Israel said to Joseph: see the translation suggestion regarding Israel in Gen 37.3.
From Hebron, where Jacob is located (see 35.27), to Jerusalem is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) and Shechem is about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Jerusalem. Thus Jacob’s sons have gone nearly 96 kilometers (60 miles) north of Hebron to find pasture.
Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem?: the Hebrew uses a rhetorical question, which is equivalent to a statement. Many languages will prefer a statement in this context. See Good News Translation.
Come, I will send you to them translates the Hebrew literally. See Good News Translation.
Joseph’s response to his father is Here I am or literally “Behold me.” Joseph is not telling his father where he is but is using this idiom to tell his father that he is ready to do as asked. In some languages the equivalent response is “All right, sir,” “I am at your service, father.” Bible en français courant says “Yes, father,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “I will go with great pleasure”; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is like Good News Translation: “I am ready.”
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
