And the man said: in many languages an answer to Joseph’s question or request will be expected at the beginning of this speech. Examples are “Yes. I know. They aren’t here” and “Yes, I saw them, but they….”

They have gone away: gone away should be expressed in a form suitable for the movement of nomadic shepherds with their flocks, if the language permits this; for example, “They have moved on … (New Jerusalem Bible).”

Let us go to Dothan: Dothan is about one day’s travel (with animals) north of Shechem. Some translators may find it best to shift the quote to indirect speech. See Good News Translation.

Joseph went after his brothers: that is, “Joseph went in the same direction in search of his brothers” or “Joseph went there to find his brothers.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .