ויחי יעקב בארץ מצרים וגו' (בראשית מז כח). למה פרשה זו סתומה מכל פרשיות, אלא כיון שמת יעקב התחיל השעבוד על ישראל. וטעם אחר שבקש לגלות את קץ הימין ונסתם ממנו. וטעם אחר שסתם ממנו כל צרות שבעולם. (Gen. 47:28:) AND JACOB LIVED IN THE LAND OF EGYPT < SEVENTEEN YEARS >…. Why is this parashah more closed1Normally a new section (or parashah) has a space of nine letters, while a subsection begins after a space of three letters. This section begins after a space of one letter. than all < other > parashiyyot?2Gen. R. 96:1. Because, as soon as Jacob died, the servitude of Israel began. But another reason is that he desired to reveal the end of days, but it was closed off from him.3See below, 12:9; Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Gen. 49:1. And another reason is that he closed off all the troubles in the world from him.