Genesis 44:4

4 They were barely out of the city when Joseph said to his house steward, "Run after them. When you catch up with them, say, 'Why did you pay me back evil for good?

Genesis 44:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:4

[And] when they were gone out of the city, [and] not [yet] far
off
Which perhaps was Tanis, the Zoan of the Scriptures; see ( Ezekiel 30:14 ) , margin; Joseph said unto his steward, up, follow after the men;
who no doubt was ready provided with men and horses, to go out and pursue when Joseph should give the orders, he being privy to Joseph's intentions, and with whom the scheme was concerted, and the secret was. Joseph appears to have been up very early this morning, and had observed the exact time of his brethren's departure, and guessed whereabouts they might be when he sent his steward, and others after them; for it can hardly be thought he was sent alone after eleven men, and to charge them with a theft, and bring them back again: and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, wherefore have ye
rewarded evil for good?
in taking away the silver cup, when they had been so kindly and bountifully entertained. This he was to represent as base ingratitude, as it would have appeared, had it been fact. In much such manner was Esop used by the inhabitants of Delphos; they, being displeased with him, put a sacred cup or vial into his bags, which he, being ignorant of, went on his way towards Phocis; and they ran after him, and seized him, and charged him with sacrilege F8.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 Scholia ad Vespes Aristophanis, p. 534. Ed. Genev. 1607.

Genesis 44:4 In-Context

2 Then put my chalice, my silver chalice, in the top of the bag of the youngest, along with the money for his food." He did as Joseph ordered.
3 At break of day the men were sent off with their donkeys.
4 They were barely out of the city when Joseph said to his house steward, "Run after them. When you catch up with them, say, 'Why did you pay me back evil for good?
5 This is the chalice my master drinks from; he also uses it for divination. This is outrageous!'"
6 He caught up with them and repeated all this word for word.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.