And when he equipped them with their provisions, meaning he prepared them with the supplies necessary for travel, such as food and what travelers need, and he loaded their mounts with what they brought from the provisions. It has been recited as 'bi-jahazihim' with a broken 'j' (ج). He said, 'Bring me a brother of yours from your father.' There must be a prior introduction that he had with them, so that this matter could be discussed. It is narrated that when he saw them and they spoke to him in Hebrew, he said to them: 'Inform me who you are and what your affair is, for I do not recognize you.' They said: 'We are a people from the land of Sham, shepherds. Hardship has befallen us, so we came to buy provisions.' He said: 'Perhaps you have come as spies to observe the weakness of my land?' They said: 'Far from it! We are brothers, the sons of one father, and he is an elderly, truthful prophet among the prophets, named Yaqub.' He said: 'How many are you?' They said: 'We were twelve, but one of us has perished.' He said: 'So how many are you here?' They said: 'Ten.' He said: 'Where is the eleventh brother?' They said: 'He is with our father, comforting him over the one who has perished.' He said: 'Who will testify for you that you are not spies and that what you say is true?' They said: 'We are in a land where no one knows us to testify for us.' He said: 'Then leave some of you with me as a hostage and bring me your brother from your father, and he will carry a message from your father so that I may believe you.' So they drew lots among themselves, and the lot fell on Shimon - who was the most insightful among them regarding Yusuf - so they left him with him. He had treated them well and hosted them. 'And do not come near me' has two meanings: one is that it is included in the ruling of prohibition, connected to the place of His saying 'So there is no measure for you,' as if it were said: 'If you do not bring him to me, you will be forbidden and do not come near.' The other meaning is that it is a prohibition.