But he said: the speaker in verse 17 is Joseph.

Far be it from me that I should do so!: see verse 7 for this kind of expression. Joseph refuses Judah’s offer and insists that he will make only Benjamin his slave. In this way he forces the brothers to think again about how the family is shattered by the loss of only one brother—in the past himself, and now again himself in the person of Benjamin. In many languages it is natural to begin this speech with “No! I can’t do that.”

Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my slave: see verse 20.

But as for you, go up in peace to your father: Joseph’s release of the brothers as stated here is with irony. He knows that for them to return without Benjamin will be the opposite of peace. Joseph is addressing all the brothers, not just Judah. This must be expressed as “the rest of you,” since one brother, Benjamin, is to stay as a slave. Go up is used in the Hebrew to indicate going from Egypt to Canaan; translations may reflect simple travel without mentioning direction, as in Good News Translation, or mention movement toward the higher, hilly country of Canaan, or else mention the direction as “northeastward” toward Hebron. In peace means to go safely or, as Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says, “no one will bother you.” See Good News Translation.

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 .