Genesis 43:16-18

43:16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, “Bring the men to the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon.” 43:17 The man did just as Joseph said; he ¹  brought the men into Joseph’s house. ² 

43:18 But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They said, “We are being brought in because of ³  the money that was returned in our sacks last time. ⁴  He wants to capture us, ⁵  make us slaves, and take ⁶  our donkeys!”

[43:17]  ¹ tn Heb “the man.” This has been replaced in the translation by the pronoun “he” for stylistic reasons.

[43:17]  ² sn This verse is a summary statement. The next verses delineate intermediate steps (see v. 24) in the process.

[43:18]  ¹ tn Heb “over the matter of.”

[43:18]  ² tn Heb “in the beginning,” that is, at the end of their first visit.

[43:18]  ³ tn Heb “to roll himself upon us and to cause himself to fall upon us.” The infinitives here indicate the purpose (as viewed by the brothers) for their being brought to Joseph’s house.

[43:18]  ⁴ tn The word “take” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.