Genesis 44:12-22

12 And he searched, beginning from the eldest, until he came to the youngest; and he found the cup in Benjamin's sack.
13 And they rent their garments, and laid each man his sack on his ass, and returned to the city.
14 And Judas and his brethren came in to Joseph, while he was yet there, and fell on the ground before him.
15 And Joseph said to them, What is this thing that ye have done? know ye not that a man such as I can surely divine?
16 And Judas said, What shall we answer to our lord, or what shall we say, or wherein should we be justified? whereas God has discovered the unrighteousness of thy servants; behold, we are slaves to our lord, both we and he with whom the cup has been found.
17 And Joseph said, Far be it from me to do this thing; the man with whom the cup has been found, he shall be my servant; but do ye go up with safety to your father.
18 And Judas drew near him, and said, I pray, Sir, let thy servant speak a word before thee, and be not angry with thy servant, for thou art next to Pharao.
19 Sir, thou askedst thy servants, saying, Have ye a father or a brother?
20 And we said to lord, We have a father, an old man, and he has a son of his old age, a young one, and his brother is dead, and he alone has been left behind to his mother, and his father loves him.
21 And thou saidst to they servants, Bring him down to me, and I will take care of him.
22 And we said to lord, The child will not be able to leave his father; but if he should leave his father, he will die.

Genesis 44:12-22 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.

Footnotes 1

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.