Genesis 37:22

37:22 Reuben continued, ¹  “Don’t shed blood! Throw him into this cistern that is here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” ²  (Reuben said this ³  so he could rescue Joseph ⁴  from them ⁵  and take him back to his father.)

Genesis 42:7

42:7 When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger ⁶  to them and spoke to them harshly. He asked, “Where do you come from?” They answered, ⁷  “From the land of Canaan, to buy grain for food.” ⁸ 

Genesis 43:11

43:11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man – a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

Genesis 43:23

43:23 “Everything is fine,” ⁹  the man in charge of Joseph’s household told them. “Don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. ¹⁰  I had your money.” ¹¹  Then he brought Simeon out to them.

Genesis 44:4

44:4 They had not gone very far from the city ¹²  when Joseph said ¹³  to the servant who was over his household, “Pursue the men at once! ¹⁴  When you overtake ¹⁵  them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?

Genesis 45:27

45:27 But when they related to him everything Joseph had said to them, ¹⁶  and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, their father Jacob’s spirit revived.

[37:22]  ¹ tn Heb “and Reuben said to them.”

[37:22]  ² sn The verbs translated shed, throw, and lay sound alike in Hebrew; the repetition of similar sounds draws attention to Reuben’s words.

[37:22]  ³ tn The words “Reuben said this” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[37:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “him”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[37:22]  ⁵ tn Heb “from their hands” (cf. v. 21). This expression has been translated as “them” here for stylistic reasons.

[42:7]  ⁶ sn But pretended to be a stranger. Joseph intends to test his brothers to see if they have changed and have the integrity to be patriarchs of the tribes of Israel. He will do this by putting them in the same situations that they and he were in before. The first test will be to awaken their conscience.

[42:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “said.”

[42:7]  ⁸ tn The verb is denominative, meaning “to buy grain”; the word “food” could simply be the direct object, but may also be an adverbial accusative.

[43:23]  ¹¹ tn Heb “and he said, ‘peace to you.’” Here the statement has the force of “everything is fine,” or perhaps even “calm down.” The referent of “he” (the man in charge of Joseph’ household) has been specified in the translation for clarity, and the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged for stylistic reasons.

[43:23]  ¹² sn Your God and the God of your father…This is the first clear reference in the story to the theme of divine providence – that God works through the human actions to do his will.

[43:23]  ¹³ tn Heb “your money came to me.”

[44:4]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “they left the city, they were not far,” meaning “they had not gone very far.”

[44:4]  ¹⁷ tn Heb “and Joseph said.” This clause, like the first one in the verse, has the subject before the verb, indicating synchronic action.

[44:4]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “arise, chase after the men.” The first imperative gives the command a sense of urgency.

[44:4]  ¹⁹ tn After the imperative this perfect verbal form with vav consecutive has the same nuance of instruction. In the translation it is subordinated to the verbal form that follows (also a perfect with vav consecutive): “and overtake them and say,” becomes “when you overtake them, say.”

[45:27]  ²¹ tn Heb “and they spoke to him all the words of Joseph which he had spoke to them.”