When Joseph saw Benjamin with them: Joseph recognized Benjamin and is assured thereby that his brother is alive. Therefore he makes preparations to receive them at his own house.

Steward of his house: steward in relation to a house and family refers to a person who is in charge of the servants and has the oversight or administration of the master’s house. According to 39.4 Joseph held this position in Potiphar’s house. The Hebrew expression is “the one over his house.”

Bring the men into the house: that is, “Take these men to my house.”

Slaughter an animal and make ready: slaughter normally means to kill an animal and prepare the meat for food. The context makes clear what the meat is to be used for. Accordingly many translations say “kill,” which is used in Good News Translation, Revised English Bible. The Hebrew expression is literally “Slaughter a slaughtering” and does not indicate what animal is to be killed. In some languages there is no general word for animal, and so a particular animal such as “goat” is named. Make ready refers to preparing the meat for the meal.

For the men are to dine with me at noon: this clause gives the reason for Joseph’s orders that the steward kill the animal. Dine with me means “eat a meal with me.” In many societies there is no meal taken at noon, and since the time of the meal is not an essential part of the story, it may be necessary sometimes to say “These men are to have a meal with me when I come home.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .