Genesis 42:13

13 And they said, We thy servants are twelve brethren, in the land of Chanaan; and, behold, the youngest is with our father to-day, but the other one is not.

Genesis 42:13 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:13

And they said, thy servants [are] twelve brethren
Or rather, "were twelve", since one afterwards is said not to be: the sons of one man in the land of Canaan;
of Jacob, who dwelt there; this is said with the same view as before, to show the improbability of their being spies; and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father:
meaning Benjamin, whom Joseph was eager to hear of, and no doubt was glad to hear he was alive, and his father also, and that they were both together in the land of Canaan: and one [is] not;
is not in the land of the living, is dead; for so they thought Joseph was, who is the person intended, as appears from what both Reuben and Judah afterwards say, ( Genesis 42:22 ) ( 44:20 ) ; and yet he was before them, and was the person they were speaking to: this must be very striking and affecting to Joseph, who knew full well they meant himself.

Genesis 42:13 In-Context

11 we are all sons of one man; we are peaceable, thy servants are not spies.

12 And he said to them, Nay, but ye are come to observe the marks of the land.

13 And they said, We thy servants are twelve brethren, in the land of Chanaan; and, behold, the youngest is with our father to-day, but the other one is not.

14 And Joseph said to them, This is it that I spoke to you, saying, ye are spies;

15 herein shall ye be manifested; by the health of Pharao, ye shall not depart hence, unless your younger brother come hither.