Genesis 44

Ge 44:1-34.

POLICY TO

STAY

HIS

BRETHREN.

1. And Joseph commanded the steward--The design of putting the

cup into the sack of Benjamin was obviously to bring that young man

into a situation of difficulty or danger, in order thereby to discover

how far the brotherly feelings of the rest would be roused to

sympathize with his distress and stimulate their exertions in procuring

his deliverance. But for what purpose was the money restored? It was

done, in the first instance, from kindly feelings to his father; but

another and further design seems to have been the prevention of any

injurious impressions as to the character of Benjamin. The discovery of

the cup in his possession, if there had been nothing else to

judge by, might have fastened a painful suspicion of guilt on the

youngest brother; but the sight of the money in each man's sack would

lead all to the same conclusion, that Benjamin was just as innocent as

themselves, although the additional circumstance of the cup being found

in his sack would bring him into greater trouble and danger.

2. put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth--It was a

large goblet, as the original denotes, highly valued by its owner, on

account of its costly material or its elegant finish and which had

probably graced his table at the sumptuous entertainment of the

previous day.

3. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent

away--They commenced their homeward journey at early dawn (see on

Ge 18:2);

and it may be readily supposed in high spirits, after so happy an issue

from all their troubles and anxieties.

4. When they were gone out of the city . . . Joseph said

unto his steward--They were brought to a sudden halt by the

stunning intelligence that an article of rare value was missing from

the governor's house. It was a silver cup; so strong suspicions were

entertained against them that a special messenger was despatched to

search them.

5. Is not this it in which my lord drinketh--not only kept for

the governor's personal use, but whereby he divines. Divination by

cups, to ascertain the course of futurity, was one of the prevalent

superstitions of ancient Egypt, as it is of Eastern countries still.

It is not likely that Joseph, a pious believer in the true God, would

have addicted himself to this superstitious practice. But he might have

availed himself of that popular notion to carry out the successful

execution of his stratagem for the last decisive trial of his

brethren.

6, 7. he overtook them, and he spake . . . these

words--The steward's words must have come upon them like a

thunderbolt, and one of their most predominant feelings must have been

the humiliating and galling sense of being made so often objects of

suspicion. Protesting their innocence, they invited a search. The

challenge was accepted

[Ge 44:10, 11].

Beginning with the eldest, every sack was examined, and the cup being

found in Benjamin's

[Ge 44:12],

they all returned in an indescribable agony of mind to the house of the

governor

[Ge 44:13],

throwing themselves at his feet

[Ge 44:14],

with the remarkable confession, "God hath found out the iniquity of thy

servants"

[Ge 44:16].

16-34. Judah said, What shall we say?--This address needs no

comment--consisting at first of short, broken sentences, as if, under

the overwhelming force of the speaker's emotions, his utterance were

choked, it becomes more free and copious by the effort of speaking, as

he proceeds. Every word finds its way to the heart; and it may well be

imagined that Benjamin, who stood there speechless like a victim about

to be laid on the altar, when he heard the magnanimous offer of Judah

to submit to slavery for his ransom, would be bound by a lifelong

gratitude to his generous brother, a tie that seems to have become

hereditary in his tribe. Joseph's behavior must not be viewed from any

single point, or in separate parts, but as a whole--a well-thought,

deep-laid, closely connected plan; and though some features of it do

certainly exhibit an appearance of harshness, yet the pervading

principle of his conduct was real, genuine, brotherly kindness. Read in

this light, the narrative of the proceedings describes the continuous,

though secret, pursuit of one end; and Joseph exhibits, in his

management of the scheme, a very high order of intellect, a warm and

susceptible heart, united to a judgment that exerted a complete control

over his feelings--a happy invention in devising means towards the

attainment of his ends and an inflexible adherence to the course,

however painful, which prudence required.