Genesis 44:10

_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?_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-17 Joseph tried how his brethren felt towards Benjamin. Had they envied and hated the other son of Rachel as they had hated him, and if they had the same want of feeling towards their father Jacob as heretofore, they would now have shown it. When the cup was found upon Benjamin, they would have a pretext for leaving him to be a slave. But we cannot judge what men are now, by what they have been formerly; nor what they will do, by what they have done. The steward charged them with being ungrateful, rewarding evil for good; with folly, in taking away the cup of daily use, which would soon be missed, and diligent search made for it; for so it may be read, Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, as having a particular fondness for it, and for which he would search thoroughly? Or, By which, leaving it carelessly at your table, he would make trial whether you were honest men or not? They...

- The Ten Brothers Were Tested Joseph has had the satisfaction of seeing his brother Benjamin safe and well. He has heard his brothers acknowledging their guilt concerning himself. He resolves to put their attachment to Benjamin, and the genuineness of their change of disposition, to a test that will at the same time expose Benjamin to no hazard. Genesis 44:1 AND MY CUP. - Besides returning each man’s money as before, a silver cup of Joseph’s is put in Benjamin’s bag, after which, when daylight comes, they are dismissed. They are scarcely out of the town when Joseph’s steward is ordered to overtake them, and charge them with stealing the cup. “And whereby indeed he divineth.” Divining by cups, we learn from this, was a common custom in Egypt (Herodotus ii. 83). It is here mentioned

EXPOSITION GENESIS 44:1, GENESIS 44:2 AND HE (_i.e._ Joseph) COMMANDED THE STEWARD OF HIS HOUSE,—literally, _him that was over his hoarse _(Genesis 43:15)—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 (as before, but not this time as a test). AND PUT MY CUP,—גָּבִיעַ, from an unused root, גָּבַע, conveying the sense of elevation or roundness; hence a goblet or bowl, commonly of a large size (Jeremiah 35:5), as distinguishe

AND HE SAID, NOW ALSO [LET] IT [BE] ACCORDING UNTO YOUR WORDS,.... Not according to the full extent of their words, but according to a part of them; that be only should be a servant that was found guilty; so moderating the punishment which they had fixed, and were willing to submit to, and therefore could not object to what he next proposes: HE WITH WHOM IT IS FOUND SHALL BE MY SERVANT; speaking in the name of Joseph, whom he represented, and who had directed him what to say: AND YE SHALL BE BLAMELESS; acquitted of the charge, and pronounced innocent, and let go free....

CHAPTER 44 THE FEIGNED DISMAY AND THE BRINGING BACK _ 1. The cup concealed and the dismay (Genesis 44:1)_ 2. The return to Joseph's house (Genesis 44:14)...

GENESIS 44. BENJAMIN IS ACCUSED OF STEALING JOSEPH'S SILVER CUP, AND JUDAH PLEADS WITH JOSEPH TO PUNISH HIM INSTEAD OF BENJAMIN. The narrative is from J. Joseph arranges this final test that he may be fully assured as to the true disposition of the brothers. At the same time, it is skilfully planned to prolong their suspense, swing them to and fro between hope and despair, and harrow them in their tenderest feelings. They have come safely through a rather perilous situation, Simeon has been restored to them, the trouble about the money cleared away, Benjamin is safely on the road for home, the Viceroy finally, it seems, convinced of their honesty and friendly in his attitude. But they have not left the city far behind when the steward overtakes them, and confronts them with a new and horrible complication: they have stolen Joseph's cup, his drinking cup, but also used for divination. Ind...

The Divining Cup 1. _with food, as much as they can carry_ The "food" means corn; and by special favour the corn is not given them by price, but on a more generous scale; as much as they could carry. _every man's money_ This detail is not again referred to. It is over-shadowed by the incident of the cup....

LET IT BE ACCORDING UNTO YOUR WORDS— There appears a contradiction in this translation; the steward offering to accept their terms, and yet immediately proposing different ones; compare the ninth verse. Calmet is for rendering the verse thus: _Certainly at present it would be just to treat you according to your own words; but he only who hath committed the theft, shall be my slave;_ I will take no advantage; _the rest of you shall be blameless._...

3. _Joseph as Prime Minister of Egypt_ (Genesis 41:46 to Genesis 47:31) 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49 And Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left off numbering; for it was without number. 50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On, bare unto him. 51 And Joseph called the name