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JANUARY 22
and the men looked in astonishment at one
34
another. Then he took servings to them from
before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five
times as much as any of theirs. So they drank 44:13 tore their clothes. A well-known
and were merry with him. ancient Near Eastern custom of visibly por-
And he commanded the steward of his traying the pain of heart being experienced.
44 house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks Benjamin’s brothers were very upset that he
with food, as much as they can carry, and put might become a slave in Egypt (v. 10).
each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. Benjamin appears to have been speechless.
2 Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth They had passed a second test of devotion to
of the sack of the youngest, and his grain Benjamin (the first in v. 34).
money.” So he did according to the word that
3
Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning
dawned, the men were sent away, they and 18 Then Judah came near to him and said: “O
4
their donkeys. When they had gone out of the my lord, please let your servant speak a word
city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger
steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when burn against your servant; for you are even
you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have like Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants,
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you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ And
5
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from which my lord drinks, and with which he we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old
indeed practices divination? You have done man, and a child of his old age, who is young;
evil in so doing.’ ” his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his
6 So he overtook them, and he spoke to them mother’s children, and his father loves him.’
7
these same words. And they said to him, 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him
“Why does my lord say these words? Far be it down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’
from us that your servants should do such a 22 And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave
8
thing. Look, we brought back to you from the his father, for if he should leave his father, his
land of Canaan the money which we found in father would die.’ But you said to your ser-
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the mouth of our sacks. How then could we vants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes
steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? down with you, you shall see my face no more.’
9 With whomever of your servants it is found, let 24 “So it was, when we went up to your ser-
him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.” vant my father, that we told him the words of
10 And he said, “Now also let it be according my lord. And our father said, ‘Go back and
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to your words; he with whom it is found shall buy us a little food.’ But we said, ‘We cannot
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be my slave, and you shall be blameless.” go down; if our youngest brother is with us,
11 Then each man speedily let down his sack to then we will go down; for we may not see the
the ground, and each opened his sack. So he man’s face unless our youngest brother is with
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searched. He began with the oldest and left off us.’ Then your servant my father said to us,
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with the youngest; and the cup was found in ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; and
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Benjamin’s sack. 13 Then they tore their the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely
clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and he is torn to pieces”; and I have not seen him
returned to the city. since. But if you take this one also from me,
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14 So Judah and his brothers came to Jo- and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down
seph’s house, and he was still there; and they my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’
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fell before him on the ground. And Joseph
said to them, “What deed is this you have
done? Did you not know that such a man as I
can certainly practice divination?”
16 Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my 44:18–34 An eloquent and contrite plea for
lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we mercy, replete with reference to the aged
clear ourselves? God has found out the iniqui- father’s delight in and doting upon the
ty of your servants; here we are, my lord’s youngest son (vv. 20,30) and the fatal shock
slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup should he be lost (vv.22,29,31,34).Judah’s evi-
was found.” dent compassion for Jacob and readiness to
17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I substitute himself for Benjamin in slavery
should do so; the man in whose hand the cup finally overwhelmed Joseph—these were not
was found, he shall be my slave. And as for the same brothers of yesteryear (45:1).
you, go up in peace to your father.”
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