Genesis 44:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.

NIV: Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.

NASB: Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.

CSB: So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.

NLT: They all quickly took their sacks from the backs of their donkeys and opened them.

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

NKJV: Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack.

A steward working for Joseph, now the governor of Egypt (Genesis 41:44) has accused 11 men of stealing a valuable silver cup. These men are Joseph's estranged brothers (Genesis 37:24–28), though they don't know it (Genesis 42:7–8). Since none of the men did such a thing, they have denied any wrongdoing (Genesis 44:7–8). They don't realize the steward, himself, placed the cup in Benjamin's sack on Joseph's own order (Genesis 44:1–6). In an act of foolish confidence, the eleven brothers have agreed that if the cup is found in any of their sacks, that man shall become a slave of the Egyptian ruler.

They are so confident that none of them have the cup that they very quickly open all their sacks to be searched.

Genesis 44:1–13 describes Joseph's final test of his estranged brothers, this time using a silver cup. After a merry feast, Joseph's brothers—who still know nothing of his identity—are sent out with grain and money. Joseph orders his house steward to hide his unique personal cup in Benjamin's sack. Shortly after they leave, he sends the steward to overtake the brothers on their way out of town. Once the cup is found, all the brothers return to Joseph's house in great grief and frustration.

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 4/28/2024 4:44:14 PM