43:1 Now the famine was severe in the land. 1 43:2 When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Return, buy us a little more food.”
43:3 But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned 2 us, ‘You will not see my face 3 unless your brother is with you.’ 43:4 If you send 4 our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy food for you.
1 tn The disjunctive clause gives supplemental information that is important to the storyline.
2 tn The infinitive absolute with the finite verb stresses the point. The primary meaning of the verb is “to witness; to testify.” It alludes to Joseph’s oath, which was tantamount to a threat or warning.
3 tn The idiom “see my face” means “have an audience with me.”
4 tn Heb “if there is you sending,” that is, “if you send.”