Genesis 42:37

Reuben Reuben is here again prominent; cf. Genesis 42:22. His words, offering his two sons as a pledge for the safe return of Benjamin, imply that a second journey to Egypt is regarded as a necessity and as a peril. Notice that here Reuben has two sons; in Genesis 46:9 (P) four are mentioned.

Reuben here, as elsewhere in the E narrative, acts as leader; in the J narrative, it is Judah who makes a similar offer (Genesis 43:2). Reuben acknowledges the patriarchal authority of the head of the family over the lives of his children. Cf. Genesis 31:32.