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Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 14:21:30 06/03/12 Sun
CHAPTER 44
Genesis 44:1-13 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. 2 And 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. 3 As 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. 6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. 7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: 8 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? 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen. 10 And 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. 11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
The evidence is that Joseph is not yet done with his tormenting of his brothers. Some would say getting even. For the second time they have their money returned and this time the sack of Benjamin is topped off with Joseph's personal silver cup. It is called his "divining sup". To what extent Joseph was into divination it is impossible to tell. Verse 15 gives the impression that Joseph did practice divination. To what extent it was in the category of the forbidden practice as put forth under the law as stated in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 we can't know. The passage in Deut. states: "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee."
One of the definitions of "divine" is "to perceive intuitively or through some inexplicable perceptive power." Joseph was a prophet to whom God gave visions. To what extent he may have used the cup to enhance the perception among the people that he was a "seer" I don't know. It could be also that this claim of divination by the cup was nothing more than a means in which to increase the value of the cup and thereby the severity of stealing it. Also we must remember this took place before the law and as it is stated in Romans 4:15; "for where no law is, there is no transgression."
The brothers have passed the city limits and are pleased with all that has transpired. Simeon is with them and Benjamin is safe. There joy will soon cease as Joseph's steward rides up in a cloud of dust and more than likely a "posse" with him. The accusation of theft is leveled at the twelve and much protesting rolls off the lips of the accused. The obvious is stated: "Why would we want to steal when we brought all the money for the first purchases back when we came." Not only had they brought the money back but had showered much gifts on Joseph. Surely all the gifts and money were worth more than the silver cup.
"With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen." Careless words indeed and just as Jacob uttered the words "With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. -- " (Gen. 31:32) Had Jacob known that Rachel had indeed taken the gods his words would have been much different. The answer from Joseph's steward was softer than the protestation from the brother's. "Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless." No one was to die but Benjamin was going back whether the rest did or not.
"The cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Then they rent their clothes". Thoughts of calamity ran through their minds. They had bound themselves to their words and there was no other remedy than to return in shame to Joseph.
I think Joseph's plan was to force Benjamin to stay with him and then convince the others to bring their father back to him. Benjamin, in his mind, was the only thing worth coming to Egypt for as he did not know that Joseph lived in Egypt. Jacob still did not know the deed that was done to his son Joseph. As we shall see the plan, in a sense, backfires on Joseph and in doing so uncovers or testifies to on of the greatest secrets in the Bible.
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