The action in this chapter flows directly from the close of chapter 43. Verse 3 makes clear that the brothers left for Canaan in the early morning, which we may assume is the morning following the feasting and drinking at Joseph’s house. We may also open this chapter by saying, for example, “After the feasting was over,” “Before dawn the next day,” “When the eating and drinking were finished.”

Then he commanded the steward of his house: translators may prefer to say “Then Joseph commanded….” Steward is literally “the one over his house,” as in 43.16. See there for comments.

Fill the men’s sacks with food: food here refers to grain.

As much as they can carry: Joseph is as concerned for Jacob’s hungry family as he was in 42.19. The loaded sacks will be carried by donkeys. Joseph says this not to limit the amount to what a man can carry but rather to express the maximum amount that can be put into a sack. Accordingly Moffatt translates “with as much grain as they can hold,” which is a good model.

And put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack: see 42.25. It is significant that, when the sacks are inspected by the steward in verses 11-12, nothing is said about the silver in the sacks. This leads some interpreters to think that this information has been inserted later from 42.25.

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 .