42:1 grain The Hebrew word used here, shever, broadly refers to food rations. In a predominantly agrarian culture, grain would be the leading staple of the diet.

42:3 the ten brothers of Joseph There may have been a per capita food distribution rule in Egypt, requiring all 10 brothers to make the trip. Compare 29:31–35; 30:1–24.

42:4 Benjamin, the brother of Joseph Jacob refuses to send Benjamin since he was the last remaining son of his favorite wife, Rachel, who was also deceased (35:19–20). Without Rachel and Joseph, protecting Benjamin becomes paramount.

harm would come to him The last time a son of Rachel left the camp with his brothers, he did not return (ch. 37).

42:6 governor The Hebrew term used here, shallit, generally means “ruler.”

with their faces to the ground A point of etiquette to a foreign man of high authority.

42:8 they did not recognize him Over 20 years have passed since the brothers sold Joseph into slavery. His language and appearance have since taken on Egyptian characteristics (v. 9).

42:9 dreams which he had dreamed This scene is the fulfillment of the dreams that Joseph reported to his family prior to being sold into slavery (37:5–11).

You are spies Joseph withholds his identity for some time to see whether they are still untrustworthy. He devises a set of circumstances to test them.

42:13 twelve The brothers must explain this number to Joseph because only 10 appear before him.

42:15 By the life of Pharaoh Joseph swears on the life of the most powerful authority in the land—the king of Egypt who thought of himself as a god incarnate (compare 1 Sam 17:55; 25:26; 2 Sam 14:19; 15:21). This kind of oath appears in an Egyptian inscription from the 20th century bc.

42:16 let him bring your brother The terms of this test are simple and would appear reasonable given Joseph’s suspicion; the brothers must produce the 11th brother to verify their story.

42:17 the prison The Hebrew term used here, mishmar (also in Gen 42:19), is the same word previously used for the place of Joseph’s imprisonment. While it indicates captivity, there is no description of where the brothers were held. It may have been in Joseph’s house (see 43:18, 23).

42:18 I fear God Not a statement of faith in the God of Israel—that would have proven fatal to the ruse. Rather, this statement certifies Joseph’s promise to release the one left behind upon the brothers’ return with Benjamin.

42:21 each said to his brother The conversation takes place in Joseph’s presence. His brothers do not realize that he understands what they are saying since they have been using an interpreter (see v. 23).

guilty The Hebrew term used here, ashem, can refer to either guilt or the punishment that results from guilt (compare Psa 34:22). Israelites held little distinction between the two because they believed that God would make sure sin was discovered and punished (compare Num 32:23).

42:22 do not sin against the boy This indicates that all 10 of Joseph’s older brothers are morally at fault for what happened to him.

his blood has been sought This could indicate that the brothers never told Reuben what they actually did to Joseph—he seems to think Joseph is dead.

42:24 Simeon The second oldest brother, who was a son of Leah (Gen 29:33), and one of the two brothers who slaughtered the men of Shechem (ch. 34).

42:25 with grain The Hebrew word for grain here, bar, is a different word than that used in vv. 1–2.

money Joseph gave them a certain amount of precious metal by weight.

42:27 lodging place This refers to a temporary encampment, not an inn.

42:28 What is this God has done The brothers have no reason to suspect that Joseph returned their money. Genesis 43:21 shows that they discovered the money on their trip home, heightening their suspicion that God was paying them back for their crime.

42:36 is no more This phrase is also used in v. 13 to describe one who has died, or is presumed dead (Joseph). Here, Jacob uses the phrase for Simeon, though he has been assured by the brothers that Simeon is still alive.

42:37 You may kill my two sons Since Reuben had four sons (46:9), the text likely refers to two of his sons.

42:38 journey that you would take While Reuben is concerned about Simeon, Jacob is concerned for Benjamin.

to Sheol The Hebrew text here uses the word she’ol (see note on 37:35).