Genesis 44:25-34

25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.
26 And we said, We shall not be able to go down; but if our younger brother go down with us, we will go down; for we shall not be able to see the man's face, our younger brother not being with us.
27 And thy servant our father said to us, Ye know that my wife bore me two ;
28 and one is departed from me; and ye said that he was devoured of wild beasts, and I have not seen him until now.
29 If then ye take this one also from my presence, and an affliction happen to him by the way, then shall ye bring down my old age with sorrow to the grave.
30 Now then, if I should go in to they servant, and our father, and the boy should not be with us, (and his life depends on this life)
31 —it shall even come to pass, when he sees the boy is not with us, he will die, and thy servants will bring down the old age of thy servant, and our father, with sorrow to the grave.
32 For thy servant has received the boy from his father, saying, If I bring him not to thee, and place him before thee, I shall be guilty towards my father for ever.
33 Now then I will remain a servant with thee instead of the lad, a domestic of my lord; but let the lad go up with his brethren.
34 For how shall I go up to my father, the lad not being with us? lest I behold the evils which will befall my father.

Genesis 44:25-34 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 44

This chapter relates the policy of Joseph in making an experiment of his brethren's regard and affection for Benjamin; he ordered his steward to put every man's money into his sack, and his silver cup in Benjamin's, and when they were got out of the city, to follow after them, and charge them with the theft, as he did; and having searched their sacks, as they desired he would, found the cup with Benjamin, which threw them into the utmost distress, and obliged them to return to Joseph, Ge 44:1-14; who charged them with their ill behaviour towards him; they acknowledge it, and propose to be his servants; but he orders them to depart to their father, retaining Benjamin in servitude, Ge 44:15-17; upon which Judah addressed him in a very polite and affectionate manner, and relates the whole story, both of what passed between Joseph and them, concerning Benjamin, the first time they were in Egypt, and between their father and them upon the same subject, when he directed them to go a second time thither to buy corn, and how he became a surety to his father for him, and therefore proposed to be his bondman now, not being able to see his father's face without Benjamin, Ge 44:18-34.

Footnotes 2

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.