This makes Manasseh the only person in the area, aside from Joseph himself, who understands Hebrew, since even Pharaoh does not know the language [גור אריה, משכיל לדוד]. However, this identification presents a chronological puzzle. Based on the timeline of events, Manasseh is a young child of less than seven years old at the time. It is quite remarkable that someone of his age serves in such an official royal capacity [ברכת אשר על התורה].