Page 607 - BERESHIT

Why did the cup of Yosef play a central role in the evidence against the
brothers? Why was it used to determine their age and seating arrangement
earlier on?

The numerical value of the word equals that of the word . Speech
is what instigated the chain of events which led to Yosef’s abduction.
Yosef pointed this out by using the cup. It was a symbol of the supposed
iniquity that the brothers thought Yosef had. Yosef hoped to absolve them
of their sin by vilifying them.

Deep inside, Yosef had no hard feelings against his brothers. Yehudah
sensed this and reacted by approaching Yosef and trying to appease him.

Yosef sent wagons to Yaakov to show his spiritual status, how he still
remembered the Torah they had learned together. He also told the brothers
to describe the true honor shown him in Egypt, that of Torah.

Yaakov did not want to descend to Egypt as it was home to idolatry and
immorality. Hashem promised Yaakov to protect him, hinting that He
would be with them in the dark galut.