Genesis 44:20-30
44:20 We said to my lord, ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young boy who was born when our father was old.
The boy’s
brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left,
and his father loves him.’
44:21 “Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him.’
44:22 We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he leaves his father, his father will die.’
44:23 But you said to your servants, ‘If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.’
44:24 When we returned to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
44:25 “Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’
44:26 But we replied, ‘We cannot go down there. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go, for we won’t be permitted to see the man’s face if our youngest brother is not with us.’
44:27 “Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife gave me two sons.
44:28 The first disappeared and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since.
44:29 If you take this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair in tragedy to the grave.’
44:30 “So now, when I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us – his very life is bound up in his son’s life.