Genesis 42:4

4 Aber den Benjamin, Josephs Bruder, ließ Jakob nicht mit seinen Brüdern ziehen; denn er sprach: Es möchte ihm ein Unfall begegnen.

Genesis 42:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:4

But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his
brethren
Benjamin is called Joseph's brother, because he was so both by father and mother's side, as the rest were not; him Jacob kept with him, being the youngest and his darling, the only son he had with him of his beloved wife Rachel; and was very probably the more beloved by him since he had been bereft of Joseph; and it was not only to keep him company that he retained him at home, but for the reason following: for he said, lest peradventure mischief befall him;
as had to Joseph his brother, as he imagined; either that the journey would be too much for him, being young, or lest he should be seized with sickness on the road, or rather with death, as Aben Ezra interprets it according to the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan.

Genesis 42:4 In-Context

2 Siehe, ich höre, es sei in Ägypten Getreide feil; zieht hinab und kauft uns Getreide, daß wir leben und nicht sterben. {~}

3 Also zogen hinab zehn Brüder Josephs, daß sie in Ägypten Getreide kauften.

4 Aber den Benjamin, Josephs Bruder, ließ Jakob nicht mit seinen Brüdern ziehen; denn er sprach: Es möchte ihm ein Unfall begegnen.

5 Also kamen die Kinder Israels, Getreide zu kaufen, samt anderen, die mit ihnen zogen; denn es war im Lande Kanaan auch teuer.

6 Aber Joseph war der Regent im Lande und verkaufte Getreide allem Volk im Lande. Da nun seine Brüder kamen, fielen sie vor ihm nieder zur Erde auf ihr Antlitz.