Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 44:8
Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?
It is not probable that we who restored that which was in our power to keep, and to conceal without any danger, should steal that which was likely to be discovered with so much shame and hazard to ourselves.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Behold, the money which we found in our sacks mouths;…. Upon their return from Egypt, the first time they went thither for corn:
we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan; which was a full proof of their honesty: they might have kept it until it was called for and demanded of them, but of themselves they brought it with them, as being money not their own; and they did not wait to be examined about it when they came to Egypt again, but of their own accord related the story of it, and offered the money to this same man the steward they were now speaking to, which he could not deny: yea, they brought it to him out of the land of Canaan, a foreign country at a considerable distance, and out of the jurisdiction of Egypt, and where they were not liable to be called to an account for it:
how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold? that is, vessels of silver or vessels of gold, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; it could not be reasonably thought they would, for if they would not retain the governor’s money when in their own land and out of his reach, much less would they steal anything out his house, which they might conclude would soon be missed, and they easily apprehended and committed to prison, and suffer for it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gen 44:8. Behold, the money Joseph’s brethren urge, as a good proof of their honesty, and of the improbability of the charge laid against them, that it could never be supposed that they, who so faithfully restored the money found in their sacks, which they might so easily have concealed, would scandalously pilfer what was of so much less value, and which might be so easily discovered. Conscious of their innocence, they make the most confident, though incautious proposal; for, having been so strangely deceived with respect to the money found in their sacks, they ought to have been slower, at least, in the present case; see Gen 44:9.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
However innocent, this was a rash proposal.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 44:8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?
Ver. 8. Behold, the money. ] Those that from a right principle can find in their hearts to make restitution, may be safely trusted as to wronging others, either by covin or ravin. (agreement or robbery)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the money: Gen 42:21, Gen 42:27, Gen 42:35, Gen 43:12, Gen 43:21, Gen 43:22
how then: Gen 44:7, Exo 20:15, Deu 5:19, Mat 19:18, Rom 13:9, Jam 2:10, Jam 2:11
Reciprocal: Gen 23:6 – my lord
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 44:8-9. How then should we steal, &c. It is not probable that we, who restored that which it was in our power to keep, and to conceal without any danger, should steal that which was likely to be discovered with so much shame and hazard to ourselves. With whomsoever it is found, let him die They suspected no fraud, and were so conscious of their innocence, that they consented to suffer the severest punishment, if found guilty. Their offer, however, was rash and inconsiderate.