Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 43:23
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.
23. Peace be to you ] A formula of encouragement and reassurance, as in Jdg 6:23 ; 1Sa 20:21; Dan 10:19.
the God of your father ] The steward reverently ascribes their good fortune to the influence of the God of their family, concerning whom he himself could have had no knowledge. Their God had put their money in their sacks. It was mysterious. Their payments had duly been made; he had received them. They were innocent. Joseph had evidently instructed his steward what to say.
I had your money ] Lit. “your money came unto me.” The versions introduce a paraphrase. LXX ; Lat. pecuniam quam dedistis mihi probatam ego habeo.
he brought Simeon out ] This clause harmonizes the narrative of J with that of E; see notes on Gen 43:3 ; Gen 43:5 ; Gen 43:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 23. And he said] The address of the steward in this verse plainly proves that the knowledge of the true God was in Egypt. It is probable that the steward himself was a Hebrew, and that Joseph had given him intimation of the whole affair; and though he was not at liberty to reveal it, yet he gives them assurances that the whole business would issue happily.
I had your money.] caspechem ba elai, your money comes to me. As I am the steward, the cash for the corn belongs to me. Ye have no reason to be apprehensive of any evil; the whole transaction is between myself and you; receive therefore the money as a present from the God of your father, no matter whose hands he makes use of to convey it. The conduct of the steward, as well as his words, had a great tendency to relieve their burdened minds.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Peace be to you; no harm shall come to you for that matter.
Your God, and the God of your father: thus he speaks, because Joseph had instructed him, as well as others of his family, in the true religion.
Hath given you treasure, by his power and providence secretly putting it there.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he said, peace [be] unto you, fear not,…. Do not be uneasy and disturbed, you have nothing to fear, you are in no danger:
your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks; the hidden treasure, as the word signifies, found in their sacks; was there by the providence of God, so disposing the heart of Joseph to order it to be put there, as the steward interpreted it; who by being Joseph’s family had got some knowledge of the true God, and of his all wise and disposing Providence:
I had your money; he received it of them, which he acknowledges, and that was sufficient to acquit them from guile and theft, though he does not say that he put the money into their sacks, or by whose order it was done:
and he brought Simeon out unto them; either out of prison, or out of some other room to them, which was, no doubt, done by the direction of Joseph.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
23. Peace be to you. Because שלום ( shalom,) among the Hebrews, signifies not only peace, but any prosperous and desirable condition, as well as any joyful event, this passage may be expounded in two ways: either that the ruler of Joseph’s house commands them to be of a peaceful and secure mind; or that he pronounces it to be well and happy with them. The sum of his answer, however, amounts to this, that there was no reason for fear, because their affairs were in a prosperous state. And since, after the manner of men, it was not possible that they should have paid the money for the corn which was found in their sacks, he ascribes this to the favor of God. For though true religion was then almost extinct in the world, God nevertheless caused some knowledge of his goodness always to remain in the hearts of men, which should render them responsible. Hence it has happened that, following nature as their guide, unbelievers have called every peculiarly excellent gift Divine. Moreover, because corruption was so prevalent, that each nation deemed it lawful to worship different gods, the ruler of Joseph’s house distinguishes the God worshipped by the sons of Jacob from Egyptian idols. The conjecture, however, is probable, that this man had been imbued with some sense of religion. We know how great was the arrogance of that nation, and that it supposed the whole world besides, to be deceived in the worship of gods. Therefore, unless he had learned something better, he never would have assigned so great an honor to any other gods than those of his own country. Moreover, he does not ascribe the miracle to the God of the land of Canaan, but to the peculiar God of their father. I, therefore, do not doubt that Joseph, though not permitted openly to correct anything in the received superstitions, endeavored, at least in his own house, to establish the true worship of the one God, and always held fast the covenant, concerning which, as a boy, he had heard his father speak. This is the more to be observed, because the holy man could not swerve, even in the least degree, from the common practice, without incurring the odium of a nation so proud. Therefore, the excellency of Joseph is commended in the person of his steward; because without fear of public envy, he gives honor, within his own walls, to the true God. If any one should ask, whence he knew that Jacob was a worshipped of the true God; the answer is ready; that Joseph, notwithstanding his assumed severity, had commanded that Simon should be gently treated in prison. Though he had been left as a hostage, yet, if he had been regarded as a spy, the keeper of the prison would have dealt more harshly with him. There must, therefore, have been some command given respecting the humane or moderate treatment of him. Whence the probable conjecture is elicited, that Joseph had explained the affair to his steward, who was admitted to his secret counsels.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(23) Your God . . . Either Joseph had instructed his steward what to say, or he had trained his household generally in the truths of his religion. (See Note on Gen. 42:18.) The word for treasure means hidden treasure, or as we call it a windfall. By bringing out Simeon he would remove their worst fears, and so at last they consent to go in.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
23. Peace be to you The steward’s words were admirably adapted to quiet the fears of these men . Especially would the words your God and the God of your father assure them that no harm was intended against them, and that their religion was known and respected .
I had your money Or, your money came to me. This same steward thus acknowledges the receipt of their money, and assures them that that is not charged against them.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money.” And he brought Simeon out to them.’
The reply suggests that the steward has been well coached by Joseph. He has been told exactly what to say when the obvious questions come up.
“Peace be to you.” ‘Shalom’ – a standard greeting put in Hebrew form, possibly by the interpreter, although it may be that Joseph’s steward was familiar with their language and thought forms, being chosen by Joseph for that very reason.
“Your God and the God of your father.” Let them be assured that it is their God Who has provided for them. ‘The God of your father’ was also the way in which Laban described Jacob’s God (31:29). It is a way of being courteous when details of Who the God is are not well known. Let them be assured that their own tribal God is looking after them.
“Has given you treasure.” He is suggesting that he does not know what was exactly involved in the ‘treasure’ they found. It was not the silver they had paid over, for he had received that.
“And he brought Simeon out.” The steward had Simeon waiting to greet his brothers just inside the gate, and he is brought out to welcome the brothers. What relief must have flooded their souls when they saw him alive and well. Things were definitely beginning to look up.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 43:23. Peace be to you Set your hearts at ease; your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure; as much as to say, you are to acknowledge the providence of God in what hath befallen you: for the rest, I had your money; it came to my hands, and you may make yourselves easy. There is an ambiguity in the phrase, proper, and, no doubt, designed to keep up a state of suspense in their minds.
REFLECTIONS.Once more they are safely arrived, nor grudge their pains to relieve their hunger. When there is a famine of the word, shall we take less pains to travel for it? They are kindly received, and invited to Joseph’s house; and this, instead of comforting, terrifies them. Fear makes every mole-hill a mountain, and creates suspicion even of our mercies. They resolve to prevent all accusation, by informing the steward of the money which was returned, with offers to repay it; but he quiets their fears with an acknowledgment of its receipt, bids them regard it as a gift from God, and takes all imaginable care till his master comes home. Note; 1. Honesty will be found the best policy. 2. Success in business should be regarded as treasure given of God.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 43:23 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.
Ver. 23. Peace be to you, fear not. ] “The feeble minded” must be “comforted”; 1Th 5:14 not crushed, or cashiered, as the wounded deer is by the whole herd. David, in the spirit of prophecy, pronounceth a bitter curse upon those that “persecuted him whom God hath smitten, and talked to the grief of those whom he had wounded.” Psa 69:26 Joseph’s steward had learned better things of his master.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Peace. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species). Peace put for all its blessings.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
treasure = hidden or secret treasure.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Peace: Jdg 6:23, Jdg 19:20, 1Sa 25:6, 1Ch 12:18, Ezr 4:17, Luk 10:5, Luk 24:36, Joh 14:27, Joh 20:19, Joh 20:21, Joh 20:26
I had your money: Heb. Your money came to me, Caspechem ba ailai, “your money comes to me:” as I am the steward, the cash for the corn belongs to me. Ye have no occasion to be apprehensive of any evil; the whole transaction is between myself and you; receive therefore the money as a present from “the God of your father,” no matter whose hands he employs to convey it.
Simeon: Gen 43:14, Gen 42:24, Gen 42:36
Reciprocal: Gen 49:25 – the God 1Sa 25:5 – greet him 2Sa 9:7 – Fear not Eph 6:23 – Peace 3Jo 1:14 – Peace
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 43:23. And he said, Peace be to you No harm shall come to you for that matter. God hath given you treasure in your sacks By his power and providence secretly putting it there. He speaks thus, because Joseph had instructed him, as well as others of his family, in the knowledge and worship of the true God. By this he meant to show that he had no suspicion of dishonesty in them: for what we get by deceit we cannot say God gives it us. He silences their further inquiry about it: ask not how it came thither; Providence brought it you, and let that satisfy you. We must own ourselves indebted to God as our God, and the God of our fathers, (a God in covenant with us and them,) for all our successes and advantages, and the kindnesses of our friends; for every creature is that to us, and no more, than God makes it to be.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
43:23 And he said, Peace [be] to you, fear not: {f} 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.
(f) Despite the corruption of Egypt, Joseph taught his family to fear God.