Genesis 42:4

Benjamin was Joseph’s brother. Their father was Jacob and their mother was Rachel. The 10 other brothers might be called Joseph’s ‘half-brothers’. Their father was Jacob but they had different mothers. But all 12 were often called ‘brothers’. (For a list of the brothers, see Genesis 35:23-26 and the comment.)

When Joseph was still with his father Jacob, Joseph was Jacob’s favourite. Jacob cared for Joseph more than he cared for his other sons. (See Genesis 37:3.) After that time, Jacob believed that Joseph was dead. So Benjamin became Jacob’s favourite. Jacob refused to send Benjamin anywhere where he would be in danger. So he sent his other 10 sons to Egypt but he did not send Benjamin.

v6 Now Joseph was the ruler over the whole country, Egypt. He was the one who sold grain to all the inhabitants of the country. And Joseph’s brothers came and they bent themselves down to the ground in front of Joseph. v7 Joseph saw his brothers and he knew them. But he acted toward them as if they were foreigners. He spoke severely to them. ‘From where have you come?’ he said. They said, ‘We have come from *Canaan in order to buy food.’ v8 And Joseph knew his brothers, but they did not know him.