Joseph’s Cup

44:1-17

44 Then he commanded the one who was over his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they are able to carry, and put the silver of each one in the mouth of his sack. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest one, and his grain’s silver.” So he did according to Joseph’s word that he spoke.

3 The morning became light, and the men were sent off, they and their donkeys. 4 They had left the city, they had not gone far, and Joseph said to the one who was over his house, “Get up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, then say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? 5 Is this not what my lord drinks from and what he indeed divines with? You have done evil in what you have done!’ ”

6 Then he overtook them and spoke those words to them. 7 But they said to him, “Why does my lord speak words like those? Far be it from your servants to do something like that! 8 Behold, the silver that we found in the mouth of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. So how would we steal silver or gold from the house of your lord? 9 Whoever of your servants is found with it, then he will die, and we also will be slaves for my lord.”

10 And he said, “Indeed now, according to your words, so it will be: Whoever is found with it will be a slave for me, but you others will be blameless.” 11 Then they each hurried and lowered his sack to the ground, and they each opened his sack. 12 Then he searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack! 13 Then they tore their clothes, and each one loaded up his donkey, and they returned to the city.

14 Then Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there, so they fell to the ground before him. 15 Then Joseph said to them, “What is this deed that you have done? Did you not know that a man who is like me indeed divines?” 16 And Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the sin of your servants. Behold, we are slaves for my lord, both we and the one in whose hand the cup was found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me to do that! The man in whose hand the cup was found, he will be a slave for me. But you, go up in peace to your father.”