Genesis 43:8-10

"And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever: except we had lingered, surely we had now returned a second time."

By this time, Judah seems to have taken over as spokesman for the brothers. Evidently, no one paid much attention to Reuben anymore. Simeon was in prison in Egypt; and Levi was also regarded with disfavor because of his association with Simeon, not merely in the slaughter of the Shechemites, but also, probably, in the sale of Joseph.[7]

The crisis which Jacob here confronted and met successfully by trusting God and sending Benjamin on the expedition to buy food resulted in his being referred to here and in Genesis 43:11 as Israel, his covenant name. This is not evidence of different documents from which the narrative was compiled. The leadership of Judah which emerges here contrasts sharply with the impetuous irresponsibility of Reuben. Reuben spoke of his father slaying his two grandsons, children of Reuben, but Judah offered himself as surety for the youngest brother. What a world of difference! The next chapter reveals how gloriously Judah honored his promise.