Genesis 44:12

12 Und er suchte und hob am Ältesten an bis auf den Jüngsten; da fand sich der Becher in Benjamins Sack.

Genesis 44:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:12

And he searched
To the bottom of them, not content to look into the mouth of them being opened, but rummaged them, and searched deeply into them to find the cup, which was the thing charged upon them he was solicitous to find; as for the money in the sack's mouth he took no notice of that, nor is there any mention of it: [and] began at the oldest;
at Reuben, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it: the steward might know their different ages in course, by the order in which they were placed at Joseph's table when they dined with him: and left off at the youngest;
at Benjamin, he ended his scrutiny with him; this method he took partly to hold them in fear as long as he could, and partly to prevent any suspicion of design, which might have been entertained had he went directly to Benjamin's sack: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack;
where the steward himself had put it, and as it is usually said, they that hide can find.

Genesis 44:12 In-Context

10 Er sprach: Ja, es sei, wie ihr geredet habt. Bei welchem er gefunden wird, der sei mein Knecht; ihr aber sollt ledig sein.

11 Und sie eilten, und ein jeglicher legte seinen Sack ab auf die Erde, und ein jeglicher tat seinen Sack auf.

12 Und er suchte und hob am Ältesten an bis auf den Jüngsten; da fand sich der Becher in Benjamins Sack.

13 Da zerrissen sie ihre Kleider und belud ein jeglicher seinen Esel und zogen wieder in die Stadt.

14 Und Juda ging mit seinen Brüdern in Josephs Haus, denn er war noch daselbst; und sie fielen vor ihm nieder auf die Erde.