Genesis 44:16: “‘What can we say to my lord?’ Judah replied. ‘What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.’”
During the meal Joseph asked his trusted steward to fill each man’s sack with grain and return their silver. The steward bowed and was about to leave when his master called him back and said: “One more thing – be sure to hide my special silver chalice in the sack of the youngest man.” – “Yes Sir,” said the steward and went away to carry out his master’s instructions.
After dinner Joseph called his translator to his side and invited his brothers to spend the night in his house. “Let me show you to your quarters,” said the translator and they filed out of the dining hall.
Joseph stood there and watched them go. He looked tired when his steward came back from his mission. “All is carried out according to your instructions, Sir,” he said. “Good,” Joseph replied, “Now listen carefully: in the morning when these men are about an hour away from us, take your fastest horse and overtake them. Have our soldiers search through each of their sacks and as soon as they retrieve my chalice, tell them that the guilty man must become my slave.”
“A ruse,” Asenath observed. She was standing in the doorway. Joseph dismissed his servant: “That will be all.” After he was gone Joseph turned to his wife and said: “How long have you been standing there? Are you spying on me?” Asenath looked hurt. After a moment’s hesitation she said: “I’m not used to be treated like a child, Joseph. You know that you can trust me. Why are you hiding things from me?” Joseph sighed: “Alright then. You already know what my brothers did to me in the past. I’m putting them to the test. Tomorrow we will find out where they stand in the matter of family solidarity.”
Early the next morning Joseph’s brothers departed. They had not been on the road for too long when Levi saw a group of Egyptians approaching on horseback. “Uh-oh! What now?” said Levi when suddenly Judah exclaimed: “It’s the steward from the day before with the translator by his side. Not sure what this means, but it doesn’t look good. That is not a good sign!”
Now the soldiers, the steward and the translator were within earshot and after being formally addressed in Egyptian the translator said: “My master has a silver chalice that he always uses whenever he eats at home. This cup is very special to him. You were the last ones with whom he dined and now this cup went missing. It’s obvious that one of you must have stolen it.”
The brothers were horrified that they were accused of theft and tried to defend themselves. “We would not do anything like that!” Reuben exclaimed and Levi chimed in: “This does not make any sense. Remember? We brought back the silver that was found in our sacks. Why would we steal from you now? We are honest people!” And Judah offered: “If you find anything here that does not belong to us we will all be your slaves and whoever has the chalice shall die!”
“What you say is justified,” the steward replied via the translator, “but my master is a god-fearing man and he will not let you suffer for one man’s sin. Only the person who has the chalice will have to come with us. The rest of you can go home.”
Then the steward ordered his solders to search each man’s sack. When they found the chalice in Benjamin’s travel bag his brothers tore their tunics in despair. And Benjamin was terrified. “How is this possible?” he exclaimed. “I have not touched this thing. In fact, this is the first time I see it.” He turned to his brothers and swore: “You’ve got to believe me! Somebody is setting me up.”
“We will not leave you,” Judah reassured him.
And so all the sons of Jacob loaded their donkeys and returned to Joseph’s mansion where he awaited them. The brothers threw themselves on the ground before him. “Why did you even try to steal something so valuable from me?” Joseph asked, “That was foolish and a wicked thing to do!”
Judah stood up and reverently addressed the governor: “Sir, I am at a loss to prove our innocence, but be it as it may – we are now your slaves.” Joseph shook his head and said: “No – this is not what I intended. The one who stole my chalice will be retained. You and your brothers on the other hand are free to leave.”
Again Judah spoke up and said: “May I have another word with you?” Joseph nodded and said via the translator: “Permission to speak.”
Judah went into great detail explaining how devastating it would be for their father if Benjamin was taken from him. “Our father already lost a son and it took a heavy toll on him,” he explained, “And if another son goes missing, I’m sure this would kill him.”
Joseph winced as he heard about his father’s tremendous grief, but Judah was too focused on his speech to notice. He went on to say: “Before we went on this trip I guaranteed Benjamin’s safety and told our father that I was to blame should anything happen to him. And so I beg you: Please take me in Benjamin’s stead. Let me be your slave. How could I look my father in the eye if I didn’t bring him home safely?”
Now Joseph could no longer hold back his tears. “Everybody out!” he demanded. After his servants had vacated the room he addressed his brothers in Hebrew. “I am Joseph,” he said, “Is my father well?” And he wept so loudly that all of his household could hear him through the walls. Asenath was moved to tears. “Oh my God!” she muttered under her breath. “Finally my husband has made himself known to his brothers!”