Genesis 44:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

NIV: Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

NASB: And he searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

CSB: The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

NLT: The palace manager searched the brothers’ sacks, from the oldest to the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack!

KJV: And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

NKJV: So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

Joseph's estranged brothers (Genesis 37:24–28; 42:7–8) have agreed to be searched by Joseph's steward. Their intent is to prove that none of them have taken his master's silver cup (Genesis 44:7–9). They have foolishly agreed that if it is found on any of them, that man will become the Egyptian ruler's slave. They are unaware that the cup has been placed in Benjamin's sack, by the steward himself, on Joseph's orders (Genesis 44:1–6).

Now the sacks are searched in order of the men's ages, starting with the oldest. The steward is focused on looking for the silver cup which he himself placed. He makes a show of searching each sack, knowing what he will find when he gets to the last one. All of this would have been part of Joseph's instructions; all of this is part of Joseph's final test of his family.

As expected by no one—other than the steward—the "stolen" cup is found in Benjamin's possession. This was the youngest brother, and the one whom Jacob was terrified to risk by sending him into Egypt (Genesis 43:14). Thanks to the rash vow made earlier, he now looks to be lost. The brothers react with an expected combination of surprise and grief (Genesis 44:13).

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.