Genesis 44:4

[And] when they were gone out of the city, [and] not [yet] far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

And when they were gone out {H3318} of the city {H5892}, and not yet far off {H7368}, Joseph {H3130} said {H559} unto his steward {H1004}, Up {H6965}, follow {H7291} after {H310} the men {H582}; and when thou dost overtake {H5381} them, say {H559} unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded {H7999} evil {H7451} for good {H2896}?

but before they were far from the city Yosef said to his manager, "Up, go after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid good with evil?

They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, โ€œPursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, โ€˜Why have you repaid good with evil?

And when they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

Commentary

Genesis 44:4 marks a pivotal moment in Joseph's elaborate plan to test his brothers and bring about a profound reconciliation. As the brothers, having secured grain for their families in Canaan, depart from the city of Egypt, they are unaware that Joseph has orchestrated a dramatic confrontation.

Context

This verse sets the stage for the climactic revelation of Joseph's identity and the brothers' ultimate repentance. Joseph, now the powerful vizier of Egypt, has commanded his steward to secretly place his personal silver cup into Benjamin's sack, along with the money for their grain. The instruction to the steward, "Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?", is a calculated rhetorical question. It is designed to accuse the brothers of a grave offense, thereby forcing them to return and face Joseph, and more importantly, to demonstrate their changed character and loyalty, especially towards their youngest brother, Benjamin. This accusation serves as a mirror to their past sin of selling Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:28), though they are currently unaware of this irony.

Key Themes

  • Divine Orchestration and Testing: Joseph's entire scheme, though humanly devised, is undergirded by God's sovereign plan. It serves as a severe test for his brothers, probing the depths of their character and revealing their true repentance and newfound solidarity.
  • Dramatic Irony: The steward's accusation, "Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?", is laden with irony. Joseph, who had provided them with grain and returned their money, was now being accused of receiving evil in return. Yet, the deeper irony lies in the brothers' past actions: they had indeed "rewarded evil for good" when they betrayed Joseph, their kind and innocent brother.
  • Consequences and Accountability: The immediate pursuit and accusation highlight the principle that actions, whether perceived or real, have consequences. This moment forces the brothers to confront their situation and ultimately leads to their accountability before Joseph.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "rewarded evil for good" (Hebrew: ืจึธืขึธื” ืชึทึผื—ึทืช ื˜ื•ึนื‘ึธื” - ra'ah tachat tovah) is a powerful expression of injustice. It implies a betrayal of trust and a perversion of natural justice. This concept is a significant moral theme in biblical wisdom literature, as seen in Proverbs 17:13: "Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house." Joseph's use of this accusation leverages a deep-seated moral principle to provoke a strong reaction from his brothers, leading them to plead their innocence and ultimately, to Judah's profound intercession for Benjamin.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us that God often works through complex and sometimes challenging circumstances to bring about His purposes, including growth, repentance, and reconciliation. Joseph's actions, though a form of deception, were driven by a redemptive intent to test and transform his family, leading to their eventual salvation and the preservation of the lineage of Israel. For believers, it encourages us to trust in God's providential hand even when circumstances seem confusing or unjust. It also prompts self-reflection on how we respond when we feel wronged, and whether we are willing to forgive and seek restoration, just as Joseph ultimately did.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • John 10:32

    Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

  • Psalms 35:12

    They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.

  • 1 Samuel 24:17

    And he said to David, Thou [art] more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:11

    Behold, [I say, how] they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

  • Psalms 109:5

    And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

  • Deuteronomy 2:16

    So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,

  • Proverbs 17:13

    ยถ Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
โ† Back