Putting the money in their bags: The backstory

Book collectors often have many books on their shelves that never move from their place. But sometimes it is the thin volume you never look at that contains gems of insight and wisdom.

In recent years I have found this to be true of a book I purchased when I was in yeshiva. The author is Yeshayahu Moleyoff (not sure how that is spelled in English), and it is one volume on Bereshit (I don’t even know if he has more) called “Meotzarot Bereshit.” The book seems to be self-published.

He asks the following question: Why did Yosef give the money back to his brothers both times they purchased food?

For a very long time I thought Yosef was underhandedly doing what anyone in his position would likely do for family. “I don’t need your money. Please. It’s on me.” Because even if Yosef didn’t want to reveal himself until he had uncovered what he needed to find out about them, perhaps he did not feel the need to overburden his father financially when he (Yosef) didn’t need the money and — presumably on account of the famine — his father needed every penny he had.

The question can be strengthened when we consider that most commentaries who address this issue focus on the “how” and not the “why.” He put the money in – perhaps to displace some food, forcing them to come back sooner. He put the money in the bottom of all bags, except for Levi’s, in whose bag the money was placed on top. Levi was lost without Shimon, his partner in crime, and any feeling of fear over discovering the money would thus be felt by Levi first.

Yet these two approaches contradict one another, and Moleyoff notes that even if Yosef had the first thought in mind (to kindly return the money) there is no way he did not anticipate the kind of reaction his brothers had: they would be fearful and feel something afoul over discovering the money they thought they had paid, back in their bags.

He, therefore, suggests that Yosef was trying to deliver a subtle message to the brothers both times — first, when they had lost Shimon and when they were going to get Binyamin; second, when Binyamin’s bag was set up as the guilty one containing Yosef’s cup.

That message was one of midah k’neged midah (measure for measure).