Rav Dovid Soloveitchik: Yaakov Was Forced to Go to Mitzrayim?
The Hagadah says “Anus Al Pi HaDibur”; Yaakov was forced by Hashem’s commandment to go to Mitzrayim. Where do we see that Yaakov was forced? Which “dibur” does the Hagadah mean?
Rav Dovid Soloveitchik answers with another question. Yaakov was on his way down to Mitzrayim and in the middle of the night Hashem came to him to tell him “Al Tirah Meirda Mitzrayma”; do not be scared to go to Mitzrayim. If Yaakov was already on his way down why did Hashem come and tell him this? He answers that Yaakov had absolutely no intention of staying there. He merely wanted to see his beloved son Yosef one more time, “Eilcha V’Erenu Terem Amus” and then return home to Eretz K’Naan. Hashem told Yaakov do not be afraid to go. This was the “Dibur” that forced Yaakov to remain there. Hashem informed Yaakov that there is a change of plans and that he will remain in Mitzrayim through good times and then later in troubled time. “Do not be afraid”, says Hashem, I will remain with you until the Geula.
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