One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since.
We have here a most ingenious and pathetic speech which Judah made to Joseph on Benjamin's behalf, to obtain his discharge from the sentence passed upon him. Perhaps Judah was a better friend to Benjamin than the rest were, and more solicitous to bring him off; or he thought himself under greater obligations to attempt it than the rest, because he had passed his word...
Commenting on Genesis 44:18-34
And the one went out from, me,.... Being sent by him to see how his brethren did, who were feeding his flocks at Shechem, and he had never returned to him to that day: and I said, surely he is torn in pieces; by some wild beast; this he said on sight of his coat, being shown him all bloody: and I saw him not...
Gen 44:28-29 ואמר, preceded by a preterite, is to be rendered “and I was obliged to say, Only (nothing but) torn in pieces has he become.”
Commenting on Genesis 44:28-29