Genesis 44:23

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

18-34 Had Joseph been, as Judah supposed him, an utter stranger to the family, he could not but be wrought upon by his powerful reasonings. But neither Jacob nor Benjamin need an intercessor with Joseph; for he himself loved them. Judah's faithful cleaving to Benjamin, now, in his distress, was recompensed long afterwards by the tribe of Benjamin keeping with the tribe of Judah, when the other tribes deserted it. The apostle, when discoursing of the mediation of Christ, observes, that our Lord sprang out of Judah, Hebrews 7:14; and he not only made intercession for the transgressors, but he became a Surety for them, testifying therein tender concern, both for his Father and for his brethren. Jesus, the great antitype of Joseph, humbles and proves his people, even after they have had some tastes of his loving-kindness. He brings their sins to their remembrance, that they may exercise and...

- 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 THOU SAIDST UNTO THY SERVANTS,.... In answer to the representation of things made by them, and notwithstanding that: EXCEPT YOUR YOUNGEST BROTHER COME DOWN WITH YOU, YOU SHALL SEE MY FACE NO MORE; which though not before related in the discourse, which passed between Joseph and his brethren, in express terms, yet might be justly inferred from what he said; nay, might be expressed in so many words, though not recorded, and as it seems plainly it was, as appears from Genesis 43:3....

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...

Judah's Intercession This is one of the most beautiful and pathetic passages in Hebrew narrative. Judah's speech falls into two unequal divisions: (1) Genesis 44:18 a simple recapitulation of the story, (2) Genesis 44:31 his self-sacrificing offer of himself as a substitute for Benjamin. The points emphasized are (_a_) Joseph's previous demand to see Benjamin, (_b_) the aged father's unwillingness to let him go, (_c_) the certainty that the loss of Benjamin would be Jacob's death, (_d_) the offer to stay in Benjamin's place....

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

THE FINAL TEST OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN 2. Put my cup.. in the sack's mouth of the youngest] Joseph evidently did this as an excuse for keeping Benjamin with him. Perhaps, too, it was a test of the brethren whether they would act as cruelly in deserting their youngest brother as they had dealt with himself. However, they came nobly out of the trial, and a complete reconciliation took place....