בראשית, פרק מ״ז, פסוק י׳

The meeting between Jacob and the Egyptian ruler concludes with an act of departure that blends royal respect with profound spiritual and physical implications for all of Egypt. In the ancient world, it was standard etiquette for an individual departing from a ruler to offer a blessing and request permission to leave [רש״י, ביאור יש״ר]. However, the primary approach among commentators emphasizes that this was not merely a polite farewell. It was a tangible blessing for wealth, prosperity, and the exaltation of the kingdom, much like the blessings pious elders bestow when visiting royalty [הטור הארוך, שפתי חכמים].

The specific focus of this blessing targeted Egypt's most critical existential need. Unlike other lands, Egypt did not rely on rainfall, but rather on the waters of the Nile River. At that time, the river had not overflown its banks for two years, resulting in a severe famine. Jacob blessed Pharaoh that the Nile would rise to meet him. Immediately afterward, Pharaoh visited the river, the waters surged, the Egyptians were able to plant their fields, and the famine ceased [משכיל לדוד].

This raises a question: why would such a profound miracle be performed for a wicked ruler who worshipped idols? Commentators explain that the blessing did not actually alter the laws of nature or produce an overt miracle, as it is the natural behavior of the Nile to rise. Instead, the blessing manifested in perfect timing. Whenever Pharaoh would walk along the riverbank, the waters would rise to greet him at that exact hour [גור אריה, ברכת אשר על התורה].

This precise timing carried a distinct spiritual purpose. The Egyptians worshipped the Nile as a deity, and Jacob’s blessing was intended to undermine this idolatry by proving that the river was entirely subject to the will of God, acting through Jacob. Furthermore, Jacob specifically chose to bless Pharaoh with the rising of the Nile rather than with a long life. Because Pharaoh viewed himself as a god, he would have dismissed a blessing for longevity, claiming that his lifespan was already under his own control. Ironically, Pharaoh responded with complete ingratitude. Rather than acknowledging God's blessing, he exploited the phenomenon of the waters rising toward him to inflate his own pride, eventually declaring that he had created the river and was its absolute master [פרדס יוסף, חומש קה״ת].

The departure itself was conducted with immense reverence. Jacob did not simply turn his back and walk away. Instead, he demonstrated profound respect by backing away, keeping his face directed toward the ruler until he was completely out of sight, mirroring the way a person respectfully takes leave of a master [העמק דבר].