Genesis 43:22
and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The brothers' bewildered statement, "We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks," highlights their earnestness. It shows they didn't steal the money back, but are genuinely confused about its return, revealing an honest intention to pay fully and move forward.
The brothers, having been commanded to bring Benjamin back to Egypt if they wanted more food, have now returned with him and their father's blessing. Upon arriving in Egypt, they are immediately taken to Joseph's house, which causes them great fear as they suspect it's a trap related to the money found in their sacks from their previous visit. They try to explain this and present a gift to the governor, unsure of what awaits them.
The brothers are back in Egypt, but their fear is palpable. They've brought extra money, trying to cover all their bases. But then, they discover their original payment back in their sacks. What does this mean?
A Double Take
When the brothers return to buy more food, they bring "other money" with them, preparing for the possibility that their original payment might not be enough or that they might need to pay double. This shows a cautious and earnest attempt to be fully compliant.
The Shocking Discovery
To their utter surprise, they find their original money returned in their sacks. This unexpected event fuels their anxiety. It's not just a simple transaction; something extraordinary has happened, and they have no explanation for it. This discovery intensifies their fear, as they're unsure if this is a trap or a sign of favor.
Honest Intentions
Their statement, "We do not know who put our money in our sacks," is a genuine expression of their confusion and innocence regarding this strange turn of events. They are trying to conduct their business honestly and are baffled by this unexplained return of their funds.
Why are these brothers so terrified by a simple return of money? Their anxiety isn't just about the situation; it's deeply rooted in something they did long ago.
An Unsettled Conscience
The brothers' fear is amplified by their past actions. They sold Joseph into slavery, and the guilt of that deed has never left them. Every unusual event, like the return of their money, becomes a potential judgment or a sign of retribution for their sin.
Interpreting Signs Through a Guilty Lens
Their suspicion arises because they are accustomed to thinking in terms of consequence and punishment. The mysterious return of the money feels less like a mistake and more like a deliberate act by the Egyptian ruler to find fault with them. They interpret every detail through the lens of their guilt, assuming the worst.
The brothers' fear and confusion over the returned money highlight their precarious situation and their deep-seated suspicion that Joseph intends to punish them for their past actions.
c. 1800 BC
Severe Famine in Canaan
A widespread famine grips the land of Canaan, forcing Jacob's family to seek food elsewhere.
c. 1799 BC
First Journey to Egypt
Ten of Jacob's sons travel to Egypt to buy grain, where they are accused of being spies by Joseph, whom they do not recognize.
c. 1799 BC— this verse
Money Returned in Sacks
After their initial purchase of grain, Joseph secretly returns the money to the sacks of his brothers, intending to test them.
c. 1798 BC
Second Journey to Egypt
The brothers, accompanied by Benjamin, return to Egypt to buy more food, bringing the money from the first trip and additional funds.
c. 1798 BC
This verse directly precedes the current one and describes the brothers' initial shock and confusion upon finding their money returned in their sacks, setting the stage for their current explanation and anxiety.
Genesis 43:12This verse shows Jacob's instruction to his sons to take double the money and to also carry back the money found in their sacks, indicating an awareness and plan to address the 'oversight' mentioned by the brothers.
Genesis 43:18This passage describes the brothers' fear upon arriving at Joseph's house, explicitly linking their apprehension to the returned money, showing a continuation of their concern and suspicion from the previous discovery.
Genesis 43:21This verse recounts the brothers' discovery of the money when they opened their sacks at the lodging place, providing the context and the details of how they found the money before bringing it back to Joseph's steward.
Genesis 43:23The steward's reassuring words, 'Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money,' directly addresses the brothers' concern about the money and offers a divine explanation.
gillGenesis 43:22: "And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks."
And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food,.... Double money for a double quantity, or because the price of corn was now doubled; and their bringing this besides the other showed their honest and upright intentions: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks; we are quite ignorant of it, and can by no means account for it, and therefore hope no bla…
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:…
The brothers' bewildered statement, "We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks," highlights their earnestness. It shows they didn't steal the money back, but are genuinely confused about its return, revealing an honest intention to pay fully and move forward.
The brothers, having been commanded to bring Benjamin back to Egypt if they wanted more food, have now returned with him and their father's blessing. Upon arriving in Egypt, they are immediately taken to Joseph's house, which causes them great fear as they suspect it's a trap related to the money found in their sacks from their previous visit. They try to explain this and present a gift to the governor, unsure of what awaits them.
The brothers, having been commanded to bring Benjamin back to Egypt if they wanted more food, have now returned with him and their father's blessing. Upon arriving in Egypt, they are immediately taken to Joseph's house, which causes them great fear as they suspect it's a trap related to the money found in their sacks from their previous visit. They try to explain this and present a gift to the governor, unsure of what awaits them.
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The Steward's Reassurance
When the steward says, "Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money" (Genesis 43:23), he attempts to alleviate their fears. He attributes the event to divine providence, acknowledging their God, which subtly points them toward a different way of understanding God's actions compared to their fearful interpretations.
Feast with Joseph
Joseph hosts his brothers for a meal, separating them from the Egyptians due to cultural and religious customs.
"and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.”" — The brothers' bewildered statement, "We cannot tell who put our money in our sacks," highlights their earnestness. It shows they didn't steal the money back, but are genuinely confused about its retu…
