Genesis 42:38 - Exposition

And he ( i.e. Jacob) said, My son shall not go down with you; —not because he could not trust Reuben after the sin described in Genesis 35:22 (Wordsworth), or because he could not assent to Reuben's proposal (Ainsworth), but because of what is next stated— for his brother ( i.e. by the same mother, viz; Joseph) is dead (cf. Genesis 35:13 ; Genesis 37:33 ; Genesis 44:28 ), and he is left alone :— i.e. he alone (of Rachel's children) is left as a survivor— if mischief befall him (literally, and mischief shall befall him ) by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye (literally, and ye shall ) bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave —Sheol (cf. Genesis 37:35 ).