What does Genesis 44:31 mean?
Judah has done his best to describe the consequences if he does not deliver his youngest brother, Benjamin, safely back to their father (Genesis 44:18–30). Jacob himself has said plainly that it will kill him to lose another son of Rachel (Genesis 42:38). Now Judah emphasizes that his father Jacob will hold his other sons responsible. When they arrive and Benjamin is not with them, their father will die of grief. And he will do so blaming Judah and his other sons for what has happened.The first son of Rachel whom Jacob lost was Joseph (Genesis 35:24), believed to be dead (Genesis 37:31–33), but actually sold into slavery by Judah and the rest of the older brothers (Genesis 37:24–28). That very Joseph—unrecognized by his brothers—is the Egyptian ruler who now listens to Judah's desperate plea (Genesis 42:7–8). He has been testing his estranged brothers. What Judah says next will convince him that they truly have changed (Genesis 44:32–34).