אִם־כֵּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד יֵאָסֵ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּם֙ לְכ֣וּ הָבִ֔יאוּ שֶׁ֖בֶר רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃
If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses.
Classical midrash on the selection of the hostage.
אֲחִיכֶם אֶחָד יֵאָסֵר. הַמִּבְחָן דּוֹרֵשׁ קׇרְבָּן חֶלְקִי, לֹא כְּלִיָּה.
English of Core Text: “Let one of your brethren be bound.” The test requires a partial hostage, not total destruction.
On the daf / in context: The midrash sees the demand for a single hostage as carefully calibrated pressure that keeps the family intact while forcing them to return with Binyamin.
Type of Learning: Derash on the verse (classic midrash) — not a formal named middah of the 13.
What Is Learned: Yosef’s test is measured; one brother remains as surety while the others are released to bring food and, eventually, Binyamin.