Genesis 44:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys.

NIV: As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

NASB: As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys.

CSB: At morning light, the men were sent off with their donkeys.

NLT: The brothers were up at dawn and were sent on their journey with their loaded donkeys.

KJV: As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

NKJV: As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.

On a second trip to Egypt (Genesis 42:1–2; 43:1–2), everything has gone much better than Jacob's eleven sons could have hoped. They were returning home having accomplished all three of their missions. They had the food they needed to keep the family from starving. Simeon had been released from prison (Genesis 42:24) and was with them. And Jacob's beloved Benjamin (Genesis 43:14) was safely with them on the way back to the waiting arms of their father.

The eleven men had even had an enjoyable meal as the honored guest of the once feared Egyptian ruler (Genesis 43:34). They must have been sighing with relief as they left the city behind them.

The brothers likely realize the Egyptian governor has once again returned the money they used to buy the food to their sacks (Genesis 44:1). They make no mention of this in their later conversations—they likely saw this as another unexpected gift. However, they have no idea that this man—still unknown to them as their estranged brother, Joseph (Genesis 42:8)—arranged for his own silver cup to be placed in Benjamin's sack.

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.