Gênesis 44:1-7

1 Depois José deu ordem ao despenseiro de sua casa, dizendo: Enche de mantimento os sacos dos homens, quanto puderem levar, e põe o dinheiro de cada um na boca do seu saco.

2 E a minha taça de prata porãs na boca do saco do mais novo, com o dinheiro do seu trigo. Assim fez ele conforme a palavra que José havia dito.

3 Logo que veio a luz da manhã, foram despedidos os homens, eles com os seus jumentos.

4 Havendo eles saído da cidade, mas não se tendo distanciado muito, disse José ao seu despenseiro: Levanta-te e segue os homens; e, alcançando-os, dize-lhes: Por que tornastes o mal pelo bem?

5 Não é esta a taça por que bebe meu senhor, e de que se serve para adivinhar? Fizestes mal no que fizestes.

6 Então ele, tendo-os alcançado, lhes falou essas mesmas palavras.

7 Responderam-lhe eles: Por que falo meu senhor tais palavras? Longe estejam teus servos de fazerem semelhante coisa.

Gênesis 44:1-7 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.