But Jacob said, "My son cannot go with you; his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. Something might happen to him on the way. I am an old man, and the sorrow you would cause me would kill me."

We answered, 'We cannot go; we will not be admitted to the man's presence unless our youngest brother is with us. We can go only if our youngest brother goes also.'

"Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you.

I hear that there is grain in Egypt; go there and buy some to keep us from starving to death."

Moses said about the tribe of Reuben: "May Reuben never die out, Although their people are few."

It's no use going into the city, because we would starve to death in there; but if we stay here, we'll die also. So let's go to the Syrian camp; the worst they can do is kill us, but maybe they will spare our lives."

One of his officials said, "The people here in the city are doomed anyway, like those that have already died. So let's send some men with five of the horses that are left, so that we can find out what has happened."

I will not die; instead, I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.

Tell them also to take wagons with them from Egypt for their wives and small children and to bring their father with them.

His family, his brothers, and the rest of his father's family all went with him. Only their small children and their sheep, goats, and cattle stayed in the region of Goshen.

You have nothing to fear. I will take care of you and your children." So he reassured them with kind words that touched their hearts.

You said that your children would be captured, but I will bring them into the land that you rejected, and it will be their home.

There by the Ahava Canal I gave orders for us all to fast and humble ourselves before our God and to ask him to lead us on our journey and protect us and our children and all our possessions.