And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.
Joseph gave orders to the manager of his household, saying, 'Fill these men's bags with as much grain as they can carry, and put each man's money back in the top of his bag.'
Joseph secretly arranged for his brothers to receive free grain by having their payment money returned to them without their knowledge.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Joseph, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers and risen to a position of power in Egypt, is managing the distribution of grain during a widespread famine. His brothers have traveled to Egypt to buy food, unaware that the official they are dealing with is Joseph himself, and he is testing their integrity through subtle actions. This specific command to his steward reflects ancient Near Eastern customs of hospitality and trade, setting the stage for a dramatic revelation of Joseph's identity.
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