Now therefore, when I come to thy servant my father,.... That is, should he return to him in the land of Canaan with the rest of his brethren:
and the lad [be] not with us; his brother Benjamin, so called here, and in the following verses, though thirty years of age and upwards, see
Genesis 43:8;
seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; he is as closely united to him in affection, and is as dear to him as his own soul; quite wrapped up in him, and cannot live without him; should he die, he must die too; see 1 Samuel 18:1; so it follows:
Now therefore, when I come to thy servant my father,.... That is, should he return to him in the land of Canaan with the rest of his brethren:
and the lad [be] not with us; his brother Benjamin, so called here, and in the following verses, though thirty years of age and upwards, see
Genesis 43:8;
seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; he is as closely united to him in affection, and is as dear to him as his own soul; quite wrapped up in him, and cannot live without him; should he die, he must die too; see 1 Samuel 18:1; so it follows: