Genesis 44

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 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.

2And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

3As 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.

6And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.

7And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:

8Behold, 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?

9With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.

10And 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.

11Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.

12And he searched, [and] began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

13Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

14And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he [was] yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

15And Joseph said unto them, What deed [is] this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?

16And 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.

17And 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.

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.

19My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?

20And 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.

21And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

22And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for [if] he should leave his father, [his father] would die.

23And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

24And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

25And our father said, Go again, [and] buy us a little food.

26And 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.

27And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two [sons]:

28And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

29And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

30Now 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;

31It 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.

32For 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.

33Now 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.

34For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad [be] not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Joseph orchestrates a final test for his brothers by having his silver cup secretly placed in Benjamin's sack. When the cup is discovered, the brothers are brought back to Joseph, who declares Benjamin his servant. Judah then makes an impassioned plea, offering himself as a bondman in Benjamin's place to spare their aged father, Jacob, from fatal grief.

Medium Summary

After the brothers' second visit, Joseph commands his steward to fill their sacks with food, return their money, and place his silver divining cup in Benjamin's sack. As they depart, the steward pursues them, accusing them of theft. The brothers deny the charge, offering to become bondmen if the cup is found among them, though Joseph's steward modifies the condition to only the guilty party. The cup is discovered in Benjamin's sack, leading the brothers to return to Joseph's house in despair. Joseph insists on keeping Benjamin as his servant, but Judah steps forward with a fervent appeal. He recounts their father Jacob's deep love for Benjamin, the youngest son of Rachel, and explains that Benjamin's loss would surely kill their father. Judah then nobly offers himself as a perpetual bondman in Benjamin's stead, demonstrating a profound change of heart and loyalty to his family.

Long Summary

Following their second visit to Egypt, Joseph instructs his steward to fill his brothers' sacks with provisions, return their money, and secretly place his personal silver cup, which he claimed to use for divination, into Benjamin's sack. Early the next morning, as the brothers depart, Joseph dispatches his steward to pursue them and accuse them of stealing the valuable cup. Upon being confronted, the brothers vehemently deny the accusation, asserting their innocence and even offering that whoever is found with the cup should die, and they all become Joseph's bondmen. The steward, however, modifies the agreement, stating that only the one in possession of the cup would become Joseph's servant, and the others would be blameless. The brothers then hastily unload their sacks, and during the search, the cup is dramatically discovered in Benjamin's sack, causing them immense distress. Tearing their clothes in despair, they return to Joseph's house, where they prostrate themselves before him. Joseph confronts them, reiterating the accusation and implying his divinatory powers. Judah, speaking for the group, acknowledges that God has "found out the iniquity" of his servants, accepting their collective fate as Joseph's bondmen. Joseph, however, maintains his stance, declaring that only Benjamin will remain his servant, while the others are free to return to their father. At this critical juncture, Judah steps forward, delivering a powerful and emotional plea. He recounts their previous conversations with Joseph, detailing their aged father Jacob's profound attachment to Benjamin, the youngest son of Rachel, whom Jacob believes is the only surviving son of his beloved wife after Joseph's presumed death. Judah explains that Jacob's life is inextricably linked to Benjamin's, and that his loss would undoubtedly bring their father's "gray hairs with sorrow to the grave." Recalling his personal pledge to Jacob to ensure Benjamin's safe return, Judah offers himself as a perpetual bondman in Benjamin's place, demonstrating a remarkable transformation and deep familial loyalty. He implores Joseph to allow Benjamin to return to their father, lest he witness the devastating sorrow that would befall Jacob.

Core Concepts

  • The Silver CupJoseph's personal cup, secretly placed in Benjamin's sack, serves as the central device for his final test of his brothers, creating a false accusation of theft. It is also mentioned as an instrument by which Joseph "divineth," adding to his persona as an Egyptian official.
  • The Test of BrotherhoodJoseph's elaborate scheme, involving the cup and the accusation, is designed to test his brothers' character, particularly their loyalty to Benjamin and their willingness to protect him, contrasting with their past actions towards Joseph.
  • Judah's IntercessionJudah's impassioned speech and offer to become a bondman in Benjamin's stead mark a pivotal moment, demonstrating his profound transformation, leadership, and deep love for his father and youngest brother.
  • Jacob's Grief and VulnerabilityJudah's plea highlights Jacob's extreme emotional fragility and his deep attachment to Benjamin, emphasizing that the loss of this son would lead to his death from sorrow.
  • Surety and SubstitutionJudah's prior promise to his father to be "surety" for Benjamin's safe return culminates in his offer of self-sacrifice, proposing to substitute himself as a bondman to spare Benjamin and their father.
  • Divine Providence (Implied)While not explicitly stated by Joseph, Judah's statement, "God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants," suggests an underlying recognition that their current distress is a divine consequence for past wrongs, particularly their treatment of Joseph.