As Yaakov makes his way toward Egypt, where he would spend the rest of his life, God appears to him in a prophetic dream to offer reassurance. God promises the patriarch that he – actually, his descendants – will eventually return to their homeland, and adds, “and Yosef shall place his hand over your eyes” (46:4).
The simplest explanation of this phrase, it would seem, as the Rashbam and Seforno explain, is that Yosef would care for all of Yaakov’s needs in Egypt. The metaphor of “place his hand over your eyes” means that Yaakov could just keep his eyes closed and not have to look out for himself, because all his needs would be cared for by his son (Seforno).
The Pesikta Zutreta, however, interprets this phrase more literally: “This refers to closing his eyes [atzimat enayim].” What this means, as Rav Saadia Gaon and Chizkuni explain, is that at the time of Yaakov’s death Yosef would close his eyelids, as was (and still is) the customary practice when a person passes on. According to Chizkuni, God here guarantees Yaakov that Yosef would be present at his death, and would thus be able to care for his remains in an appropriate and respectful manner (and bring his remains to Canaan for burial).
However, Rav Yehuda Leib Ginsburg, in his Yalkut Yehuda, suggests an allegorical reading of this comment of the Pesikta Zutreta, such that it refers not to the physical act of closing Yaakov’s eyelids, but rather diverting his attention away from troubling sights and thoughts. God knew that Yaakov would feel distressed upon seeing the humiliating, prejudiced treatment Benei Yisrael would endure in Egypt. Although the actual period of bondage did not begin until well after Yaakov’s death, nevertheless, even during his lifetime, his children and grandchildren were looked upon with a degree of contempt. (Thus, for example, we know that the Egyptians would not eat together with Yosef’s brothers – 43:32). The Pesikta Zutretasuggested reading this verse as a promise that Yosef would “close Yaakov’s eyes” to this discrimination. Yosef came to Egypt as a slave and soon found himself cast in a dungeon, falsely convicted of a grievous crime. Ultimately, however, he rose from the lowest depths of despair to the greatest heights of power and honor. Thus, the story of Yosef would itself turn his father’s mind away from the troubling circumstances that his descendants will encounter. Yosef’s experiences would give Yaakov good reason to look away from this hardship and focus his attention instead on the bright, promising future that awaits Benei Yisrael. Just as Yosef managed to make his way from the lowest levels of humiliation and hopelessness to the heights of success, so would Benei Yisrael emerge from the mudpits of Egypt and become a strong, proud and thriving nation.