And they said
Not Judah only, in the name of the rest, but each of them in turn, being all charged with doing an ill thing: the man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred;
or "in asking asked" F8; very particularly and closely, putting many questions to us, who we were? to whom we belonged? of what family we were? and inquired into the particulars and circumstances of our relations: saying, [is] your father yet alive? have ye [another] brother?
they told him they were all one man's sons, as they were obliged, when they were charged with being spies, in order to clear themselves, ( Genesis 42:10 Genesis 42:11 ) ; upon which he inquired whether their father was living, and whether they were all the sons their father had: and we told him according to the tenor of these words;
they answered to these questions put to them, and which were so closely put, that they could do no other than say what they did: could we certainly know that he would say, bring your brother down?
could they have foreseen this, they would have been more upon their guard; though in all probability had they been ever so cautious this would have been the case; it would have been required of them to bring their brother with them, so desirous was Joseph of seeing him.