Joseph's Stolen Cup
Genesis 44, verse 1. Now Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack. Genesis 44, verse 2. Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did according to the word Joseph had spoken. Genesis 44, verse 3. As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. Genesis 44, verse 4. When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Genesis 44, verse 5. Why have you stolen my silver cup? Is not this the cup from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’” Genesis 44, verse 6. So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. Genesis 44, verse 7. But they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing. Genesis 44, verse 8. Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord's house? Genesis 44, verse 9. With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's servants.” Genesis 44, verse 10. Then he replied, “Now as you say, so it will be; he with whom it is found shall be my servant, and you shall be blameless.” Genesis 44, verse 11. Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. Genesis 44, verse 12. So he searched the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Genesis 44, verse 13. Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city. Genesis 44, verse 14. So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground. Genesis 44, verse 15. Thus Joseph said to them, “What is this thing you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?” Genesis 44, verse 16. Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the wrongdoing of your servants; here we are, my lord's slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.” Genesis 44, verse 17. But Joseph said, “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my servant. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.”
Judah Speaks Up for Benjamin
Genesis 44, verse 18. Then Judah came near to him and said, “O my lord, let your servant speak a word in my lord's hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh. Genesis 44, verse 19. My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ Genesis 44, verse 20. Then we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.’ Genesis 44, verse 21. Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ Genesis 44, verse 22. But we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ Genesis 44, verse 23. But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’ Genesis 44, verse 24. “So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord. Genesis 44, verse 25. And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’ Genesis 44, verse 26. But we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ Genesis 44, verse 27. Then your servant our father said to us, ‘You know my wife bore me two sons; Genesis 44, verse 28. and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he was eaten by a wild animal”; and I have not seen him since. Genesis 44, verse 29. But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’ Genesis 44, verse 30. Now therefore, when I come to your servant our father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad's life, Genesis 44, verse 31. it will happen, when he sees the lad is not with us, he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. Genesis 44, verse 32. For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my days.’ Genesis 44, verse 33. Now therefore, let your servant remain instead of the lad as a servant to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. Genesis 44, verse 34. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”