An Argument That Does Not Hold

Chazal give Reuven as an example of one who asks with an illogical argument. He said to his father, "You may slay my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care" (Bereishis 42:37). Yaakov answered, "My son shall not go down with you." Chazal relate that he called Reuven, his firstborn, a fool, for he spoke of his sons as if Yaakov would not consider them just like his own sons. Targum Yonatan explains the words "you may slay my two sons" to mean that Reuven was prepared to place them under a ban.