Genesis 42:15 Hereby you shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh you shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. 16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you are spies. 17 And he put them all together into ward three days.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 225] If they would not consent to this, they were to be treated as spies. But to such an arrangement the sons of Jacob could not agree, since the time required for carrying it out would cause their families to suffer for food; and who among them would undertake the journey alone, leaving his brothers in prison? How could he meet his father under such circumstances? It appeared probable that they were to be put to death or to be made slaves.
And if Benjamin were brought, it might be only to share their fate. They decided to remain and suffer together, rather than bring additional sorrow upon their father by the loss of his only remaining son. They were accordingly cast into prison, where they remained three days. During the years since Joseph had been separated from his brothers, these sons of Jacob had changed in character. Envious, turbulent, deceptive, cruel, and revengeful they had been.
But now, when tested by adversity, they were shown to be unselfish, true to one another, devoted to their father, and, themselves middle-aged men, subject to his authority. The three days in the Egyptian prison were days of bitter sorrow as the brothers reflected upon their past sins. Unless Benjamin could be produced their conviction as spies appeared certain, and they had little hope of gaining their father's consent to Benjamin's absence.
Genesis 42:18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: 19 If you be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go you, carry corn for the famine of your houses: 20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and you shall not die. And they did so.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!