Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 44:10
And he said, Now also [let] it [be] according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
10. my bondman ] Joseph’s steward, while accepting the terms, mitigates their severity. He proposes that the offender, if apprehended, shall alone be punished, not with death, but with slavery. Joseph’s brethren readily accept the terms.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thus he moderates the conditions which they proposed, exempting the innocent, and exchanging the deserved and offered death of the nocent into slavery.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he said, now also [let] it [be] according unto your words,…. Not according to the full extent of their words, but according to a part of them; that be only should be a servant that was found guilty; so moderating the punishment which they had fixed, and were willing to submit to, and therefore could not object to what he next proposes:
he with whom it is found shall be my servant; speaking in the name of Joseph, whom he represented, and who had directed him what to say:
and ye shall be blameless; acquitted of the charge, and pronounced innocent, and let go free.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The man replied, “ Now let it be even ( placed first for the sake of emphasis) according to your words: with whom it is found, he shall be my slave, and ye (the rest) shall remain blameless.” Thus he modified the sentence, to assume the appearance of justice.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
‘And he said, “Let it now be as you have said. He with whom it is found shall be my bondman, and you shall be blameless.’
“As you have said.” Not in the detail but in the fact of punishment. The servant lessens the sentence. Joseph does not want to drive his brothers too far. The guilty man will become a bondman and the rest will be seen as blameless and can go free. This was not in accordance with ancient practise which demanded collective responsibility. Those who consorted with a guilty man were themselves seen as guilty, as the brothers had themselves admitted.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 44:10. Let it be according unto your words There appears a contradiction in this translation; the steward offering to accept their terms, and yet immediately proposing different ones; compare the ninth verse. Calmet is for rendering the verse thus: Certainly at present it would be just to treat you according to your own words; but he only who hath committed the theft, shall be my slave; I will take no advantage; the rest of you shall be blameless.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Renting the garment is an eastern token of great distress. Gen 37:29 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 44:10 And he said, Now also [let] it [be] according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
Ver. 10. Shall be my servant, ] i.e., Mine, in my master’s name and behalf.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
he with whom: Gen 44:17, Gen 44:33, Exo 22:3, Mat 18:24, Mat 18:25