Genesis 42:30

For the meaning of ‘spies’, see the comment on verse 9.

v35 The brothers emptied their sacks. Then they saw that every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. They and their father saw their bundles of money. They were all very worried. v36 And Jacob their father said to them, ‘You have taken my children away from me. Joseph is dead. We have lost Simeon. And now you want to take Benjamin away. All these evil things have happened to me.’ v37 Then Reuben said to his father, ‘Kill my two sons if I do not bring Benjamin back to you. Let me look after Benjamin and I will bring him back to you.’ v38 But Jacob said, ‘My son shall not go to Egypt with you. His brother is dead and only he remains. Perhaps some evil thing will happen to him during the journey that you will make. You would send me and my grey hairs sadly to my grave.’