Genesis 44:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

NIV: When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.

NASB: So it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

CSB: "This is what happened when we went back to your servant my father: We reported to him the words of my lord.

NLT: So we returned to your servant, our father, and told him what you had said.

KJV: And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

NKJV: “So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord.

Judah is recounting to Joseph—unrecognized (Genesis 42:7–8) except as a powerful Egyptian governor (Genesis 41:44)— what happened after their last trip to Egypt to buy grain for their family (Genesis 44:18–23). He has reminded Joseph about his demand that they bring Benjamin, the youngest, or they would not be able to buy grain again. Judah does not mention that Joseph also put their brother Simeon in prison until they returned (Genesis 42:24). So far, these are all details which Joseph already knows.

Now, Judah begins to tell Joseph, the Egyptian ruler, what he does not know. He begins to explain what happened when they returned home and told their father what had happened. Judah cannot know just how interested Joseph must be to hear this part of the story.

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 5/6/2024 2:22:15 AM