Genesis 43:18-22

43:18 But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They said, “We are being brought in because of ¹  the money that was returned in our sacks last time. ²  He wants to capture us, ³  make us slaves, and take ⁴  our donkeys!” 43:19 So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 43:20 They said, “My lord, we did indeed come down ⁵  the first time ⁶  to buy food. 43:21 But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money – the full amount ⁷  – in the mouth of his sack. So we have returned it. ⁸  43:22 We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks!”

[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.

[43:20]  ⁵ tn The infinitive absolute is used for emphasis before the finite verbal form.

[43:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “in the beginning” (see the note on the phrase “last time” in v. 18).

[43:21]  ⁹ tn Heb “in its weight.”

[43:21]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “brought it back in our hand.”