MPV Commentary

15. stood before Joseph--It is easy to imagine the excitement with which Joseph would spot his brothers and Benjamin among the crowd of applicants. However, he was busy with official duties and entrusted them to a trusted servant until he finished his work for the day.

16. ruler of his house--In wealthy Egyptian households, one senior servant managed the household (compare Genesis 39:5). He instructed the servant to prepare a grand meal by slaughtering animals and preparing them for cooking. This was a common practice in Egypt, where the heat made it essential to cook meat immediately after slaughter.

17. slay, and make ready--The Hebrew phrase "kill a killing" implies preparations for a large feast (compare Genesis 31:54; 1 Samuel 25:11; Proverbs 9:2; Matthew 22:4). The animals were killed on the spot, and the cook would take the joints directly from the flesher. Egyptians were accustomed to lavish meals with an abundance of vegetables, and they took pride in the quantity and variety of dishes served.

18. dine ... at noon--In Egypt, dinner was typically eaten at midday. The men were intimidated by the grand mansion, unfamiliar as they were with such large houses. They were anxious about their reasons for being taken there, worried about the returned money, and genuinely concerned about communicating their distress to the steward. His assurance that he had received their money in full weight helped ease their concerns.