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Genesis 43:21 - Money mysteriously returned—divine test?

Genesis 43:21 - בראשית 43:21

Hebrew Text

וַיְהִי כִּי־בָאנוּ אֶל־הַמָּלוֹן וַנִּפְתְּחָה אֶת־אַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּ וְהִנֵּה כֶסֶף־אִישׁ בְּפִי אַמְתַּחְתּוֹ כַּסְפֵּנוּ בְּמִשְׁקָלוֹ וַנָּשֶׁב אֹתוֹ בְּיָדֵנוּ׃

English Translation

and it came to pass, when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight:

Transliteration

Vay'hi ki-vanu el-hamalon vaniftecha et-amtachoteinu vehineh kesef-ish befi amtachto kaspenu bemishkalo vanashev oto beyadeinu.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיְהִ֞י כִּי־בָ֣אנוּ אֶל־הַמָּל֗וֹן וַֽנִּפְתְּחָה֙ אֶת־אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ וְהִנֵּ֤ה כֶֽסֶף־אִישׁ֙ בְּפִ֣י אַמְתַּחְתּ֔וֹ כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ בְּמִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וַנָּ֥שֶׁב אֹת֖וֹ בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃
וַיְהִ֞י כִּי־בָ֣אנוּ אֶל־הַמָּל֗וֹן וַֽנִּפְתְּחָה֙ אֶת־אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ וְהִנֵּ֤ה כֶֽסֶף־אִישׁ֙ בְּפִ֣י אַמְתַּחְתּ֔וֹ כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ בְּמִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וַנָּ֥שֶׁב אֹת֖וֹ בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context in the Narrative

This verse (Bereshit 43:21) appears in the story of Yosef's brothers returning to Egypt with Binyamin. They had previously discovered their money returned in their sacks after their first trip (Bereshit 42:35), and now, upon opening their sacks at the lodging place, they find it again—heightening their anxiety about how they would be perceived by the Egyptian ruler (Yosef, though they do not yet recognize him).

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi notes that the brothers emphasize "our money in full weight" to stress that they were not thieves—the exact amount they had paid was returned, proving they had no intention of deceit. This demonstrates their commitment to honesty, a recurring theme in their dealings with Yosef.

Ibn Ezra on the Phrase "Behold, Every Man’s Money"

Ibn Ezra points out that the brothers were shocked to find the money a second time, as they had already returned it after the first incident (Bereshit 43:12). This repetition suggests divine orchestration, pushing them toward the eventual reconciliation with Yosef.

Midrashic Insights

  • Bereishit Rabbah (91:9): The Midrash highlights that the money's return was part of Yosef’s plan to test his brothers' integrity. By framing them as potential thieves, he sought to see if they would confess or attempt to conceal the money.
  • Sforno: Suggests that the brothers' distress upon finding the money was a form of divine yissurim (chastisement) to bring them to repentance for selling Yosef.

Halachic Implications

The Rambam (Hilchot Gezeilah 5:1) discusses the obligation to return lost money, deriving principles from this episode. Since the brothers did not knowingly take the money, they were not thieves, but they still felt compelled to return it—teaching the importance of going beyond strict legal requirements to maintain trust.

Symbolism of the Money’s Return

The Kli Yakar explains that the money being found "in the mouth of his sack" (not buried deep) symbolizes that their past sin (selling Yosef) was now "at the surface," forcing them to confront it. This was a necessary step toward teshuvah (repentance) and family reconciliation.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Genesis 43:21 mean when it says they found their money in their sacks?
A: This verse describes how Joseph's brothers discovered that the money they had used to buy grain in Egypt was returned to their sacks. According to Rashi, this was part of Joseph's test to see if they would return the money honestly, showing their integrity and repentance for their past actions (like selling Joseph).
Q: Why was it significant that the brothers found their money in their sacks?
A: Finding the money in their sacks was a test from Joseph to see if they had changed from their earlier wrongdoing (selling Joseph into slavery). The Midrash explains that Joseph wanted to observe whether they would act honestly by returning the money or keep it for themselves, demonstrating their moral growth.
Q: How does Genesis 43:21 teach us about honesty?
A: The verse highlights the importance of honesty and returning what doesn't belong to us. The brothers could have kept the money, but they chose to return it, showing their commitment to righteousness. The Talmud (Chullin 91a) praises this act as an example of ethical behavior.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the brothers returning the money in Genesis 43:21?
A: We learn the importance of repentance (teshuvah) and correcting past mistakes. The brothers had once acted deceitfully, but now they demonstrated integrity by returning the money. Rambam teaches that true repentance involves avoiding the same sin when given the opportunity, which is what they did here.
Q: How does this verse connect to Jewish values today?
A: This verse reinforces the Jewish value of returning lost or misplaced items (hashavat aveidah). The brothers' decision to bring back the money aligns with the Torah's commandment (Deuteronomy 22:1-3) to restore what belongs to others, teaching us to act with fairness and responsibility in financial matters.