قالوا جَزاؤُهُ مَن وُجِدَ في رَحلِهِ فَهُوَ جَزاؤُهُ ۚ كَذٰلِكَ نَجزِي الظّالِمينَ
They said: ‘The requital for it shall be that he in whose saddlebag it is found shall give himself over as its requital. Thus do we requite the wrongdoers.’
EXEGESIS
Fahuwa jazāʾuhu literally means ‘he shall be its requital’, which is explained in the translation as he shall give himself over as its requital.
EXPOSITION
The requital for it shall be that he in whose saddlebag it is found shall give himself over as its requital: the brothers confirmed that the thief shall be made slave to the one from whom he has stolen.[1]
Thus do we requite the wrongdoers: this was the custom amongst them.[2] It is not clear though if by we they mean a local Canaanite custom, or that this was part of the rulings derived from prophetic teachings. Both options have been suggested by exegetes.[3] What is certain is that Prophet Joseph (a) was aware of their legal ruling and sought their consent to be judged according to their own judicial system. It was only in this way that he could hold Benjamin.
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- [Joseph’s (a) brothers said] ‘Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.’ He [the Egyptian] said, ‘Now let it also be according to your words. He with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you will be blameless.’[4]
[1] Tibyan, 6/173; Tabari, 13/15.
[2] Tibyan, 6/173.
[3] See Tibyan, 6/173; Tabrisi, 5/386.
[4] Genesis 44:9-10.