And Iudah said] Reuben had spoken rashly without heed, and his speech was as little heeded by Jacob, as by himselfe, and so he prevailed nothing with him; Simeon, the next in age to Reuben, was kept prisoner in Egypt; Levi next to him in birth and too neere him in the blood of the Shechemites, having for that fact little acceptation with his father, either wanted heart to speake, or hope to speed, especially seeing Reubens motion was refused; Judah the next in senioritie speaking more wisely at a better opportunitie, (for now the necessitie of supply made Jacob the more willing to yeeld, what before he had denyed) obtained his consent to bring his brother Benjamin into Egypt; The way then to prevaile with an unwilling mind is to use a mediatour, who hath some gracefull acceptance with the partie to be moved, and for such a one to use prudent perswasion, and to watch the advantage of the best opportunitie to make the motion successefull. the lad] He was now about twentie foure yeares of age, and a father of divers children, Chap. 46. 21. yet he calls him but a lad, because he was the youngest, and in his fathers affection as deare and tenderly beloved and cared for as if he were but a boy. See Annot. on Chap. 37. vers. 30. and on Chap. 22. vers. 5.