The dramatic encounter between Joseph and his brothers reaches a boiling point. Judah's piercing words, his profound dedication to Benjamin, and his deep concern for his father's life completely shatter the wall of alienation Joseph had carefully constructed. Witnessing this genuine display of brotherhood, Joseph is overcome with remorse for the sorrow he had caused his father over the years and can no longer maintain his charade [רד״ק, שד״ל, שפתי כהן, קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. Surrounded by Egyptian officials and servants, his ability to restrain himself finally breaks.
The primary approach among commentators is that Joseph's restraint faltered because he could not bear the thought of his brothers facing public humiliation once the secret of his sale into slavery was exposed. Alternatively, his inability to hold back was a matter of overwhelming impatience; burning with emotion, he simply could not wait for the attendants to slowly exit the room on their own [אבן עזרא, אור החיים, העמק דבר]. Another perspective suggests that Judah's impassioned plea moved the Egyptian bystanders as well, prompting them to beg Joseph to show mercy to Benjamin. Faced with everyone's pleas, Joseph could no longer project a hardened, unyielding exterior [רמב״ן, רבנו בחיי, נתינה לגר]. Others highlight a more practical concern, noting that Joseph sensed an uncontrollable fit of weeping approaching. Realizing that displaying such emotional weakness was beneath the dignity of a supreme ruler, he was compelled to dismiss his subordinates [רלב״ג, מחוקקי יהודה]. Finally, some suggest that the sheer presence of strangers physically prevented him from uttering the deeply personal words he desperately needed to say [הכתב והקבלה].
Raising his voice, Joseph commands that the room be emptied of all foreigners. Beyond the desire to spare his brothers from shame, this order was driven by careful political calculation. If the Egyptians learned that these men had betrayed their father and sold their own brother, they would view them as treacherous and dangerous, deny them residence in Egypt, and ultimately lose trust in Joseph himself [רמב״ן, ביאור יש״ר, פענח רזא]. A deeper reason for dismissing the bystanders stems from an old oath. At the time of the sale, the brothers swore a solemn vow of excommunication against anyone who revealed their secret. Joseph, bound to this ban against his will, could not expose his identity in front of strangers until the brothers collectively dissolved the oath [רא״ש, ריב״א, פענח רזא, בכור שור].
By clearing the room, Joseph took a grave personal risk, remaining alone with the very men who had once plotted to kill him. Yet, he preferred to risk his own life rather than subject them to public disgrace [רבנו בחיי]. Furthermore, removing the Egyptians prevented the desecration of God's name, ensuring that the internal conflicts of Jacob's family were resolved privately rather than being paraded before outsiders [פרדס יוסף].
Left entirely alone with his brothers, Joseph is careful not to terrify them with a sudden unmasking. Instead, he prepares them gradually for the revelation of his identity [בעלי ברית אברם]. Interestingly, although he emptied the room to conceal the shameful history of his sale, he immediately breaks into loud weeping that is clearly heard by the Egyptians outside. This public display of emotion was entirely intentional. Joseph wanted the Egyptians to hear his tears, signaling his deep emotion and pride in his family. By doing so, he proved to his subjects that his brothers were honorable men, worthy of respect rather than shame [אברבנאל].