Kejadian 37:13

37:13 Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers ¹  are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I will send you to them.” “I’m ready,” ²  Joseph replied. ³ 

Kejadian 42:18

42:18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do as I say ⁴  and you will live, ⁵  for I fear God. ⁶ 

[37:13]  ¹ tn The text uses an interrogative clause: “Are not your brothers,” which means “your brothers are.”

[37:13]  ² sn With these words Joseph is depicted here as an obedient son who is ready to do what his father commands.

[37:13]  ³ tn Heb “and he said, ‘Here I am.’” The referent of the pronoun “he” (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity, and the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged for stylistic reasons.

[42:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “Do this.”

[42:18]  ⁵ tn After the preceding imperative, the imperative with vav (ו) can, as here, indicate logical sequence.

[42:18]  ⁶ sn For I fear God. Joseph brings God into the picture to awaken his brothers’ consciences. The godly person cares about the welfare of people, whether they live or die. So he will send grain back, but keep one of them in Egypt. This action contrasts with their crime of selling their brother into slavery.