Genesis 42:38

42:38 But Jacob ¹  replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. ²  If an accident happens to him on the journey you have to make, then you will bring down my gray hair ³  in sorrow to the grave.” ⁴ 

Genesis 44:26

44:26 But we replied, ‘We cannot go down there. ⁵  If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go, ⁶  for we won’t be permitted to see the man’s face if our youngest brother is not with us.’

[42:38]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[42:38]  ² sn The expression he alone is left meant that (so far as Jacob knew) Benjamin was the only surviving child of his mother Rachel.

[42:38]  ³ sn The expression bring down my gray hair is figurative, using a part for the whole – they would put Jacob in the grave. But the gray head signifies a long life of worry and trouble.

[42:38]  ⁴ tn Heb “to Sheol,” the dwelling place of the dead.

[44:26]  ⁵ tn The direct object is not specified in the Hebrew text, but is implied; “there” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[44:26]  ⁶ tn Heb “go down.”