Jacob Mourns and Reuben Pledges His Own Sons

(Genesis 42:29) "And they came to Jacob and told him all that had befallen them [korot]." This teaches that the words were as hard upon them as beams [korot]. (Genesis 42:35) "And it came to pass as they were emptying their sacks." This teaches that their father suspected them. (Genesis 42:36) "And Jacob their father said to them, you have bereaved me; Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and you would take Benjamin; all these things are upon me." Upon me it falls to raise up the twelve tribes. (Genesis 42:37) "You shall slay my two sons [if I do not bring him back]." He said to him: foolish firstborn, are your sons not my sons too? (Genesis 42:38) "And he said, my son shall not go down with you." When a person would say something well-ordered before Rabbi Tarfon, he would say "a knob and a flower" [a phrase of approval]; and when a person would say something idle, he would say "my son shall not go down with you." (Genesis 42:30) "The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly [kashot] with us." This is to say that all speaking [dibbur] is a harsh expression. But was it not taught (Malachi 3:16) "then those who feared the LORD spoke [nidberu] with one another"—and "spoke" there is only an expression of gentleness? And so it says (Psalms 47:4) "He subdues [yadber] peoples under us." "Dibber" is one thing and "yadber" is another.