He then instructed his attendants to slip their merchandise—the very goods they had brought as payment for the grain—back into their saddle-bags without their noticing,
“so that they might recognize it when they return to their family, and perhaps they will come back.”
(12:62)

The exegetes give several reasons for this:
• He intended that, once they discovered the money in their country, they would return it to him.
• He feared they might not have anything with which to barter on their next journey.
• Out of scruple, he felt it unbecoming to take payment from them for the provisions.[1]

The commentators also differ over the nature of their merchandise, as will be discussed later. According to the People of the Book it was silver coin, and this seems closer to the truth—God knows best.

God, Exalted be He, says:
“After they had returned to their father they said, ‘O our father, the measure has been denied us. Send our brother with us so that we may obtain a measure, and we will surely guard him.’
He said, ‘Am I to trust you with him as I trusted you with his brother before? God is the best Guardian, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.’
When they opened their baggage they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, ‘O our father, what more could we desire? Here is our merchandise returned to us. We shall secure provisions for our family, guard our brother, and obtain an extra camel-load; that is a light measure!’
He said, ‘I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn pledge by God that you will bring him back to me unless you are completely overwhelmed.’ When they had given their pledge he said, ‘God is witness over what we say.’
He added, ‘My sons, do not all enter by one gate; rather, enter by different gates. I can avail you nothing against God. Judgment belongs only to God. In Him I have placed my trust, and in Him let those who trust place their trust.’
And when they entered as their father had instructed them, it did not avail them against God at all; it was only a desire within Jacob’s soul that he thus fulfilled. He was indeed endowed with knowledge because of what We had taught him, though most people do not know.”
(12:63-68)

The Almighty relates what took place after they returned to their father. They said, “The measure has been withheld from us”—that is, after this year we shall receive no more grain unless you send our brother with us; if you send him, the restriction will be lifted.

When they opened their packs and discovered their merchandise returned, they exclaimed, “O our father, what more could we want?” meaning: what further motive could we have, since our payment has been returned?

“We shall procure supplies for our household,” i.e., we shall bring them what will sustain them in this year of famine; “we shall guard our brother, and because of him we shall obtain an extra camel-load.” God, Exalted be He, says: “That is a small measure”—small indeed compared with the loss of yet another son.

Jacob—peace be upon him—was most protective of his son Benjamin, for in him he sensed the fragrance of his brother and found consolation for his absence. Hence he declared, “I will not send him with you until you give me a solemn pledge by God that you will bring him back to me, unless you are beset on all sides,” that is, unless all of you are overpowered and prevented from returning.

When they gave him that pledge he said, “God is witness to what we say.” In this way he reinforced the covenants and safeguarded himself concerning his son, though caution can never avert what has been decreed. Had he and his people not been in dire need of provisions he would never have dispatched that cherished child. Yet destiny has its verdicts: the Lord decrees what He wills, chooses as He wishes, and judges as He pleases—He is the All-Wise, the All-Knowing.

He then instructed them not to enter the city through a single gate but to enter by separate gates. It was said that he feared the evil eye, for they were of handsome appearance and fine bearing; this was the view of Ibn ʿAbbās, Mujāhid, Muḥammad ibn Kaʿb, Qatādah, al-Suddi, and al-Ḍaḥḥāk. Others said he wanted them to disperse in hopes that they might find some trace or news of Joseph—peace be upon him—an opinion related from Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʿī. The first view is the stronger.

For this reason he added, “I can avail you nothing against God,”