Genesis 42:23-24

42:23 (Now ¹  they did not know that Joseph could understand them, ²  for he was speaking through an interpreter.) ³  42:24 He turned away from them and wept. When he turned around and spoke to them again, ⁴  he had Simeon taken ⁵  from them and tied up ⁶  before their eyes.

[42:23]  ¹ tn The disjunctive clause provides supplemental information that is important to the story.

[42:23]  ² tn “was listening.” The brothers were not aware that Joseph could understand them as they spoke the preceding words in their native language.

[42:23]  ³ tn Heb “for [there was] an interpreter between them.” On the meaning of the word here translated “interpreter” see HALOT 590 s.v. מֵלִיץ and M. A. Canney, “The Hebrew melis (Prov IX 12; Gen XLII 2-3),” AJSL 40 (1923/24): 135-37.

[42:24]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he turned to them and spoke to them.”

[42:24]  ⁵ tn Heb “took Simeon.” This was probably done at Joseph’s command, however; the grand vizier of Egypt would not have personally seized a prisoner.

[42:24]  ⁶ tn Heb “and he bound him.” See the note on the preceding verb “taken.”