Genesis 44:7-17

7 They replied, "Why does my lord speak this way? Heaven forbid that we should do such a thing!

8 Why, the money we found inside our packs we brought back to you from the land of Kena'an! So how would we steal silver or gold from your lord's house?

9 Whichever one of us the goblet is found with, let him be put to death - and the rest of us will be my lord's slaves!"

10 He replied, "Fine; let it be as you have said: whichever one it is found with will be my slave. But the rest of you will be blameless."

11 Then each hurried to put his pack down on the ground, and each one opened his pack.

12 He searched, starting with the oldest and ending with the youngest; and the goblet was found in the pack belonging to Binyamin.

13 At this, they tore their clothes from grief. Then each man loaded up his donkey and returned to the city. (A: Maftir)

14 Y'hudah and his brothers arrived at Yosef's house. He was still there, and they fell down before him on the ground. (S: Maftir)

15 Yosef said to them, "How could you do such a thing? Don't you know that a man such as myself can learn the truth by divination?"

16 Y'hudah said, "There's nothing we can say to my lord! How can we speak? There's no way we can clear ourselves! God has revealed your servants' guilt; so here we are, my lord's slaves - both we and also the one in whose possession the cup was found."

17 But he replied, "Heaven forbid that I should act in such a way. The man in whose possession the goblet was found will be my slave; but as for you, go in peace to your father."

Genesis 44:7-17 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.