Joseph and His Brothers
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his own drinking cup of silver should be concealed in the sack of the
youngest.
Joyfully they set out on their return. Simeon and Benjamin were
with them, their animals were laden with grain, and all felt that they had
safely escaped the perils that had seemed to surround them. But they
had only reached the outskirts of the city when they were overtaken by
the governor’s steward, who uttered the scathing inquiry, “Wherefore
have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh,
and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.” This
cup was supposed to possess the power of detecting any poisonous
substance placed therein. At that day cups of this kind were highly
valued as a safeguard against murder by poisoning.
To the steward’s accusation the travelers answered, “Wherefore
saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do
according to this thing: behold, the money, which we found in our
sack’s mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan:
how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold? With
whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also
will be my lord’s bondmen.”
“Now also let it be according unto your words,” said the stew-
ard; “he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be
blameless.”
The search began immediately. “They speedily took down every
man his sack to the ground,” and the steward examined each, beginning
with Reuben’s, and taking them in order down to that of the youngest.
In Benjamin’s sack the cup was found.
The brothers rent their garments in token of utter wretchedness,
and slowly returned to the city. By their own promise Benjamin was
doomed to a life of slavery. They followed the steward to the palace,
and finding the governor yet there, they prostrated themselves before
him. “What deed is this that ye have done?” he said. “Wot ye not that
such a man as I can certainly divine?” Joseph designed to draw from
them an acknowledgment of their sin. He had never claimed the power
of divination, but was willing to have them believe that he could read
the secrets of their lives.
Judah answered, “What shall we say unto my Lord? what shall
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we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the