Genesis 37:29-30 - Exposition

And Reuben (in whose absence apparently the scheme of sale had been concocted and carried through) returned to the pit (obviously with a view to deliver Joseph); and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes— a token of his mingled grief and horror at the discovery (of. Genesis 37:34 ; Genesis 44:13 ; 2 Samuel 13:31 ; 2 Kings 18:37 ; Job 1:20 ). And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child (or young man, as in Genesis 4:23 , where יֶלֶד in the one hemistich is equivalent to אִישׁ in the other) is not; and I, whither shall I go — i.e. however shall I account for his disappearance?