The Quran

Preface

وَلَمّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهازِهِم قالَ ائتوني بِأَخٍ لَكُم مِن أَبيكُم ۚ أَلا تَرَونَ أَنّي أوفِي الكَيلَ وَأَنا خَيرُ المُنزِلينَ

Yusuf Ali

And when he had furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for them, he said: “Bring unto me a brother ye have, of the same father as yourselves, (but a different mother): see ye not that I pay out full measure, and that I do provide the best hospitality?¹

Joseph treated his brothers liberally. Perhaps he condescended to enter into conversation with these strangers, and enquired about their family. The ten brothers had come. Had they left a father behind them? What sort of a person was he? Very aged? Well, of course he could not come. Had they any other brothers? Doubtless the ten brothers said nothing about their lost Joseph, or told some lie about him. But perhaps their host’s kindly insistence brought Benjamin into the conversation. How old was he? Why had they not brought him? Would they bring him next time? Indeed they must, or they would get no more corn, and he?the great Egyptian Wazir?##would not even see them.