Genesis 44:1

A Silver Cup in a Sack

1 Joseph told the manager of his house what to do. "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry," he said. "Put each man's money in his sack.

Genesis 44:1 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:1

And he commanded the steward of his house
Whom the Targum of Jonathan again calls Manasseh, the eldest son of Joseph: saying, fill the men's sacks [with] food, as much as they can carry;
this he ordered out of his great affection for them, and that his father and his family might have sufficient supply in this time of famine: and put every man's money in his sack's mouth;
not that which had been put into their sacks the first time, for the steward acknowledged his receipt of it, but what they had paid for their present corn, they were about to carry away.

Genesis 44:1 In-Context

1 Joseph told the manager of his house what to do. "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry," he said. "Put each man's money in his sack.

2 "Then put my silver cup in the youngest one's sack. Put it there along with the money he paid for his grain." So the manager did what Joseph told him to do.

3 When morning came, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

4 They hadn't gone very far from the city when Joseph spoke to his manager. "Go after those men at once," he said. "Catch up with them. Say to them, 'My master was good to you. Why have you paid him back by doing evil?

5 Isn't this the cup my master drinks from? Doesn't he also use it to figure things out? You have done an evil thing.' "