Genesis 42:28

And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, [it is] even in my sack: and their heart failed [them], and they were afraid, saying one to another, What [is] this [that] God hath done unto us?

And he said {H559} unto his brethren {H251}, My money {H3701} is restored {H7725}; and, lo {H2009}, it is even in my sack {H572}: and their heart {H3820} failed {H3318} them, and they were afraid {H2729}, saying {H559} one {H376} to another {H251}, What is this that God {H430} hath done {H6213} unto us?

He said to his brothers, "My money has been restored - there it is, right in my pack!"At that, their hearts sank; they turned, trembling, to one another and said, "What is this that God has done to us?"

“My silver has been returned!” he said to his brothers. “It is here in my sack.” Their hearts sank, and trembling, they turned to one another and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they turned trembling one to another, saying, What is this that God hath done unto us?

Commentary

Genesis 42:28 captures a pivotal moment of discovery and fear among Joseph's brothers, as they realize their money has been mysteriously returned to their sacks. This unexpected event deeply unsettles them, leading them to question God's hand in their predicament.

Context

This verse is set during a severe famine that afflicts both Canaan, where Jacob and his family reside, and Egypt. Joseph, having been sold into slavery by his brothers years prior, has risen to become the powerful second-in-command in Egypt, responsible for managing the grain supply. When Jacob sends his ten eldest sons to Egypt to buy food, they unknowingly come before Joseph, who recognizes them but conceals his identity. Joseph accuses them of being spies, imprisons them briefly, and then devises a test: one brother (Simeon) must remain in Egypt while the others return with Benjamin, their youngest brother. As part of this elaborate plan, Joseph instructs his steward to secretly return each brother's money to their sacks along with the grain. The discovery in verse 28 happens after they have departed from Egypt and stopped to feed their donkeys, revealing the first instance of the returned money.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence and Sovereignty: The brothers' immediate reaction, "What is this that God hath done unto us?", highlights their recognition of a divine hand behind the unusual circumstance. While they interpret it as potential judgment, it is in fact part of God's overarching plan to preserve Jacob's family and fulfill His covenant promises, a truth Joseph later articulates in Genesis 50:20.
  • Guilt and Conscience: The brothers' extreme fear and attribution to God are deeply rooted in their unresolved guilt over selling Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:28). Their conscience is already troubled, as evidenced by their earlier confession in Genesis 42:21, making them susceptible to interpreting any misfortune as divine retribution.
  • Fear and Uncertainty: The phrase "their heart failed them" vividly describes their terror and dismay. The unexpected return of the money, combined with their already precarious situation in Egypt, plunges them into profound anxiety about what further calamity might befall them.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "their heart failed them" translates a Hebrew idiom that conveys a sense of extreme dread, loss of courage, or even feeling as if one is dying from fright. It indicates a profound emotional collapse. Their immediate exclamation, "What is this that God hath done unto us?", reveals their theological framework: they saw God's direct involvement in the mysterious event, interpreting it as a sign of divine displeasure or judgment against their past sins.

Practical Application

This verse offers a powerful reminder that God's hand is often at work in our lives, even in circumstances we find perplexing or frightening. Like Joseph's brothers, we may initially interpret difficult or unexpected situations as negative, failing to see the larger, redemptive plan God may have in motion. The brothers' fear also underscores the burden of an unaddressed conscience; unresolved guilt can lead to a distorted view of God's actions and intentions. For believers, understanding God's sovereignty allows us to trust Him even when circumstances are confusing, recognizing that He can use challenges for our good and for the fulfillment of His purposes.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 61:2 (2 votes)

    From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock [that] is higher than I.

  • Lamentations 2:17 (2 votes)

    The LORD hath done [that] which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused [thine] enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

  • Genesis 42:36 (2 votes)

    And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved [of my children]: Joseph [is] not, and Simeon [is] not, and ye will take Benjamin [away]: all these things are against me.

  • Lamentations 3:37 (2 votes)

    ¶ Who [is] he [that] saith, and it cometh to pass, [when] the Lord commandeth [it] not?

  • Luke 21:26 (2 votes)

    Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

  • Genesis 27:33 (2 votes)

    And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where [is] he that hath taken venison, and brought [it] me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, [and] he shall be blessed.

  • 1 Kings 10:5 (2 votes)

    And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.