The steward appears to be willing to settle for less than the brothers offer. He most probably assumes that Joseph is only interested in keeping Benjamin, and that it was for that reason that he had the cup put in Benjamin’s sack.

Let it be as you say: this appears to mean that the conditions offered by the brothers, namely, that all but the culprit will become slaves, are acceptable to the steward. However, what the steward accepts is that the guilty one be made a slave, not put to death. Accordingly we may translate “All right, I accept.”

He with whom it is found shall be my slave: since this statement contrasts with the proposal made by the brothers, it may be necessary to introduce it with a word or expression that marks a contrast; for example, “However,” “But,” or “Except.”

The rest of you shall be blameless: that is, “The rest of you will not be guilty,” “… will be judged as innocent.”

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 .