Genesis 43:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He replied, "Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

NIV: "It’s all right," he said. "Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

NASB: But he said, 'Peace be to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; your money was in my possession.' Then he brought Simeon out to them.

CSB: Then the steward said, "May you be well. Don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your bags. I received your silver." Then he brought Simeon out to them.

NLT: Relax. Don’t be afraid,' the household manager told them. 'Your God, the God of your father, must have put this treasure into your sacks. I know I received your payment.' Then he released Simeon and brought him out to them.

KJV: And he said, 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. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

NKJV: But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

Joseph's brothers fear his steward is leading them into an ambush, for the supposed crime of stealing back money used to buy grain on their previous visit (Genesis 43:18). They have just finished explaining that they don't know how the money got in their packs, but they have brought it and intend to pay it back (Genesis 43:19–22).

The steward responds in a surprising way. First, he assures the brothers that they are not in trouble. He tells them it was God—the God worshipped by these men and their father—who returned the money in their bags. The steward insists that he received the money. That is, he knows the men paid him, and he never thought they had stolen anything (Genesis 42:26–28).

This is both strange and meaningful. Of course, the steward knows he put the money back in their packs at Joseph's command (Genesis 42:25). Still, he gives credit to God for returning it. This is not likely a lie, but simply the steward following Joseph's command. Most likely, the steward sees himself as the means by which their God accomplished His will. At this point, of course, the brothers have no idea that the Egyptian governor is Joseph (Genesis 42:8).

Such mysteries aside, the steward's explanation fits the theme of Joseph's story: God accomplishes His will in unexpected and sometimes startling ways.

When the brothers left from their first trip, they were forced to leave one of their number behind as collateral (Genesis 42:19–20; 24). As the steward is reassuring them, he also releases their brother Simeon to them. This would have been an immense relief, and a powerful sign that no harm was coming to the men.

Genesis 43:16–34 finds Joseph's estranged brothers returning once more to Egypt and appearing before him. They still fail to recognize the person they sold into slavery some twenty years before. After he orders them taken to his home, the brothers are afraid they will be ambushed for a false charge of theft due to their prior visit (Genesis 42:25–28). Joseph's steward assures them God arranged those events, and all is well. Joseph shares a meal with them, honoring them as guests in his home and giving special attention to Benjamin. The meal turns into a time of merriment for them all.

Jacob must send Benjamin with his brothers, back to Egypt, to buy more grain for the family. Without it, they will starve, but the Egyptian ruler will not sell them grain if they don't bring Benjamin as agreed. Speaking on behalf of his brothers, Judah finally convinces his father. Arriving in Egypt, they are honored as guests in Joseph's house. They present a gift to him—still not recognizing him as their estranged brother—and Joseph, after being overwhelmed with emotion, pays special attention to Benjamin.

In Genesis chapter 37, Jacob sends his favorite son, Joseph, to visit his brothers. Joseph does not come home. In chapter 42, Jacob sends ten of his sons on a mission, and once again the group returns short one son. The Egyptian governor keeps Simeon as collateral and commands the family to return with Benjamin. Only when forced with starvation does Jacob risk his youngest son. Joseph, still unrecognized by his brothers as the governor of Egypt, honors the men as guests in his home, paying special attention to Benjamin. After further tests in chapter 44, Joseph will finally reveal himself in chapter 45.

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.