When Joseph first saw Benjamin when he arrived in Egypt, he felt intense feelings of compassion and longing, and accorded him special honor.

At that moment when the brothers entered with Benjamin, Joseph invited them to a feast. He wanted to seat Benjamin at his side, but he did not know how to do it in a manner that would not arouse the suspicion of the brothers. He took the goblet and knocked on it, and said to them: I thought that Judah was the firstborn because he speaks first. I now see that Reuben is the firstborn and Judah is a spokesman. Reuben sat at the head of those seated. He again took the goblet and knocked on it. He said: Simeon, come up and sit at his side, as you are second to him; and he said likewise to Levi to sit next to Simeon; and likewise to Judah; and likewise all of the sons of Leah in the order of their birth. Joseph again took the goblet and knocked on it. He said to them: I see in the goblet that all of you are sons of one father, but your father had many wives. He began calling Dan and Naphtali, the sons of Bilha, and he said to them: Come up and sit, until all of them were seated in their order, the order of their birth. Benjamin remained. Joseph said: I see that this one had a brother who was separated from him and that he has no mother. I too had a brother who was separated from me and I have no mother. Let him come and sit by my side. Benjamin sat by his side. That is what is written: “They sat before him, the firstborn according to his seniority and the younger according to his youth” (Genesis 43:33). Joseph brought portions for the feast. He gave each of them his own portion. He gave Benjamin his own portion; then Joseph took his own portion and gave it to Benjamin. Asenat, Joseph’s wife, took her portion and gave it to Benjamin. Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh took their portions and gave them to Benjamin. There were five portions in Benjamin’s possession; therefore, it is written: “Benjamin’s gift was five times greater than the gifts of all of them” (43:33). (Tanĥuma, Vayigash)