וירד יהודה. מהו וירד שהורידוהו מגדולתו, למה שמינו אותו מלך עליהם, כיון שמכרו את יוסף נכנסו אצל אביהם לנחמו, [ולא] ביקש להתנחם, אמרו עכשיו הזקן מקפיד עלינו, מה עשו עמדו ונידו אותו, שנאמר וירד יהודה. (Gen. 38:1:) THAT JUDAH WENT AWAY (literally: WENT DOWN). What is the meaning of WENT DOWN? That they brought him down from his greatness. Why? Because they had appointed him king over themselves. When they had sold Joseph, they came to their father to comfort him, [but] he did [not] wish to be comforted. They said: Now the old man was upset with us. What did they do. They arose and banished him (i.e., Judah), as stated (in Gen. 38:1) THAT JUDAH WENT DOWN.
ד"א וירד יהודה, כיון שמכרו את יוסף מה כתיב, וישב ראובן אל הבור (בראשית לג כט), כיון שלא מצאו קרע את בגדיו, אף כולם עמדו ונתפזרו, ואף יהודה נתפזר עמהם, [הוי] וירד יהודה. Another interpretation (of Gen. 38:1): THAT JUDAH WENT AWAY. As soon as they had sold Joseph (in Gen. 37:28), what is written (in vs. 29)? WHEN REUBEN RETURNED UNTO THE PIT < … > when he did not find him, HE RENT HIS CLOTHES. In addition they all arose and dispersed, and Judah also dispersed with them. [Ergo] (in Gen. 38:1): THAT JUDAH WENT AWAY.