Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Genesis 44:1) And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks
with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the
mouth of his sack. (2) And put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
When it came time for his brothers to leave with what they had come for, Joseph instructed his steward to fill their sacks with as much food as they could carry, and to once again return their money to their sacks. However, this time he also told him to put his personal silver cup into the sack of Benjamin, his younger brother. The steward did as Joseph instructed. I can only guess at Joseph's motive for putting his cup in Benjamin's sack. Perhaps it was just so that he could detain them longer. But why Benjamin? Was it because Benjamin was his favorite and he wanted to detain him longer, or was there more to it? Maybe by putting his youngest brother, the favorite of his father, and only the half-brother to his other brothers, in this predicament, he was testing how his brothers would behave regarding Benjamin in this situation.
(3) As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. (4) When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, "Get up, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you rewarded evil for good?'"
When his brothers had gone and were not too far away, Joseph sent his steward after the men, instructing him on just what to say. I have to wonder if there was some significance to his question, "Why have you rewarded evil for good?" It was meant to sound as if they had acted with great disrespect and ingratitude after they had been so well received and treated, but I can't help but wonder if Joseph meant more. After all, the truth was that they hadn't really stolen the cup and in so doing acted with that disrespect. Was Joseph trying to get them to reflect on what they had done in the past and come to real repentance? Joseph himself is the one who chose the words for the steward to say, so maybe they did have a greater purpose. However, it may just be that he was directing a plan to detain them, and that was really all there was to it, but I can't help but ponder all the details. Certainly God would have wanted a complete repentance and restoration, but He wouldn't guide people to use trickery and deceit, but then again He could allow good things to come to people who loved Him even though sometimes they didn't do the right things.
(5) "'Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed divines? You have done evil in so doing.'"
Joseph continued telling the steward what to say. The word "divines" is a peculiar one here. While the Egyptians would have used divining from a cup during this time, and while Joseph might have need to look the part he played, I just don't think he himself would have made it a point to speak of divining by a cup, something a man of the one true God certainly never would have done. The original word for "divine" here is "nachash" and it can mean something like whispering a magic spell, practicing divination, and observing signs and omens. It can also mean to diligently observe and to learn by experience, and it has been used that way in other scriptures (1 Kings 20:33, Gen. 30:27). I see no reason why it shouldn't have been used that way here. Because this was the cup that Joseph used all the time, wouldn't it be one for which he would certainly look diligently and "divine" or discern to have been stolen? I honestly believe that is the way that scripture should read.
(6) And he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. (7) And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? God forbid that your servants should do such a thing. (8) Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; how then should we steal out of your lord's house silver or gold? (9) With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”
The steward caught up with the brothers and told them what Joseph had told him to say. The brothers couldn't imagine why the steward would accuse them. After all, they had been honest enough to bring back the money they had found in their sacks. Why would they do that only to supposedly steal again? That's all well and good, but they went a little far in suggesting that if the cup was found with any of them, that person should die. Didn't they learn from the last visit that sometimes things wind up in their sacks that they didn't put there?
(10) And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my servant, and you shall be blameless.”
The steward liked what they said, but rather than kill the guilty one, he said that he would keep the man with whom the cup was found as his servant, and the rest of the men would be considered blameless. Perhaps the plan all along was just to detain Joseph's younger full brother longer.
(11) Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. (12) And he searched, and began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. (13) Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.
Knowing they weren't guilty of stealing any cup, the brothers all quickly let down their sacks and opened them. The steward searched each sack beginning with the sack of the oldest brother and ending with the sack of the youngest, which is where he found the cup, of course. The brothers tore their clothes, a sign of their sorrow and distress, and they all went back to the city. There was no way any of them was returning home without Benjamin.
(14) And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, for he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground. (15) And Joseph said to them, “What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly divine?"
The brothers came into Joseph's house and fell before him, throwing themselves at his feet for mercy. Once again we have that word "divine". No mention of the cup is made here, as with divining with a cup, and once again I think the sense is: did they not think a man such as he would certainly be able to discern what happened to the cup and would have the resources to find it?
(16) And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we
clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup was found.”
The brothers knew there was nothing they could say to clear themselves. No amount of protest and denial would do any good at this point as the cup was found with Benjamin. They decided this must be their just punishment for their sins of the past and were all willing to remain as Joseph's servants. They knew they could not return to their father without Benjamin. Benjamin was the only truly innocent one, as far as what they had done to Joseph in the past, but if the cup had been found with any other brother, I don't think they would have all been willing to stay as servants. After all, they had had no trouble leaving Simeon in prison for quite awhile until they had run out of food.
(17) And he said, "God forbid that I should do so; but the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, go up in peace to your father.” (18) Then Judah came near to him and said, "Oh my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even as Pharaoh. (19) My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ (20) And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’"
Joseph said that God forbid that he do such an unjust thing as to keep all the brothers as servants when only one was guilty; he intended to keep only Benjamin and send the other brothers back to their father. However, Judah approached Joseph and began to plead with him. First, he pleaded with him to be patient and hear him out, recognizing that he was as powerful as Pharaoh regarding what he would be able to inflict upon Judah and his brothers if he were angered by them. Judah then reminded Joseph that he had previously asked about their father and their younger brother. Apparently they had told him specifically about their father being an old man and having Benjamin in his old age, and that Benjamin was the last child of his mother, as his brother was dead (so they supposed), and so he was very dear to his father.
(21) "And you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ (22) And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ (23) And you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’"
Judah continued his plea with Joseph. He was the one who had guaranteed Benjamin's safety to his father, and he was now doing his best to let Joseph see the entire picture. Although this was an impassioned speech which would eventually melt the heart of Joseph, I am struck by how much they had already told Joseph that the reader was not made aware of when they first spoke. It seems to me they were already showing some love and concern for their father and brother when they first told Joseph they could not bring Benjamin back with them for fear it will kill their father, but apparently Joseph had insisted. That is what Judah reminded Joseph.
(24) "And it came to pass when we came up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. (25) And our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’ (26) And we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go
down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ (27) And your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; (28) And the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces”; and I have not seen him since. (29) And if you take this one also from me, and mischief befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’"
Judah told Joseph in detail what had transpired back home when the brothers told their father they must take Benjamin with them if they were to get any more food. He repeated the words of Jacob, revealing his deep anguish over the idea of sending his last son of his true love, his only lawful wife, Rachel, fearing the son would suffer the same tragic end as what he believed his brother had suffered.
(30) “Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life, (31) It shall come to pass, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die; and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. (32) For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.’ (33) Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a bondman to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. (34) For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”
Judah ended his earnest petition to Joseph that he please let him remain as Joseph's servant and let his youngest brother return to their father. He would rather be a slave to Joseph than to see the torture it would bring to his father if Benjamin did not go home to him. Judah did not even try to argue Benjamin's innocence; he accepted his guilty verdict, but pleaded that he himself suffer the sentence so as not to break his father's heart and bring him to the grave. This definitely reflected a changed heart from the jealous brother who was happy to be rid of an annoying brother, thinking only of himself, to a man now willing to give his life and freedom to save his father from a grief he thought would surely kill him.
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