So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt: both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation translate the Hebrew connective as So to indicate the consequence of Jacob’s command. The number ten excludes Joseph and Benjamin (see verse 4). In some languages Joseph’s brothers must be rendered by a term meaning “older brothers.” Good News Translation says “Joseph’s ten half brothers.” Joseph and Benjamin are the eleventh and twelfth sons of Jacob. In English “half brother” refers to sons who share one parent. “Full brothers” (Joseph and Benjamin) share both parents, Rachel and Jacob. It is this full-brother relationship between Joseph and Benjamin that is the key to Joseph’s insistence that Benjamin be brought to Egypt. For the birth of Jacob’s sons, refer to chapters 29–30.

Went down: in some languages it is necessary to say “left Canaan and went to Egypt” or “left their place and….”

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 .