Genesis 44
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Genesis 44: Benjamin and the Silver Cup
Genesis 44: Benjamin and the Silver Cup
Remember that the brothers still think that Joseph is an Egyptian official, they don’t recognize him still. Benjamin, the youngest brother, Joseph’s full blood brother from Rachel; joins the brothers on this second trip to Egypt to secure more supplies. We are picking up right after Joseph had a meal with the brothers.
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.
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.
Joseph is repeating his actions by returning the money to the brothers, but this time he includes a silver cup in Benjamin’s bag. Think about how often silver shows up in Joseph’s story: he was sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver in chapter 37 verse 28 and now he uses a silver cup to test the brothers. The first time he returned the money was out of love for his father (Jacob), but this time it’s to put the brothers’ character to the test. He knows that by seeing all of the money as well as the cup, the brothers will know that Benjamin is just as innocent as they are, but he wants to see if they will sell out Benjamin to save themselves.
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
In this area of the world it gets super hot, so it’s common to start any activities early in the day and by midday look for a place to take shelter and rest. The brothers are probably in high spirits to start this journey as they had a grand feast the night before and they were able to secure supplies and are returning home with both Simeon and Benjamin with them.
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?
So the brothers haven’t traveled far before the steward catches up to them.
Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
So Joseph sends his steward after the brothers and has him stop them and ask why they have stolen the silver cup? Why did you do something evil after Joseph was so good to you? In ancient Egypt they practiced divination by cups, using the object to try and communicate with higher powers to understand the future. The Bible never says that Joseph actually practiced this, and as a believe in the true God more than likely he didn’t; but he has this statement made to keep up his disguise as an Egyptian. Joseph is also not tormenting his brothers or using his power to seek revenge, this is still part of God’s hand on Joseph, leading him to try to bring the brothers to repentance.
And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:
In this verse “God forbid” should be translated “far be it”. There is no word for God used in this verse.
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?
The brothers are saying, “remember we brought back the money that was mistakenly put in our bags the first time, why would we do that and then come back to try and steal?”
With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.
This shows a level of trust between the brothers. They are confident that none of them have stolen the cup and are willing to say that if a thief is found among them, he should be put to death. The Code of Hamurrabi, the law the region followed at the time, stated that the penalty for stealing from a palace was death; showing that they valued royal possessions more than life. We see this in effect also in chapter 31 when Jacob makes a similar statement to show his innocence when Laban accused him of stealing the idols:
With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
And he (the steward) 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.
So the steward doesn’t accept the brothers’ offer, instead offering just to take the thief as a slave.
Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
So the brothers invite the steward to search their belongings eager to prove their innocence, not knowing that the silver cup is indeed in Benjamin’s bag. They must be feeling overwhelming guilt and humiliation, certain that all of these accusations and trouble are punishment from God for what they had done to Joseph.
And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
Remember that Joseph’s steward is in on the plan, so he doesn’t start with Benjamin even though he knows that’s where the cup is.
Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
So they tear their clothes, which we see a lot in the Old Testament, but it is usually related to mourning the dead. So maybe this is showing that they believe they are headed for a death sentence. Remember what we discussed about the punishment for stealing from a palace. Remember that the brothers had also made the offer to the steward that if a thief was found among them that he should be killed. There is no joy in the brothers now. What has changed from them being so quick to sell Joseph into slavery without a second thought, but now being willing to stand with Benjamin as he faces this punishment? Again remember that God has set all things in motion. Their callousness toward Joseph was necessary, and now their love toward Benjamin is just as needed.
And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
The brothers throw themselves at the mercy of Joseph, asking for mercy for something that they haven’t done, they are innocent in this accusation while being guilty of much worse, and for the third time they are bowed at Joseph’s feet; once again fulfilling his prophetic dream. Remember that Judah is the start of the king line, the tribe through which Christ himself will come.
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?
Joseph keeping up his disguise as an Egyptian that would use the silver cup for divination, ironic though being that he has been able to provide interpretation for dreams when God has shown him the meaning. He is keeping up his ploy, not wanting them to know he is a Hebrew that worships the one true God.
And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.
Judah takes the lead in their defense, remember he had vowed to take responsibility for Benjamin in chapter 43. His plea to Joseph is the longest speech in the book of Genesis, and when he states “God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants” the confession that Joseph had been trying to bring out of the brothers is finally happening. The sin that Judah believes God has uncovered, the cause of all of their troubles, is what they had done to Joseph so long ago.
And he (Joseph) said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
“God forbid” again should be “far be it”. There is no word for God here as Joseph wouldn’t want to mess up his disguise as an Egyptian. Joseph points the blame directly at Benjamin and tells the other brothers they are free to go. He wants to see if they will so quickly abandon Benjamin, just as they had abandoned him to slavery.
Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.
Judah asks to speak with Joseph, asks for him to not be angry, and acknowledges him as an authority figure only surpassed by Pharaoh.
My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?
Joseph originally asked about their father and brother (Jacob and Benjamin).
And we said unto 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 loveth him.
Judah repeating their original answer: that Jacob is alive, Joseph is dead, and Benjamin is the only son of Rachel left. So he repeats the lie they had told.
And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.
Joseph asked for Benjamin to be brought before him.
And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
The brothers told Joseph that there was no way that Jacob would allow Benjamin to make the journey to Egypt.
And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.
Joseph kept Simeon in bondage and told the brothers that if they didn’t bring Benjamin he would refuse to see them, wouldn’t release Simeon, and wouldn’t sell them food.
And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.
And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us.
Judah has repeated the events of 42:10–20 and 43:1–5. By repeating these events and showing Benjamin’s importance to his father Judah provides the basis for his appeal in v. 33. Joseph didn’t hear the brothers’ conversation with their father in Canaan, so Judah hopes that this information will cause Joseph to consider their father’s best interests.
And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:
And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:
And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
So Judah tells Joseph what Jacob said to them. Jacob explained that his favorite wife, Rachel, had given him two sons. One (Joseph) is dead (or so he believes) and if he loses the other (Benjamin) he will grieve himself to death. This is the first time that Joseph is made aware that Jacob has been deceived into believing that he is dead. The phrase “my gray hairs” is meant to show Jacob’s old age, leading to the assumption that he wouldn’t survive his grief.
Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad’s life;
It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
Judah emphasizing that if they return without Benjamin he is sure it will be the death of Jacob.
For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.
Judah takes charge and explains that he promised to bear the blame if Benjamin didn’t return. 20 years earlier the brothers didn’t care how Jacob would react to losing his favorite son. Now the brothers are concerned with how losing Benjamin would affect Jacob, showing a great change in the brothers. Much like how we change when we accept Christ into our hearts and lives, how we must put the old sinful person to death and live as a new person following Christ.
Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.
Judah being willing to step in to protect Benjamin, not willing to leave him to has fate in a stark contrast to what we saw earlier when the brothers sold Joseph. Judah was the one that originally came up with the plan to sell Joseph, stating that there was no profit in just killing him. But we need to remember, much like Joseph was probably aware of, the entire plan was set in motion by God. God had the knowledge and wisdom to know that if Joseph wasn’t put in the situations that led to him being put in charge over Egypt, that the region would not have been prepared for the 7 year famine. God can use whomever, whenever, wherever, however.
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.
Judah begs Joseph to allow him to take Benjamin’s place. The word for “evil” in the Hebrew:
Hebrew Word: רַע
Transliteration: raʿ
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) calamity, distress, grief, harm, heavy, hurt, misery, sorrow
Notice the phrase “the evil that shall come on my father”, personifying the evil; probably marking Judah’s belief that this is all punishment from God due to their sin against Joseph. This doesn’t mean God bringing evil, think about the translations we just looked at. This means more grief or sorrow that comes from God’s punishment, and also remember that this is Judah’s belief not what is actually going to occur.
In this chapter we have seen Joseph tests his brothers by having his silver cup secretly placed in Benjamin’s sack. When the cup is discovered, Joseph declares that Benjamin must remain as his slave, while the rest may go free. This moment threatens to devastate Jacob, since he believes Benjamin is his last connection to Rachel. Judah then steps forward and pleads with Joseph, offering himself as a substitute in Benjamin’s place. Out of love for his father and compassion for his brother, Judah volunteers to bear the punishment so that Benjamin may go free. And remember Judah is the direct ancestor of Christ, the beginning of the tribe that would be the king line, down through King David, leading directly to Jesus himself.
This act of substitution foreshadows the work of Jesus Christ. Just as Judah stepped in to take Benjamin’s place, Christ steps in to take ours.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
We are guilty and deserving of judgment, yet Jesus offers Himself as our substitute, bearing the penalty of our sin on the cross. Judah’s willingness to sacrifice himself points ahead to the greater sacrifice of Christ, who not only offered to take our place but fully paid the price, granting us a path to salvation and eternal life. We are saved through His mercy and grace.
Genesis 44: Benjamin and the Silver Cup
Genesis 44: Benjamin and the Silver Cup
