Genesis 42:29-38 - Jacob's [Israel's] Sons Report To Him

²⁹ They came to their father Jacob in Canaan. Then they told him all that had happened to them. They said: ³⁰ The governor of that land spoke harshly to us and treated us like spies. ³¹ We told him: We are honest men, not spies. ³² We were twelve brothers, sons of the same father. One is no longer with us. The youngest brother stayed with our father in Canaan. ³³ The governor of that land said to us, 'This is how I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers with me. Take food for your starving families and go. ³⁴ But bring me your youngest brother. Then I will know that you are not spies but honest men. I will give your brother back to you, and you will be able to move about freely in this country.'

³⁵ As they were emptying their sacks, each man found his bag of money in his sack. When they and their father saw the bags of money, they were frightened.

³⁶ Their father Jacob said to them: You are going to make me lose all my children! Joseph is no longer with us. Simeon is no longer with us. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me! ³⁷ So Reuben said to his father: You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Let me take care of him. I will bring him back to you.

³⁸ Jacob replied: My son will not go with you. His brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If any harm comes to him on the trip you are taking, the grief would drive this gray-haired old man to his grave!