What does Genesis 42:36 mean?
The nine sons who came back from Egypt (Genesis 42:1–5) would have expected their father, Jacob, to take their news badly (Genesis 42:29–35). One brother, Simeon, had been left behind and the youngest, Benjamin, has been demanded to be brought back to Egypt. In Egypt, the men recognized their prior guilt in selling their brother Joseph (Genesis 37:28) was a likely cause of their trouble (Genesis 42:21–22). They don't realize the trouble is a rebuking test from that same brother, Joseph, who is now the governor of the entire nation of Egypt (Genesis 42:7–8).And yet, they likely did not expect this reaction. Jacob lashes out at the nine of them, holding them responsible for the loss of both Simeon and Joseph (Genesis 37:31–33). Some scholars suggest seeing the money in the sacks made Jacob suspicious that Simeon had been sold, not lost. That suggests he was suspicious when Joseph—whom the brothers clearly hated (Genesis 37:4)—did not come back twenty years earlier. At the very least, he is angry with them for once again being assigned a task only to return missing one of his sons.
Whatever Jacob believes, he has decided that bereavement of two of his children is his other sons' fault. And now his beloved son Benjamin is wanted in Egypt. He mourns the situation "has come against" him.