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Genesis 44
1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth.
In other words, he commanded the steward to fill their sacks as full as possible and to put the money bag in their sacks again.
2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest (i.e. Benjamin's), and his corn (= grain) money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
Notice we just saw bread mentioned of in the last chapter (Genesis 43:25), considering their lunch gathering and now we see a silver cup was used in that as well; keep in mind those are both elements used in the last supper of CHRIST (Matthew 26:26-30) and as we can see, Joseph is being a type of savior for his family, and eventually through these sons of Israel, would come our TRUE ultimate SAVIOR (JESUS CHRIST), for one and all times.
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
In other words, Joseph was telling his steward to chase them down, and to ask his brothers why they have rewarded evil for good, whereby it would make them appear as if one of them (Benjamin) had stolen Joseph's silver cup. Keep in mind that Joseph did not divine but rather this was said to confirm his brother's belief that he (the governor) was Egyptian, whereby it would continue to hide Joseph's identity, in case they started getting hints of him being their brother, from him knowing their ages at the meal.
6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
And so it was, he's making it appear as if Benjamin stole the silver cup, to test their loyalty and honesty, and to see whether or not his brothers will perhaps try to sell him out too.
7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:
In other words, they're saying "why do you accuse us of stealing? You know we would never steal anything".
8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?
In other words, they're letting this steward know that they brought back the money from the first time, to show their honesty, so why accuse them of doing such evil as stealing this cup?
9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.
As we can see, they've stated that if any cup be found in their sacks, that whosoever's sack it lies in can be sentenced to death, and for the ones who it is not found in, they can be their slaves. Though Benjamin didn't steal the cup, it will be found in his sack. And again, Joseph's whole plan behind this is to see whether or not they will try to sell out Benjamin too, as they did with him.
10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
And so it was, this steward agreed but instead of sentencing anyone to death, is instead letting them know that whoever's sack it is found in, will be kept as a servant, whereas the other's whose sacks are empty, will be free to go.
11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
And so it was, will they sell Benjamin and leave or will they stand with one another?
13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
As we can see, none of them left.
14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
At this point, you can imagine they would be greatly embarrassed and frightened standing before the governor, knowing his cup was found in one of their sacks.
15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
In other words, he's saying "why did you do this? Do you not know that I can divine"? And of course, he's hoaxing them, as he did not divine but instead knew them because they were his brothers.
16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.
And so it appears, Judah thinks they're being chastened by GOD, for what they did to Joseph in the years prior.
17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
And as we can see, he's going to try and keep Benjamin as a servant, whereas the rest of the brothers can return unto Israel (Jacob). This is where Joseph will find out whether or not they will abandon Benjamin.
18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.
Judah knows this governor has the authority as the Pharaoh to do as he pleases but wants him to at least hear him out, consider what he has to say, and not hold in anger.
19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?
20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
And as we can see, Judah still doesn't realize he's talking to Joseph and he knows that if they return home to their dad, Israel (Jacob), without Benjamin, that it will completely destroy his life.
21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.
22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.
24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.
26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.
27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:
28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:
29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;
31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.
As we can see, Judah's willing to take the punishment for Benjamin.
34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure (= perhaps) I see the evil that shall come on my father.
Judah knows that if they return unto Israel (Jacob) without Benjamin, that it will absolutely just destroy his life and kill him.
In other words, he commanded the steward to fill their sacks as full as possible and to put the money bag in their sacks again.
2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest (i.e. Benjamin's), and his corn (= grain) money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
Notice we just saw bread mentioned of in the last chapter (Genesis 43:25), considering their lunch gathering and now we see a silver cup was used in that as well; keep in mind those are both elements used in the last supper of CHRIST (Matthew 26:26-30) and as we can see, Joseph is being a type of savior for his family, and eventually through these sons of Israel, would come our TRUE ultimate SAVIOR (JESUS CHRIST), for one and all times.
3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
In other words, Joseph was telling his steward to chase them down, and to ask his brothers why they have rewarded evil for good, whereby it would make them appear as if one of them (Benjamin) had stolen Joseph's silver cup. Keep in mind that Joseph did not divine but rather this was said to confirm his brother's belief that he (the governor) was Egyptian, whereby it would continue to hide Joseph's identity, in case they started getting hints of him being their brother, from him knowing their ages at the meal.
6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
And so it was, he's making it appear as if Benjamin stole the silver cup, to test their loyalty and honesty, and to see whether or not his brothers will perhaps try to sell him out too.
7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:
In other words, they're saying "why do you accuse us of stealing? You know we would never steal anything".
8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?
In other words, they're letting this steward know that they brought back the money from the first time, to show their honesty, so why accuse them of doing such evil as stealing this cup?
9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.
As we can see, they've stated that if any cup be found in their sacks, that whosoever's sack it lies in can be sentenced to death, and for the ones who it is not found in, they can be their slaves. Though Benjamin didn't steal the cup, it will be found in his sack. And again, Joseph's whole plan behind this is to see whether or not they will try to sell out Benjamin too, as they did with him.
10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
And so it was, this steward agreed but instead of sentencing anyone to death, is instead letting them know that whoever's sack it is found in, will be kept as a servant, whereas the other's whose sacks are empty, will be free to go.
11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
And so it was, will they sell Benjamin and leave or will they stand with one another?
13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
As we can see, none of them left.
14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
At this point, you can imagine they would be greatly embarrassed and frightened standing before the governor, knowing his cup was found in one of their sacks.
15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
In other words, he's saying "why did you do this? Do you not know that I can divine"? And of course, he's hoaxing them, as he did not divine but instead knew them because they were his brothers.
16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.
And so it appears, Judah thinks they're being chastened by GOD, for what they did to Joseph in the years prior.
17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
And as we can see, he's going to try and keep Benjamin as a servant, whereas the rest of the brothers can return unto Israel (Jacob). This is where Joseph will find out whether or not they will abandon Benjamin.
18 Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.
Judah knows this governor has the authority as the Pharaoh to do as he pleases but wants him to at least hear him out, consider what he has to say, and not hold in anger.
19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?
20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
And as we can see, Judah still doesn't realize he's talking to Joseph and he knows that if they return home to their dad, Israel (Jacob), without Benjamin, that it will completely destroy his life.
21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.
22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.
24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
25 And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.
26 And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.
27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:
28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:
29 And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;
31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.
As we can see, Judah's willing to take the punishment for Benjamin.
34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure (= perhaps) I see the evil that shall come on my father.
Judah knows that if they return unto Israel (Jacob) without Benjamin, that it will absolutely just destroy his life and kill him.