Genesis 42:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid.

NIV: As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened.

NASB: Now it came about, as they were emptying their sacks, that behold, every man’s bag of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bags of money, they were afraid.

CSB: As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his bag of silver! When they and their father saw their bags of silver, they were afraid.

NLT: As they emptied out their sacks, there in each man’s sack was the bag of money he had paid for the grain! The brothers and their father were terrified when they saw the bags of money.

KJV: And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

NKJV: Then it happened as they emptied their sacks, that surprisingly each man’s bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

Jacob's sons have just told him about their attempt to buy grain in Egypt (Genesis 42:1–5). The good news was that the Egyptian ruler had given them grain in the end. The bad news was that he also accused them of being spies, keeping Simeon on the demand they return with their youngest brother Benjamin to prove their story (Genesis 42:18–20). None of them yet realize this governor is their own brother, Joseph (Genesis 42:7–8), whom they'd sold as a slave twenty years ago (Genesis 37:28).

Now they open their sacks to show Jacob the grain, also exposing the money they took with them to buy the grain. It's unclear if the brothers were surprised, or merely reminded of their own fear. They had discovered money in at least one of their sacks along the road back to Canaan (Genesis 42:27–28). It's not likely they did not check the rest of the sacks. It's possible they may have deceived Jacob once more by pretending to be surprised. However, there would be no reason for them to do. What's certain is that they don't know how Joseph ordered their money secretly returned to their sacks (Genesis 42:25).

Also certain is that they were all afraid, including Jacob. If the Egyptians believe they had not even paid for the grain they were given, they could be accused of stealing it and then imprisoned or killed. Their brother, Simeon, still in custody, could be punished for their crime. Going back with Benjamin, now, would be extremely risky. Jacob's response summarizes the pain these sons have caused for him (Genesis 42:36).

Genesis 42:29–38 explains the results of Jacob's sons first trip to Egypt to buy food during a famine. There, the governor allowed them to leave only after keeping leaving Simeon as security, and demanding they return with Benjamin, the youngest, to prove their honesty. They also discovered—to their horror—that the money they paid the governor for grain was still in their bags. They do not know the governor is their own brother, Joseph (Genesis 37:28). However, Jacob refuses to risk losing yet another son and forbids the men to take Benjamin to Egypt.

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.