Genesis 44:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?

NIV: They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, 'Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid good with evil?

NASB: They had just left the city, and were not far away, when Joseph said to his house steward, 'Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?

CSB: They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, "Get up. Pursue the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good?

NLT: But when they had gone only a short distance and were barely out of the city, Joseph said to his palace manager, 'Chase after them and stop them. When you catch up with them, ask them, ‘Why have you repaid my kindness with such evil?

KJV: And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

NKJV: When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?

Jacob's 11 sons have just left the city, loaded down with grain (Genesis 43:1–2; 44:1). They were surprised to be honored with a banquet (Genesis 43:34). And, apparently, they understand the Egyptian governor has given them back the money they planned to use to pay for grain (Genesis 44:1). What they don't know is that the Egyptian governor is their estranged brother, Joseph (Genesis 42:8). Nor do they know he has arranged for his personal cup to be hidden in the bag belonging to the youngest brother, Benjamin (Genesis 44:2–3).

Read out of context, it would be easy to assume Joseph had a sudden change of heart about being kind to his brothers. In truth, he has planned to send his steward after his brothers all along. Joseph tells the steward to question the men harshly (Genesis 42:7) once he catches up with them. Specifically, he is to speak as if they have stolen Joseph's personal cup, accusing them once again of wrongdoing.

The brothers are innocent of any evil in this case. However, this is all part of Joseph's latest test. Twenty years earlier, these same men—except for Benjamin—had jealously sold Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:24–28). Joseph seems to be creating another situation where the men must choose between their own desires and the good of their youngest brother.

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.