Genesis 42:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said to his brothers, "My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!" At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, "What is this that God has done to us?"

NIV: "My silver has been returned," he said to his brothers. "Here it is in my sack." Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, "What is this that God has done to us?"

NASB: So he said to his brothers, 'My money has been returned, and look, it is right in my sack!' Then their hearts sank, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, 'What is this that God has done to us?'

CSB: He said to his brothers, "My silver has been returned! It’s here in my bag." Their hearts sank. Trembling, they turned to one another and said, "What is this that God has done to us?"

NLT: Look!' he exclaimed to his brothers. 'My money has been returned; it’s here in my sack!' Then their hearts sank. Trembling, they said to each other, 'What has God done to us?'

KJV: And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?

NKJV: So he said to his brothers, “My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!” Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, “What is this that God has done to us?”

Joseph's ten older brothers are reacting to a terrible discovery. They went to Egypt to buy grain (Genesis 42:1–5). They were then strangely accused of being spies by the governor (Genesis 42:12). He only released them on condition they bring back their youngest brother, Benjamin (Genesis 42:18–20). The men don't realize this governor is their lost brother, Joseph, whom they had sold as a slave some twenty years before (Genesis 37:28).

In another secret action, Joseph had the money the brothers paid for grain returned to their packs (Genesis 42:25–27). This might have been an act of kindness—except he did not tell them about it. It might have been another way to create accusations later. We don't know the exact reasons, though these passages make it clear revenge is not Joseph's ultimate motive (Genesis 47:11–12).

As one would expect, Joseph's brothers take this discovery very badly. Understandably, their first response is confusion and panic. They know they did not do this on purpose, but also know how bad this would look. Most people would immediately conclude they'd stolen from the Egyptian governor. They could be put to death for this, or their brother Simeon, still in captivity (Genesis 42:24), could suffer consequences.

As they did earlier, they also express a measure of guilt (Genesis 42:21–22). Saying, "what has God done to us?" implies they interpreted this event as further punishment. Their pain is enhanced by knowing that they are, once again, returning to their father short one brother (Genesis 37:31–33), and need to ask to take their youngest back with them into Egypt.

Genesis 42:18–28 describes a powerful Egyptian governor sending nine of Jacob's sons home with purchased grain, while keeping Simeon as collateral. He commands the others to return only if they can prove their honesty by bringing along their youngest brother. The men tell each other they must be suffering for abusing another brother, Joseph (Genesis 37:28). They don't realize the governor is Joseph himself (Genesis 42:7) and that he understands their language. After leaving, the horrified brothers find the payment for the grain is still in their bags. They do not know Joseph secretly arranged to give it back to them.

Genesis 42 describes the moment Joseph sees his brothers for the first time since they sold him into slavery over 20 years earlier. They have come to Egypt to buy grain, and they do not recognize him. He keeps his secret, speaking roughly to them and hinting they may be spies. He allows them to leave only if they promise to return with their youngest brother Benjamin. He keeps Simeon as collateral but sends them off with full sacks of grain for their family. He also secretly returns their money, something they are terrified to discover on the way home. Back in Canaan, Jacob responds to this terrible news with bitterness and vindictive blame.

Twenty years prior to the events of this chapter, Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:28). Miraculously, Joseph is now the governor of the nation of Egypt (Genesis 41:44). His brothers, who know nothing of Joseph's fate, have come to buy food during a terrible famine (Genesis 41:56–57). Joseph, probably and justifiably angry at his brothers, keeps his identity a secret, at first. Over the next several chapters, he will test, challenge, and chasten them. Yet there is no revenge involved; everything Joseph does furthers a long-term goal of rescuing the family from starvation.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.