Genesis 44:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph 's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground.

NIV: Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.

NASB: When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell down to the ground before him.

CSB: When Judah and his brothers reached Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell to the ground before him.

NLT: Joseph was still in his palace when Judah and his brothers arrived, and they fell to the ground before him.

KJV: And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

NKJV: So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.

With Benjamin essentially facing a life of slavery in Egypt for the theft of the Egyptian ruler's personal silver cup, all of Joseph's brothers return with him to Joseph's house (Genesis 44:7–12). Benjamin, however, is innocent. Joseph had his own steward place the cup in the boy's bag (Genesis 44:3–6). The eleven men don't realize the powerful man with whom they've been interacting is their own estranged brother (Genesis 42:7–8). These trials have been tests, of a sort, which Joseph has been using to see if they have changed since selling him into slavery twenty years ago (Genesis 37:24–28).

Joseph's brothers are desperate and heartbroken about what has happened. They find Joseph still at home. They throw themselves on the ground, prostrate (Genesis 37:7), as sign of respect and humility, hoping he will show them mercy.

Genesis 44:14–34 explains how Joseph's brothers reacted to another test of character. The youngest, Benjamin, was discovered to have Joseph's own silver cup in his bags. This was secretly put there on Joseph's orders—and the brothers still do not know his identity. Joseph's intent seems to be a test of his brothers' growth: are they still as cruel and selfish as when they sold Joseph, himself, into Egyptian slavery? Benjamin's sentence is to become Joseph's slave while the rest are free to go. Instead, Judah offers to take Benjamin's place in order save his youngest brother and their old father, who will surely die of grief if Benjamin is lost.

Eleven of Jacob's sons enjoyed a meal as honored guests of an Egyptian governor. They are sent off the next morning with full sacks of grain. All seems well until the governor's house steward overtakes them on the road and accuses them of stealing the ruler's personal and valuable silver cup. The brothers don't know this governor is Joseph, their long-lost brother. Nor do they know he ordered the steward to place the cup in Benjamin's sack. This is part of Joseph's final test of his brothers and their moral growth. Seeking to rescue Benjamin from slavery, Judah makes a powerful speech to Joseph, offering to take Benjamin's place as a slave to save the boy and avoid grieving their father, Jacob.

Joseph maintained his hidden identity when his estranged brothers first arrived in Egypt (Genesis 42). When they returned a second time, he continued to test them and treated them to a fine meal (Genesis 43). Genesis 44 describes Joseph's final scheme to test the character of his brothers. Will they once again abandon a sibling into slavery? After a successful scheme by Joseph, Benjamin seems doomed to become a slave in Egypt. Judah boldly begs Joseph to keep him, instead. He offers himself in Benjamin's place. This finally overwhelms Joseph, who will break down and reveal himself in the next chapter.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.

Accessed 11/24/2024 5:17:43 PM