Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Genesis » Chapter 44 » Verse 4-12

Genesis 44:4-12 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

4 And when they were gone out H3318 of the city, H5892 and not yet far off, H7368 Joseph H3130 said H559 unto his steward, H1004 Up, H6965 follow H7291 after H310 the men; H582 and when thou dost overtake H5381 them, say H559 unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded H7999 evil H7451 for good? H2896

5 Is not this it in which my lord H113 drinketh, H8354 and whereby indeed H5172 he divineth? H5172 ye have done evil H7489 in so doing. H6213

6 And he overtook H5381 them, and he spake H1696 unto them these same H428 words. H1697

7 And they said H559 unto him, Wherefore saith H1696 my lord H113 these words? H1697 God forbid H2486 that thy servants H5650 should do H6213 according to this thing: H1697

8 Behold, the money, H3701 which we found H4672 in our sacks' H572 mouths, H6310 we brought again H7725 unto thee out of the land H776 of Canaan: H3667 how then should we steal H1589 out of thy lord's H113 house H1004 silver H3701 or gold? H2091

9 With whomsoever of thy servants H5650 it be found, H4672 both let him die, H4191 and we also will be my lord's H113 bondmen. H5650

10 And he said, H559 Now also let it be according unto your words: H1697 H3651 he with whom it is found H4672 shall be my servant; H5650 and ye shall be blameless. H5355

11 Then they speedily H4116 took down H3381 every man H376 his sack H572 to the ground, H776 and opened H6605 every man H376 his sack. H572

12 And he searched, H2664 and began H2490 at the eldest, H1419 and left H3615 at the youngest: H6996 and the cup H1375 was found H4672 in Benjamin's H1144 sack. H572

Commentary on Genesis 44 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 44

Ge 44:1-34. Policy to Stay His Brethren.

1. And Joseph commanded the steward—The design of putting the cup into the sack of Benjamin was obviously to bring that young man into a situation of difficulty or danger, in order thereby to discover how far the brotherly feelings of the rest would be roused to sympathize with his distress and stimulate their exertions in procuring his deliverance. But for what purpose was the money restored? It was done, in the first instance, from kindly feelings to his father; but another and further design seems to have been the prevention of any injurious impressions as to the character of Benjamin. The discovery of the cup in his possession, if there had been nothing else to judge by, might have fastened a painful suspicion of guilt on the youngest brother; but the sight of the money in each man's sack would lead all to the same conclusion, that Benjamin was just as innocent as themselves, although the additional circumstance of the cup being found in his sack would bring him into greater trouble and danger.

2. put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth—It was a large goblet, as the original denotes, highly valued by its owner, on account of its costly material or its elegant finish and which had probably graced his table at the sumptuous entertainment of the previous day.

3. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away—They commenced their homeward journey at early dawn (see on Ge 18:2); and it may be readily supposed in high spirits, after so happy an issue from all their troubles and anxieties.

4. When they were gone out of the city … Joseph said unto his steward—They were brought to a sudden halt by the stunning intelligence that an article of rare value was missing from the governor's house. It was a silver cup; so strong suspicions were entertained against them that a special messenger was despatched to search them.

5. Is not this it in which my lord drinketh—not only kept for the governor's personal use, but whereby he divines. Divination by cups, to ascertain the course of futurity, was one of the prevalent superstitions of ancient Egypt, as it is of Eastern countries still. It is not likely that Joseph, a pious believer in the true God, would have addicted himself to this superstitious practice. But he might have availed himself of that popular notion to carry out the successful execution of his stratagem for the last decisive trial of his brethren.

6, 7. he overtook them, and he spake … these words—The steward's words must have come upon them like a thunderbolt, and one of their most predominant feelings must have been the humiliating and galling sense of being made so often objects of suspicion. Protesting their innocence, they invited a search. The challenge was accepted [Ge 44:10, 11]. Beginning with the eldest, every sack was examined, and the cup being found in Benjamin's [Ge 44:12], they all returned in an indescribable agony of mind to the house of the governor [Ge 44:13], throwing themselves at his feet [Ge 44:14], with the remarkable confession, "God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants" [Ge 44:16].

16-34. Judah said, What shall we say?—This address needs no comment—consisting at first of short, broken sentences, as if, under the overwhelming force of the speaker's emotions, his utterance were choked, it becomes more free and copious by the effort of speaking, as he proceeds. Every word finds its way to the heart; and it may well be imagined that Benjamin, who stood there speechless like a victim about to be laid on the altar, when he heard the magnanimous offer of Judah to submit to slavery for his ransom, would be bound by a lifelong gratitude to his generous brother, a tie that seems to have become hereditary in his tribe. Joseph's behavior must not be viewed from any single point, or in separate parts, but as a whole—a well-thought, deep-laid, closely connected plan; and though some features of it do certainly exhibit an appearance of harshness, yet the pervading principle of his conduct was real, genuine, brotherly kindness. Read in this light, the narrative of the proceedings describes the continuous, though secret, pursuit of one end; and Joseph exhibits, in his management of the scheme, a very high order of intellect, a warm and susceptible heart, united to a judgment that exerted a complete control over his feelings—a happy invention in devising means towards the attainment of his ends and an inflexible adherence to the course, however painful, which prudence required.