When they reached their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they described to him all that had happened to them:
29. And they came unto Jacob their father. Here is a long repetition of the former history, but it is not superfluous; because Moses wished to show how anxiously they made their excuse to their father for having left Simon in chains, and how strenuously they pleaded with him, that, for the sake of obtaining Simeon’s liberty, he should allow them to take their brother...
Here is, 1. The report which Jacob's sons made to their father of the great distress they had been in in Egypt; how they had been suspected, and threatened, and obliged to leave Simeon a prisoner there, till they should bring Benjamin with them thither. Who would have thought of this when they left home?
Commenting on Genesis 42:29-38
And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, hereby shall I know that you are true men,.... This will be a proof and demonstration of it: leave one of your brethren here with me; as an hostage; they do not say "bound in the prison", Gen 42:19, as Joseph did, because they would not grieve their father, at least would not tell...