To his father he sent as follows: that is, “These are the things Joseph sent to his father” or “This is what he sent to his father.” See Good News Translation.

Ten asses loaded with the good things of Egypt: asses is the general word for “donkey” here, although she-asses in the next clause refers to females. In languages that must distinguish between the genders of animals, or which find it best to do so in this context, where one group is designated as female, we may say “ten male donkeys.”

Good things of Egypt: these are gifts, but there is no way to know what they are, and so it may be best to refer to them as “some of the best gifts from Egypt” or “some of the best goods made in Egypt.”

For she-asses see 12.16. Note that Good News Translation does not distinguish the female donkeys from the male donkeys. However, the female donkey is of greater value than the male donkey, because it reproduces young ones by mating either with a male donkey or with a male horse. The female donkeys are sent as a special gift to Jacob, carrying the food he will need on his journey to Egypt. If the language of translation distinguishes the male from the female, it may be advisable in this context to do so.

Grain, bread, and provision: see 42.25.

For his father on the journey: journey refers to the trip from Canaan to Egypt. We may translate, for example, “for his father when he will [or, would] travel to Egypt.”

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 .