THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
They experience distress, fearing that they may face punishment for their silver, due to their perceived dishonorable actions in this matter.
Genesis 43:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And they being much afraid, said there one to another: Because of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we are brought in: that he may bring upon us a false accusation, and by violence make slaves of us and our asses.
וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗ים כִּ֣י הֽוּבְאוּ֮ בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵף֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ עַל־דְּבַ֤ר הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ הַשָּׁ֤ב בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה אֲנַ֖חְנוּ מֽוּבָאִ֑ים לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣ל עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְלָקַ֧חַת אֹתָ֛נוּ לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֵֽינוּ׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Ephraem the Syrian
He instructs the master of the house to welcome the brothers into his abode. However, they felt troubled when Joseph's attendants unloaded the packages from their animals and brought forth the items they had transported into the residence. They began to speak among themselves, expressing, "Our father has lost Benjamin because of us, and we will never again behold our father's visage. The silver was deliberately placed in our garments. Even if we are cleared of the accusation of being spies, they will perceive us as thieves and enslave us."
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Gen 42:35When they had told this, they poured out their corn, and every man found his money tied in the mouth of his sack: and all being astonished together,
- Gen 42:28And said to his brethren: My money is given me again; behold it is in the sack. And they were astonished, and troubled, and said to one another: What is this that God hath done unto us?
- Ps 73 (72):16
- Mark 6:16Which Herod hearing, said: John whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the dead.
- Deut 22:14And seek occasions to put her away, laying to her charge a very ill name, and say: I took this woman to wife, and going in to her, I found her not a virgin:
- Judg 14:4Now his parents knew not that the thing was done by the Lord, and that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
- Job 15:21The sound of dread is always in his ears: and when there is peace, he always suspecteth treason.
- Gen 42:21And they talked one to another: We deserve to suffer these things, because we have sinned against our brother, seeing the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear: therefore is this affliction come upon us.