Nobody’s Perfect

“…Yosef spoke to the house of Pharaoh… ‘If now I have found favor in your eyes speak please in the ears of Pharaoh saying: Behold I am on the verge of dying.’” (Bereishis 50:4-5)

The Baal HaTurim tells us that there were three people who used the phrase “I am dying”: Yaakov (earlier in the parshah) Yosef and Moshe.

The gemara in Taanis (5b) tells us that Yaakov Avinu didn’t die. Nevertheless he used this terminology since [in the future] Moshe would also use these words.

Yaakov didn’t want it to appear that he was higher than Moshe lest someone say “Yaakov didn’t die and Moshe did.” Therefore he minimized himself and said “I am on the verge of dying ” lest he hurt someone. (Maayanei Chaim Rav Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik)