Genesis 19:2

19:2 He said, “Here, my lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house. Stay the night ¹  and wash your feet. Then you can be on your way early in the morning.” ²  “No,” they replied, “we’ll spend the night in the town square.” ³ 

Genesis 42:38

42:38 But Jacob ⁴  replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. ⁵  If an accident happens to him on the journey you have to make, then you will bring down my gray hair ⁶  in sorrow to the grave.” ⁷ 

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¹ tn The imperatives have the force of invitation.

² tn These two verbs form a verbal hendiadys: “you can rise up early and go” means “you can go early.”

³ sn The town square refers to the wide street area at the gate complex of the city.

⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ sn The expression he alone is left meant that (so far as Jacob knew) Benjamin was the only surviving child of his mother Rachel.

⁶ sn The expression bring down my gray hair is figurative, using a part for the whole – they would put Jacob in the grave. But the gray head signifies a long life of worry and trouble.

⁷ tn Heb “to Sheol,” the dwelling place of the dead.