Genesis 43:21
And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The brothers, while recounting their discovery of the returned money, emphasize that it was "in full weight." This detail highlights not just the honesty of the transaction, but also the ancient practice of paying by weight rather than by count of coins, revealing a subtle but significant aspect of their economic world.
The brothers are returning to Egypt for more grain, this time with Benjamin in tow, and carrying double the money, including the money that was mysteriously returned to their sacks on their last trip. They are deeply afraid as they are brought into Joseph's house, convinced this is a trap to enslave them, so they immediately explain the money situation to the steward, insisting it was an oversight and they've brought it back to pay.
Imagine the surprise and alarm! On a journey for essential food, they discover their payment isn't just missing – it's back in their sacks, full and untouched. What does this mean?
When the brothers opened their sacks at an inn on their journey home, they found their money returned in full weight. This discovery wasn't a simple oversight; it was a profound moment of tension and revelation.
A Test of Character
This unexpected return of their money served as a crucial test. Were they to keep silent, or return it? Their decision revealed a shift in their moral compass. The scholarly context highlights that in this era, money was often paid by weight, so 'full weight' implies an exact and undisturbed return. This exactness intensified the brothers' dilemma and their fear.
Fear, Not Fraud
Their immediate reaction wasn't one of greed, but of deep fear. They worried that this was a trap, a way for the Egyptian governor (Joseph in disguise) to accuse them of theft or fraud. This fear stemmed from their previous deception against Joseph and their awareness of their current vulnerability. It shows they were no longer the men who had heartlessly sold their brother; their consciences were stirring.
When the brothers nervously explain the money situation, the steward’s response is astonishing. He doesn’t just dismiss their fears; he points to God. How does this reveal Joseph’s influence?
Upon hearing the brothers' anxious explanation about the returned money, Joseph's steward offers a remarkable response: 'Peace be to you. Fear not; your God and the God of your father has put this treasure in your sacks.' This statement is far more than just a calming reassurance.
A Glimpse of True Faith
This verse captures the brothers' discovery that their money was returned, amplifying their fear and anxiety as they embark on their second journey to Egypt. It highlights their precarious situation, caught between a devastating famine and the unknown intentions of the Egyptian ruler, who they believe might use this 'mistake' as a pretext for further action against them.
c. 1700-1600 BC
Severe Famine in Canaan
A widespread famine grips Canaan, forcing Jacob's family to seek food in Egypt. This is the same famine that previously led them to seek provisions from Joseph.
c. 1700-1600 BC
Brothers' First Journey to Egypt
Jacob's sons travel to Egypt to buy grain, where they are accused by Joseph (in disguise) of being spies and are instructed to bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, on their next visit.
c. 1700-1600 BC— this verse
Discovery of Returned Money
Upon returning from their first trip to Egypt, the brothers discover that their money has been returned in their sacks. This causes them to fear, believing Joseph intends to accuse them.
c. 1700-1600 BC
Jacob Reluctantly Sends Benjamin
Facing continued starvation, Jacob finally agrees to let Benjamin travel to Egypt with his brothers, taking double the money and gifts, after Judah guarantees Benjamin's safety.
This verse shows the initial discovery of the money in the sacks, mirroring the later realization described in Genesis 43:21, highlighting the brothers' growing anxiety and confusion.
Genesis 43:22This passage directly follows the discovery in Genesis 43:21 and shows the brothers' immediate action to explain the situation, revealing their honest intentions despite their fear.
Genesis 43:23The steward's reassuring words here demonstrate that God's providence was at work, turning the brothers' fear and confusion about the money into a source of peace and assurance.
Genesis 44:1-2This later event, where Joseph instructs his steward to place his cup in Benjamin's sack, intentionally echoes the earlier incident of the money being found, showing Joseph's deliberate plan to test his brothers further.
calvinGenesis 43:1-34: "And the famine was sore in the land."
And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
Et dixerunt, Interrogando interrogavit vir ille de nobis et cognatione nostra, discendo, Num adhuc pater vester vivit? Num est vobis frater? Et nuntiavimus ei secundum verba ista:…
jfbGenesis 43:15-30: "And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph."
Ge 43:15-30. Arrival in Egypt.15. stood before Joseph—We may easily imagine the delight with which, amid the crowd of other applicants, the eye of Joseph would fix on his brethren and Benjamin. But occupied with his public duties, he consigned them to the care of a confidential servant till he should have finished the business o…
The brothers, while recounting their discovery of the returned money, emphasize that it was "in full weight." This detail highlights not just the honesty of the transaction, but also the ancient practice of paying by weight rather than by count of coins, revealing a subtle but significant aspect of their economic world.
The brothers are returning to Egypt for more grain, this time with Benjamin in tow, and carrying double the money, including the money that was mysteriously returned to their sacks on their last trip. They are deeply afraid as they are brought into Joseph's house, convinced this is a trap to enslave them, so they immediately explain the money situation to the steward, insisting it was an oversight and they've brought it back to pay.
The brothers are returning to Egypt for more grain, this time with Benjamin in tow, and carrying double the money, including the money that was mysteriously returned to their sacks on their last trip. They are deeply afraid as they are brought into Joseph's house, convinced this is a trap to enslave them, so they immediately explain the money situation to the steward, insisting it was an oversight and they've brought it back to pay.
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This is a pivotal moment where the steward, likely influenced by Joseph, acknowledges the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He attributes the 'treasure' – the returned money – not to the Egyptian governor's oversight or trickery, but to the providence of the Hebrews' God. This shows that Joseph, even in his high position, was quietly establishing the worship of the true God within his household.
The Steward as God's Messenger
The steward’s words serve as a divine diagnosis. He's essentially saying, 'Don't fear the Egyptians or their ruler; fear and trust your own God.' This is a subtle way of revealing God's active involvement in their lives, even in their distress. It highlights that while human actions are at play, the ultimate source of their provision and protection is divine.
c. 1700-1600 BC
Brothers Reunited with Joseph
The brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin and present gifts to Joseph, who, after a meal with them, engineers a plot to keep Benjamin as a slave.
"And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us," — The brothers, while recounting their discovery of the returned money, emphasize that it was "in full weight." This detail highlights not just the honesty of the transaction, but also the ancient prac…
