Genesis 42:34

42:34 But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know ¹  that you are honest men and not spies. ²  Then I will give your brother back to you and you may move about freely in the land.’” ³ 

Genesis 43:29

43:29 When Joseph looked up ⁴  and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, “Is this your youngest brother, whom you told me about?” Then he said, “May God be gracious to you, my son.” ⁵ 

Genesis 44:26

44:26 But we replied, ‘We cannot go down there. ⁶  If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go, ⁷  for we won’t be permitted to see the man’s face if our youngest brother is not with us.’

¹ tn After the imperative, the cohortative with prefixed vav indicates purpose/result.

² tn Heb “that you are not spies, that you are honest men.”

³ sn Joseph’s brothers soften the news considerably, making it sound like Simeon was a guest of Joseph (Leave one of your brothers with me) instead of being bound in prison. They do not mention the threat of death and do not at this time speak of the money in the one sack.

⁴ tn Heb “and he lifted his eyes.” The referent of “he” (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ sn Joseph’s language here becomes warmer and more personal, culminating in calling Benjamin my son.

⁷ tn The direct object is not specified in the Hebrew text, but is implied; “there” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁸ tn Heb “go down.”