JOSEPH SENDS HIS BROTHERS HOME
Again, we have a wonderful and dramatic chapter before us.
Joseph has something else up his sleeve when he sends his brothers away with the grain.
He tests his brothers relative to their relationship and their affection to Benjamin and their father.
Remember, they had sold him into slavery.
Have they changed?
Will they be willing to let Benjamin go into slavery to save themselves?
He needs to satisfy his mind in this regard before he makes himself known to them.
The test he uses here would give him absolute proof that his brothers would not repeat the episode that he had experienced at their hands.
Judah acts as the spokesman for the group, and he is brought into a wonderful picture here.
He is willing to take the place of Benjamin, and his eloquent defense of Benjamin is one of the most moving passages in the Bible.
Genesis 44:1-15 KJV
[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 every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.
[2] And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
[3] As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
[4] And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
[5] Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
[6] And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
[7] And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:
[8] Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?
[9] With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.
[10] And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
[11] Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
[12] And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
[13] Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
[14] And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
[15] And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
Genesis 44:1 KJV
And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.
Genesis 44:2 KJV
And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
Genesis 44:3 KJV
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
Genesis 44:4 KJV
And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
Genesis 44:5 KJV
Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
Genesis 44:6 KJV
And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
Genesis 44:7 KJV
And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:
Genesis 44:8 KJV
Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold?
Genesis 44:9 KJV
With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.
Genesis 44:10 KJV
And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
Genesis 44:11 KJV
Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Genesis 44:12 KJV
And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
Genesis 44:13 KJV
Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
Genesis 44:14 KJV
And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
Genesis 44:15 KJV
And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
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