And Israel said unto Joseph
After his brethren had been gone some time to Shechem:
do not thy brethren feed [the flock] in Shechem?
this question is put, not as ignorant of it, or doubting about it, but to put Joseph in mind of it, and in order to what follows:
come, and I will send thee unto them;
which is pretty much he should, considering the length of the way, sixty miles, the dangerous place in which they were feeding their flocks, and especially seeing his brethren envied and hated him; but Jacob might think that by this time things had wore off of their minds; and it is certain he had no suspicion of their hatred rising so high as to attempt his life; and it is plain he had none concerning them, when his coat was brought to him, but believed it was wild beasts that had devoured him:
and he said unto him, here [am I];
showing his readiness to obey his father, and go on this errand, though it was a long journey, and he to go it alone, and his brethren also bore no good will to him.