Meeting Benjamin after a long and painful separation brings Joseph to a sudden, uncontrollable emotional peak. The overwhelming rush of love, longing, and sorrow forces him into hiding, needing a private moment to release the storm inside him.
What triggers this sudden breaking point? The primary approach among commentators suggests it stems from a deeply moving conversation between the two brothers right before this moment. When Joseph asked about Benjamin's family, Benjamin revealed that he had ten sons, all named in memory of his lost brother and the tragedies that befell him. The names reflected a profound mixture of greatness and sorrow. Some symbolized being swallowed up among the nations, being taken captive, or living in a foreign land, while others honored his brother's pleasant character, his Torah learning, his status as a firstborn, and the tragic reality that they would never attend each other's weddings. Hearing these names made Benjamin's deep, enduring grief incredibly real to Joseph [גור אריה]. This realization directly stirred his deepest compassions specifically for his brother [משכיל לדוד].
Other perspectives suggest different sources for his tears. He may have been overwhelmed by thoughts of the ongoing suffering of his father and brothers [ספורנו]. Alternatively, the pain arose from the heavy burden of his continued disguise, knowing that he was about to cause Benjamin even more distress with the upcoming plot involving the planted goblet [העמק דבר].
The emotional surge is described as an intense physical burning and warming within him. Commentators compare this internal reaction to the way skin shrinks and wrinkles from the heat of an oven, or the way fruit and meat heat up and ferment [רש״י, אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, שד״ל, אבי עזר]. The heat of these intense feelings burned so strongly that it was as if smoke rose to his mind, bringing forth tears and a deep internal trembling [מחוקקי יהודה]. These were fierce, hidden emotions that had been locked away for years. They finally began to ferment and burst outward, no longer able to be contained by his strict self-control [רש״ר הירש].
While crying is typically a spontaneous reaction, Joseph actively sought out an opportunity to weep. He urgently needed a hiding place where his brothers would not see him break down [ביאור יש״ר]. More than just hiding, he deliberately wanted to cry because his feelings were burning like a trapped fire, and the tears were necessary to extinguish the flaming coals of his heart [אלשיך, מחוקקי יהודה]. To do this, he hurried into his private inner bedroom. This was a specific, known sanctuary where no one else was permitted to enter [נתינה לגר, העמק דבר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In this completely closed and secure space, he could finally let go and release his emotions in absolute privacy [רש״ר הירש].