Gen 43:7 | NETfull | STEP | They replied, “The man questioned us thoroughly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered him in this way. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

Genesis 43:7

7 They replied, “The man questioned us ^{▼▼ The word “us” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.} thoroughly ^{▼▼ The infinitive absolute with the perfect verbal form emphasizes that Joseph questioned them thoroughly.} about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ ^{▼▼ The report given here concerning Joseph’s interrogation does not exactly match the previous account where they supplied the information to clear themselves (see 42:13). This section may reflect how they remembered the impact of his interrogation, whether he asked the specific questions or not. That may be twisting the truth to protect themselves, not wanting to admit that they volunteered the information. (They admitted as much in 42:31, but now they seem to be qualifying that comment.) On the other hand, when speaking to Joseph later (see 44:19), Judah claims that Joseph asked for the information about their family, making it possible that 42:13 leaves out some of the details of their first encounter.} So we answered him in this way. ^{▼▼ Heb “and we told to him according to these words.”} How could we possibly know ^{▼▼ The infinitive absolute emphasizes the imperfect verbal form, which here is a historic future (that is, future from the perspective of a past time).} that he would say, ^{▼▼ Once again the imperfect verbal form is used as a historic future (that is, future from the perspective of past time).} ‘Bring your brother down’?”