Genesis 42:4 - Exposition

But (literally, and) Benjamin, Joseph's brother ( vide Genesis 35:18 ), Jacob sent not with his brethren . Not because of his youth (Patrick, Lange), since he was now upwards of twenty years of age, but because he was Joseph's brother, and had taken Joseph's place in his father's affections (Lawson, Lange, Murphy, &c.;), causing the old man to cherish him with tender solicitude. For he said (to, or within, himself, perhaps recalling the fate of Joseph), Lest peradventure mischief befall him. אָסוֹן , from אָסַה , to hurt (Gesenius, Furst), and occurring only elsewhere in Genesis 42:38 , Genesis 44:29 , and Exodus 21:22 , Exodus 21:23 , denotes any sort of personal injury in general, and in particular here such mischance as might happen to a traveler.