Tafsir of Yusuf 12:59

{And when he provided them with their provisions} Meaning: He prepared them with their equipment, which is the gear for travel, including provisions and whatever travelers require. He loaded their mounts with the grain they had come for. It is also recited as bi-jihāzihim (with a kasra on the jīm).

{He said, "Bring me a brother of yours from your father."} There must have been a preceding conversation between him and them that led to this request. It is narrated that when he saw them and they spoke to him in Hebrew, he said to them, "Tell me, who are you and what is your business? For I do not recognize you."

They replied, "We are a people from the land of Syria, shepherds. Hardship has befallen us, so we have come to obtain grain."

He said, "Perhaps you have come as spies to look into the vulnerabilities of my land?"

They said, "God forbid! We are brothers, sons of one father, and he is an old, righteous man, a prophet among the prophets, named Jacob."

He asked, "How many are you?" They said, "We were twelve, but one of us perished."

He asked, "How many of you are here?" They said, "Ten."

He asked, "Where is the eleventh brother?" They said, "He is with his father, who finds comfort in him after the one who 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 one of you with me as a hostage, and bring me your brother from your father, and let him carry a message from your father so that I may believe you."

They drew lots among themselves, and the lot fell upon Simeon—who had the best opinion of Joseph—so they left him behind with him. He had treated them well in their lodging and hospitality.

{And do not approach me} There are two interpretations for this:

1. That it is included in the ruling of the conditional clause (the jazm), as a conjunction to the position of his saying: {Then there will be no measure for you}. It is as if he said: "If you do not bring him to me, you shall be deprived and shall not approach me."
2. That it is in the sense of a prohibition.

{They said, "We will attempt to persuade his father about him, and indeed, we will do [it]."}