Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 42:21

21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us , and we would not hear: therefore is this distress come upon us .

This is the just punishment of that great wickedness, which though we could cover from men, yet we now see and feel was known to God who is now reckoning with us for it. Thus divine Vengeance overtakes them and conscience tortures them for a sin committed above 20 years before, and their affliction brings them to repentance.

Compare Gen. 49. 23. Yet this passage is not mentioned in that history, chap. 37. Learn hence, that the silence of the Scripture, is no good argument that such or such a thing was not said or done, except in some special cases.

He is inexorable to us, as we were to him.