Genesis 44:8

8 Beholde the money which we founde in oure sackes mouthes we brought agayne vnto the out of the lande of Canaa: how then shulde we steale out of my lordes house ether syluer or golde?

Genesis 44:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:8

Behold, the money which we found in our sacks mouths;
&c.] Upon their return from Egypt, the first time they went thither for corn: we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan;
which was a full proof of their honesty: they might have kept it until it was called for and demanded of them, but of themselves they brought it with them, as being money not their own; and they did not wait to be examined about it when they came to Egypt again, but of their own accord related the story of it, and offered the money to this same man the steward they were now speaking to, which he could not deny: yea, they brought it to him out of the land of Canaan, a foreign country at a considerable distance, and out of the jurisdiction of Egypt, and where they were not liable to be called to an account for it: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?
that is, vessels of silver or vessels of gold, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; it could not be reasonably thought they would, for if they would not retain the governor's money when in their own land and out of his reach, much less would they steal anything out his house, which they might conclude would soon be missed, and they easily apprehended and committed to prison, and suffer for it.

Genesis 44:8 In-Context

6 And he ouertoke them and sayde the same wordes vnto them.

7 And they answered him: wherfore sayth my lorde soch wordes? God forbydd that thy servauntes shulde doo so.

8 Beholde the money which we founde in oure sackes mouthes we brought agayne vnto the out of the lande of Canaa: how then shulde we steale out of my lordes house ether syluer or golde?

9 with whosoeuer of thy seruauntes it be founde let him dye and let vs also be my lordes bondmen.

10 And he sayde: Now therfore acordynge vnto youre woordes he with whom it is found shalbe my seruaunte: but ye shalbe harmelesse.