The brothers do not yet understand that they are dealing with Joseph, but the steward assures them that they are no longer under suspicion, and so they are able to relax and enjoy the feast that lies ahead. However, the narrator is not ready to lift their burden completely, as the events of chapter 44 will reveal.

Rest assured is literally “Peace to you [plural].” The purpose of the steward’s remark is to reassure the brothers that there is nothing to worry about. We may say, for example, “Be at ease,” “Calm yourselves,” or “Don’t be upset.” In some languages a figurative expression is used; for example, “Quiet your livers,” or “Let coolness rest on you.”

Do not be afraid: see the admonition given to Abraham by the LORD in 15.1.

Your God and the God of your father: in translation it is necessary to make certain that this expression does not suggest that these are two different gods. In many languages God cannot be possessed. Consequently it may be necessary to translate, for example, “the God you [plural] worship who is the God your father worships” or “the God you [plural] and your father worship.”

Must have put treasure in your sacks for you: in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation the steward’s statement is a conjecture or guess. New International Version and others make it a statement of fact: “has given you treasure in….” Treasure translates a word that is related to the verb to “hide” or “bury.” Thus the treasure is the valuable thing hidden in the grain sacks. The actual reference is to the money. See Good News Translation.

I received your money: the steward says that the money they paid “came to me.” In 42.25 Joseph gave orders for the brothers’ money to be replaced in their sacks. The steward allows the brothers to think that the money they found came about as an act of their family god. We may translate, for example, “I received the money you paid for your grain.”

Then he brought Simeon out to them: since the conversation in verses 19-23 appears to take place at the door of Joseph’s house, it is possible that Simeon had already been brought there and was inside waiting. But this is not the only way of taking the text. The references to the prison in 42.15-24 do not actually say that it was close to Joseph’s house, but the story proceeds as if it was quite close; it is therefore also quite possible that in this verse Simeon is brought from the prison to join his brothers as they go into Joseph’s house. In many languages this sentence can be translated in the same way as in English, without indicating where Simeon was brought from.

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 .