Genesis 44:1-6

The Brothers Are Brought Back

1 ¹Then he commanded his house steward *, 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 "Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain." And he did as Joseph had told him.

3 As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys.

4 They had just gone out of ²the city, and were not far off, when Joseph said to his house steward *, "Up, follow * the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good?

5 'Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for ³divination? You have done wrong in doing this.' "

6 So he overtook them and spoke these words to them.

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Genesis 44:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 44

This chapter relates the policy of Joseph in making an experiment of his brethren's regard and affection for Benjamin; he ordered his steward to put every man's money into his sack, and his silver cup in Benjamin's, and when they were got out of the city, to follow after them, and charge them with the theft, as he did; and having searched their sacks, as they desired he would, found the cup with Benjamin, which threw them into the utmost distress, and obliged them to return to Joseph, Ge 44:1-14; who charged them with their ill behaviour towards him; they acknowledge it, and propose to be his servants; but he orders them to depart to their father, retaining Benjamin in servitude, Ge 44:15-17; upon which Judah addressed him in a very polite and affectionate manner, and relates the whole story, both of what passed between Joseph and them, concerning Benjamin, the first time they were in Egypt, and between their father and them upon the same subject, when he directed them to go a second time thither to buy corn, and how he became a surety to his father for him, and therefore proposed to be his bondman now, not being able to see his father's face without Benjamin, Ge 44:18-34.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Videos for Genesis 44:1-6

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Cross References 3

1. Genesis 42:25
2. Genesis 44:13
3. Genesis 30:27; Genesis 44:15; Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 18:10-14

Footnotes 2

[a]. Or "according to the word"
[b]. Lit "The morning was light"