Genesis 43:12

12 Take twice as much money with you this time, and take back the money that was returned to you in your sacks last time. Maybe it was a mistake.

Genesis 43:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:12

And take double money in your hand
Than what they carried before, either to buy as much more as they then did; or rather because of the greater scarcity of corn, as Jarchi observes, which made it doubly dearer; for this seems to be different from the money they are also bid to take in return for that found in their sacks, which was a third parcel, as follows: and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry
[it] again in your hand;
that it might be ready to pay upon demand, should they be charged with nonpayment for the corn they had before: peradventure it [was] an oversight;
a mistake of the governors, or of those that were under him, concerned in the sale of the corn, and receiving money for it, or of Jacob's sons; he could not tell how it was, but some way or other he supposed a mistake was made.

Genesis 43:12 In-Context

10 If we had not wasted all this time, we could have already made two trips."
11 Then their father Jacob said to them, "If it has to be that way, then do this: Take some of the best foods in our land in your packs. Give them to the man as a gift: some balm, some honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds.
12 Take twice as much money with you this time, and take back the money that was returned to you in your sacks last time. Maybe it was a mistake.
13 And take Benjamin with you. Now leave and go to the man.
14 I pray that God Almighty will cause the governor to be merciful to you and that he will allow Simeon and Benjamin to come back with you. If I am robbed of my children, then I am robbed of them!"
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.