Genesis Chapter 44

Genesis Chapter 44 KJV

Verse 01. 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.

Key Phrase: saying, fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry; This he ordered

out of his great affection for them, and that his father and his family might have

sufficient supply in this time of famine.

Key Phrase: and put every man's money in his sack's mouth; Not the money which had been

put into their sacks the first time, because the steward acknowledged his receipt of

it. This was what they had paid for their present corn, they would carry away.

Verse 02. 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.

Key Phrase: Put my cup, the silver cup; This cup was valuable both for the matter of it, being

of silver and for the use of it being what Joseph himself drank out of. By the word

Hebrew word “gə-ḇî-‘î ”it is used to express what to have been a large embossed

cup. A kind of goblet, for it has the signification of a little hill. Jarchi says it was a

long cup, which they called "mederno" or tall.

Key Phrase: in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. This he ordered to be

done, partly to put him in apparent danger. To test or try how his brethren felt

towards Benjamin and see their reaction. 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 before. It would now be shown, would they behave

towards him in such circumstances. Thereby know how they stood in their,

affection to him. As well as partly that he might have an excuse for retaining him.

Verse 03. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

Verse 04. 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?

Key Phrase: Joseph said unto his steward, up, follow after the men; Who no doubt was

already provided with men and horses to go out and pursue when Joseph should

give the orders. He, being privy to Joseph's intentions with whom the scheme was

completed and the secret was kept with. Joseph appears to have been up very

early this morning, and had observed the exact time of his brethren's departure, and guessed whereabouts they might be when he sent his steward, and others after them; for it can hardly be thought he was sent alone after eleven men, and to charge them with a theft, and bring them back again:

and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? in taking away the silver cup, when they had been so kindly and bountifully entertained. This he was to represent as base ingratitude, as it would have appeared, had it been fact. In much such manner was Esop used by the inhabitants of Delphos; they, being displeased with him, put a sacred cup or vial into his bags, which he, being ignorant of, went on his way towards Phocis; and they ran after him, and seized him, and charged him with sacrilege (h).

Verse 05. Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have

done evil in so doing.

Verse 06. And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.

Verse 07. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy

servants should do according to this thing:

Verse 08. 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?

Verse 09. With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be

my lord's bondmen.

Verse 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.

Verse 11. Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every

man his sack.

Verse 12. And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was

found in Benjamin's sack.

Verse 13. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

Verse 14. And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they

fell before him on the ground.

Verse 15. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that

such a man as I can certainly divine?

Verse 16. And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall

we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are

my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.

Verse 17. 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.

Verse 18. Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee,

speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for

thou art even as Pharaoh.

Verse 19. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?

Verse 20. And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age,

a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father

loveth him.

Verse 21. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine

eyes upon him.

Verse 22. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his

father, his father would die.

Verse 23. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with

you, ye shall see my face no more.

Verse 24. And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the

words of my lord.

Verse 25. And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.

Verse 26. And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we

go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with

us.

Verse 27. And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:

Verse 28. And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him

not since:

Verse 29. And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my

gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Verse 30. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us;

seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;

Verse 31. It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and

thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to

the grave.

Verse 32. For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not

unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

Verse 33. Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to

my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

Verse 34. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I

see the evil that shall come on my father.