# The man asked details

"The man asked many questions"

# about us

Here "us" is exclusive and refers to the brothers who went to Egypt and spoke with "the man." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive]])

# He said, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?'

This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "He asked us directly if our father was still alive and if we had another brother." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotesinquotes]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotations]])

# We answered him according to these questions

"We answered the questions he asked us"

# How could we have known that he would say ... down?

The sons use a question emphasize that the did not know what the man would tell them to do. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "We did not know he would say ... down!" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]])

# he would say, 'Bring your brother down?'

This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "he would tell us to bring our brother down to Egypt." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotesinquotes]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotations]])

# Bring your brother down

It was common to use the word "down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt.

