Genesis 44 Study Notes
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44:1-2 Joseph secretly put in place the ulti—mate test of his older brothers, ordering the steward to put Joseph’s ceremonial silver cup . . . at the top of Benjamin’s bag. By watching the other brothers’ response to Benjamin’s trouble, Joseph would be able to observe firsthand the other brothers’ true character.
44:3-13 Joseph then ordered his steward to overtake the small caravan. Armed with a scripted accusation regarding the ceremonial cup, the steward confronted the group. Joseph mentions divination as part of the ploy to make the brothers think this is a very valuable cup; there is no evidence that he actually practiced divination. At a later time, divination was officially prohibited for Israelites in the law (Lv 19:26; Dt 18:10).
The brothers responded with disbelief and disavowal to the steward’s accusation. Quickly mounting a defense, they first provided evidence of their honesty: they had brought back . . . the silver found in their bags after the first journey. Next they proposed a harsh punishment for any of their number caught with the cup—he must die. Finally, they offered the remaining ten of their group as lifelong slaves.
Rejecting their excessive offer, the steward indicated that only the guilty party would become his slave. Though the steward gave the innocent brothers permission to return home, they all returned to the city in a show of solidarity with Benjamin.
yakal
| Hebrew pronunciation | [yah KAL] |
| CSB translation | be able, prevail, defeat |
| Uses in Genesis | 22 |
| Uses in the OT | 193 |
| Focus passage | Genesis 44:1,22,26 |
Yakal indicates capability and regularly takes a complementary infinitive: someone is able to stand (1Sm 6:20). It appears as can (Gn 44:1) or could (Jdg 2:14). It frequently takes the negative, perhaps as cannot (Dt 22:19). Yakal sometimes involves lack of permission; one may not (Dt 24:4), must not (Dt 22:3), or is not to (Dt 16:5) do something. Yakal also signifies (9x) prevail (Jr 5:22). It connotes win (Gn 30:8), defeat (Gn 32:25), conquer (Ob 7), overcome (Jr 15:20), and triumph over (Ps 13:4). Twice yakal implies not daring (Lm 4:14) to act. It means be capable of (Hs 8:5). Yakal may imply other words. God can do anything (Jb 42:2). Job could not do these things (Jb 31:23). The psalmist is not able to reach certain knowledge (Ps 139:6). He cannot tolerate evil people (Ps 101:5). Yakal may suggest that action does no good (Is 16:12).
44:14-17 Jacob’s most trusted son, Judah (see note at 43:1-10), spoke for the group. Bowing to the ground before Joseph (cp. 37:7,9), Judah confessed that God had exposed the men’s iniquity—a reference to the sins against Joseph more than twenty years earlier (37:18-28). Second, Judah maintained the group’s solidarity by indicating that all the brothers, not just Benjamin, would become my lord’s slaves. Joseph’s immediate rejection of the offer would have added more tension to the situation.
44:18-29 Judah’s speech, the longest in the Bible by any of Jacob’s sons (218 Hebrew words), marks the turning point in the relationship between Joseph and his brothers. In a display of great humility, Judah referred to Joseph on eight occasions as my lord, and on twelve occasions referred to himself and members of his clan as your servants. After a representation of three contentious conversations—one that the brothers had had with Joseph (vv. 19-23; 42:13-20) and two involving Jacob (vv. 25-29; 42:38; 43:2-7)—Judah said that his father would die of grief if anything happened to Benjamin.
44:30-34 Judah had once separated his father Jacob from a son of Rachel by making Joseph a slave in Egypt (37:26-27). To save the life of the clan he had voluntarily made himself accountable to his father for the well-being of Benjamin, Rachel’s only other son besides Joseph (43:8-9). Now Benjamin, like his older brother Joseph, was on the verge of being made a slave in Egypt. Knowing that he would always bear the guilt for sinning against his father if Benjamin did not return home, Judah volunteered to remain in Egypt as Joseph’s slave.