Genesis Chapter 44
Joseph Tests His Brothers
A. Joseph Sends Them on Their Way
(Genesis 44:1–3)
“And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, ‘Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.’ So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.”
As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away: The brothers departed from Egypt in high spirits, believing the ordeal was over. They had been treated with kindness by the Egyptian governor, their sacks were filled with grain, and Simeon had been released from prison. To them, it seemed that Jacob’s fears of disaster were proven wrong. There was relief, joy, and perhaps even confidence that the storm had passed. Yet, beneath this moment of apparent peace, Joseph had orchestrated another test—one that would probe the deepest parts of their hearts.
Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money: Once again, Joseph ordered that the money they had paid for grain be placed back in their sacks. However, this time, the test went further. His special silver cup was hidden in Benjamin’s sack. This was no ordinary cup; it was a prized possession, one that symbolized Joseph’s high position in Egypt. By placing it in Benjamin’s sack, Joseph set in motion the final and most decisive test—to see if his brothers had truly changed. The last time a favored son was threatened, they betrayed him. Now Joseph would find out if they would abandon Benjamin as they once abandoned him.
(Genesis 44:4–5)
“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? Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.”’”
Why have you repaid evil for good: Once the brothers were a safe distance from the city, Joseph instructed his steward to pursue and confront them. The accusation was designed to pierce their conscience and evoke a sense of moral reckoning. To an outsider, this could appear as a cruel act of revenge, but Joseph’s motives were not rooted in vengeance. Having forgiven them long before, Joseph sought to bring about repentance and reconciliation. This confrontation was divinely orchestrated to expose the hearts of the brothers and bring them to the point of humility, honesty, and repentance before God and before Joseph.
He indeed practices divination: In ancient Egypt, divination through cups or bowls was a common practice. Liquids, reflections, or floating objects were interpreted to reveal secrets or foretell the future. Joseph’s steward referenced this cultural practice to heighten the seriousness of the accusation. Whether or not Joseph actually practiced such divination is uncertain. At this point in history, the Mosaic Law had not yet forbidden such practices, though Joseph, as a man of God, likely relied on divine revelation rather than superstition. The purpose of this statement was not to teach divination but to impress upon the brothers that the silver cup was sacred and its theft a grave offense. This accusation struck fear into their hearts, setting the stage for the final moment of truth that would determine whether they were the same men who betrayed their brother decades before, or whether they had been transformed by guilt, grace, and the providence of God.
(Genesis 44:6–10)
“So he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words. And they said to him, ‘Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing. Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.’ And he said, ‘Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.’”
Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing: When the steward confronted them with Joseph’s accusation, the brothers immediately protested their innocence. Their words reflected sincere conviction that none among them had stolen anything. This confidence revealed not only a clear conscience but also an unusual level of mutual trust. Years before, jealousy and deceit had divided them, but now, unity characterized their response. None suspected another; all stood together as one. Their defense was logical and compelling: if they had intended to steal, they would not have voluntarily returned the money they found in their sacks from the previous trip. Their argument appealed both to reason and to honor, showing they had learned integrity from the pain of their past sins.
With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves: Their confidence went so far as to make a rash oath. In the ancient Near East, it was common for people to affirm innocence with bold declarations of judgment. Their statement was sincere but foolish, for they had no knowledge of Joseph’s test. Their words would soon test their loyalty to Benjamin. Still, their unity was commendable—none turned on the others or sought self-preservation at another’s expense. This moment revealed how different they were from the men who once sold their brother into slavery.
Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave: Joseph’s steward wisely modified their severe proposal. He avoided calling for the death penalty, instead promising that only the one found guilty would become a slave, and the rest would go free. This softened outcome was part of God’s providence. It would provide the brothers with the same moral choice they had faced years before—whether to abandon a favored brother to slavery and save themselves or to stand beside him in loyalty and love. The test was divinely designed to expose what was truly in their hearts.
(Genesis 44:11–13)
“Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.”
Then each man speedily let down his sack: The brothers immediately complied with the steward’s demand. Their quickness demonstrated both innocence and confidence. They had no reason to delay or hide anything. Their earlier oath—that the guilty one should die and the rest become slaves—hung over them, yet their certainty of innocence made them bold. As the steward began searching each sack in descending order of age, tension must have built with each inspection. When the search finally reached Benjamin, the youngest and most beloved, the discovery of the silver cup shattered their composure.
The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack: This was the climactic moment of Joseph’s test. To the brothers, it was an unthinkable tragedy. To Joseph, it was the perfect setup to reveal their transformation. The evidence appeared undeniable, and according to their own words, Benjamin now faced slavery or death. Years earlier, they had easily rid themselves of another favored brother, Joseph. If they had remained the same men, they would have gladly abandoned Benjamin to his fate. But God had changed them, and this false accusation would prove how deeply.
Then they tore their clothes: Tearing one’s garments in the ancient world symbolized profound grief, horror, or repentance. When Joseph was taken from them, only Reuben had shown remorse; the others had been callous. Now all tore their clothes, a collective act of anguish and solidarity. This was a visible sign that their hearts were broken—not only at the thought of losing Benjamin but also at the pain it would inflict on their father, Jacob. The tearing of clothes, so often seen in moments of death, reflected that to them, this was as devastating as losing a brother to the grave.
Each man loaded his donkey and returned: Their response marked a complete reversal of their earlier sin. When Joseph was sold into slavery, they allowed him to be carried away without resistance. This time, not one of them abandoned Benjamin. They willingly returned to Egypt to share his fate, whether it meant slavery or death. Such unity and loyalty demonstrated the fruit of repentance. The sin that had once divided them was being redeemed through God’s providence. Their return to the city symbolized not defeat, but transformation—men once hardened by envy now softened by love and conviction.
(Genesis 44:14–15)
“So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said to them, ‘What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?’”
They fell before him on the ground: The brothers entered Joseph’s house in complete humility and despair. Though they had been falsely accused and knew the evidence was planted, they did not approach Joseph demanding justice or arguing their innocence. Instead, they came bowed in submission, seeking mercy. Their posture spoke louder than words—they accepted the situation as a divine reckoning rather than a human injustice. This act of falling before Joseph was not only a gesture of respect toward an Egyptian official but also the third fulfillment of Joseph’s prophetic dreams from Genesis 37:5–11, where his brothers bowed before him. God’s word, spoken decades earlier, was being perfectly fulfilled in His timing.
When they fell before him on the ground, it also revealed the brothers’ desperation and grief. They were utterly crushed at the thought of losing Benjamin. Having already endured their father’s grief for Joseph, they knew Jacob would not survive another loss. Their humble plea was not only for themselves but for the life of their aged father. Their unity and sorrow displayed a genuine transformation of heart—a stark contrast to the pride and jealousy that once governed their actions.
Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination: Joseph maintained his Egyptian disguise. By speaking in this way, he reinforced his position as a powerful and mysterious ruler who could discern hidden things. He did not truly practice divination, for Joseph’s wisdom and discernment came from God, as he himself had confessed earlier before Pharaoh: “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Genesis 41:16). However, by continuing to play the part of an Egyptian noble, Joseph ensured his brothers’ hearts would be fully tested without the interference of recognition or sentiment. Every word and action was part of a divine plan, carefully orchestrated to bring repentance and restoration.
(Genesis 44:16–17)
“Then Judah said, ‘What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.’ But he said, ‘Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.’”
What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? Judah spoke on behalf of his brothers, acknowledging their complete helplessness. His words were humble, sincere, and deeply reflective. This was no longer the proud, manipulative Judah of years past—the one who had suggested selling Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:26–27). This was a man broken by guilt, weary of deceit, and aware of divine justice. The brothers made no attempt to argue or justify themselves; instead, Judah recognized the hand of God in their predicament.
God has found out the iniquity of your servants: Judah’s confession revealed that the brothers understood this trial as divine discipline. They were innocent of stealing the silver cup, but they were guilty of a far greater sin—the betrayal of their brother Joseph. Judah’s words showed that conscience had finally caught up with them after twenty-two long years. Sin can be buried beneath time, activity, or success, but it never truly dies until it is confessed and cleansed. As Numbers 32:23 declares, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” The brothers realized that God Himself had uncovered their hidden guilt, proving His justice is patient but sure.
As Donald Barnhouse vividly illustrated, “A physicist could compute the exact time required for Joseph’s cries to travel twenty-five yards to his brothers’ eardrums, but it took twenty-two years for those cries to reach their hearts.” True conviction had finally pierced them, and Judah’s words expressed repentance more than regret. He understood that divine justice was now exposing their sin not to destroy them, but to redeem them.
Here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found: Judah’s declaration was profound. He was willing to share Benjamin’s fate, choosing loyalty over self-preservation. This was the ultimate test, and Judah passed it. In the past, the brothers had abandoned Joseph, indifferent to his suffering. Now, they refused to abandon Benjamin, even though it meant slavery in Egypt. This act of solidarity demonstrated true repentance and transformation of heart.
Joseph’s steward, acting under his master’s instructions, refused Judah’s offer and narrowed the sentence: “The man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave.” The challenge was now sharper. The others could go free if they chose to. This final moment tested whether the brothers would again leave a favored son behind or stand together. Judah’s response would reveal the depth of their change, proving that God had turned a band of jealous brothers into humble men of integrity and faithfulness.
Their willingness to share Benjamin’s suffering showed that God had accomplished His work in them. They were no longer the treacherous men who deceived their father but men who were ready to sacrifice themselves for one another. Through years of hardship, guilt, and divine providence, God had turned their sin into repentance, and their shame into restoration.
B. Judah Intercedes for Benjamin
(Genesis 44:18–23)
“Then Judah came near to him and said: ‘O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, “Have you a father or a brother?” And we said to my lord, “We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.” Then you said to your servants, “Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.” And we said to my lord, “The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.” But you said to your servants, “Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.”’”
Then Judah came near to him and said: Judah’s act of coming near was both bold and reverent. He approached the most powerful man in Egypt, unaware that it was his own brother, yet his tone was humble and imploring. Judah did not respond to the accusation with anger or defensiveness. Instead, he made an earnest appeal for mercy, knowing that the situation was dire and humanly impossible to fix. When everything appeared lost, he drew near—a symbolic act that foreshadowed the believer’s approach to God through intercession.
Judah’s impassioned plea is one of the most remarkable speeches in all of Scripture. It is a masterpiece of persuasion, marked by sincerity, humility, and moral courage. Commentators have recognized its unmatched power. F.B. Meyer wrote, “In all literature, there is nothing more pathetic than this appeal.” H.C. Leupold called it, “One of the manliest, most straightforward speeches ever delivered by any man. For depth of feeling and sincerity of purpose it stands unexcelled.” Donald Barnhouse described it as “the most moving address in all the Word of God.” Judah’s heart, once hardened by jealousy, was now softened by love and responsibility. He was not arguing law or logic but pleading from the heart, appealing to compassion, and trusting God’s providence.
My lord asked his servants: Judah carefully reminded Joseph that their situation began with his own command. All they had wanted was to buy food for their families, but Joseph’s inquiries about their family had drawn them into this unfolding test. Judah repeated the phrase, “Then you said… but you said,” to emphasize that their obedience to the Egyptian official had led to this crisis. The repeated use of these words subtly underscored Judah’s fairness and truthfulness—he was not accusing Joseph, but he was gently appealing to justice and reason.
A father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead: Judah’s words were deliberate and carefully framed to evoke sympathy. His mention of an aged father and a beloved son of his old age presented a touching picture of family devotion and frailty. Without realizing it, Judah’s words pierced Joseph’s heart. When he said, “his brother is dead,” Joseph must have inwardly grieved yet also rejoiced at their remorse. The very lie they had once told—now spoken as truth—was echoing back to them, bringing their past sin to the surface. Yet Judah’s tone was no longer one of deception but of repentance and humility.
(Genesis 44:24–29)
“So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’ But we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces”; and I have not seen him since. But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’”
Go back and buy us a little food: Judah continued his intercession by recounting the conversation with his father Jacob, as recorded in Genesis 43:1–10. His purpose was to lay bare the emotional reality of their family situation. This was not a cold recitation of facts; it was a deeply personal narrative meant to move Joseph’s heart. Judah portrayed the frailty of an old man clinging to the last living link to his beloved Rachel, pleading that compassion be shown to spare his father’s life.
Surely he is torn to pieces… I have not seen him since: Judah chose his words with remarkable care. He quoted Jacob’s statement faithfully but avoided directly affirming that Joseph was dead. He simply repeated Jacob’s belief—“Surely he is torn to pieces.” This subtle honesty showed that Judah’s conscience was active. He remembered well the deceitful act from Genesis 37:31–35, when they dipped Joseph’s coat in blood and allowed their father to believe the worst. Now, decades later, Judah could not bring himself to repeat that lie. He would not say what he knew was false. His restraint revealed that the once deceptive Judah had been transformed into a man of integrity and truth.
In this moment, God was orchestrating poetic justice with divine mercy. The very brother who had suggested selling Joseph was now risking his own freedom to save another son of Rachel. Through suffering and conviction, Judah had been remade into a man of compassion and courage—the kind of man through whom the Messiah would one day come. As Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Judah’s appeal was not merely to Joseph; it was a picture of intercession, humility, and transformation wrought by the grace of God.
(Genesis 44:30–32)
“Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’”
When he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die: Judah’s words revealed a tenderness and compassion that was absent twenty years earlier. When the brothers deceived their father about Joseph’s supposed death (Genesis 37:31–35), they showed no concern for his anguish. Now, Judah’s entire appeal centered on sparing Jacob from grief. This was powerful evidence of repentance. The same man who once suggested selling his brother into slavery was now pleading for another brother’s freedom to protect his father’s heart. It was not mere remorse over being caught but genuine transformation—proven by love for those he had once wronged.
This change is even more remarkable considering the long-standing family dysfunction that had wounded Judah and his brothers. Jacob’s favoritism toward Rachel’s sons, Joseph and Benjamin, must have caused deep pain in the others. For years, Judah lived in the shadow of a father who seemed to love another son more. Yet now, rather than bitterness, Judah demonstrated forgiveness. He refused to repay hurt with resentment. True repentance had taken root in his heart, leading him to care for the very father who had once neglected him. That is the work of grace—to make a man care when he once could not.
For your servant became surety for the lad to my father: Judah reminded Joseph that he had personally guaranteed Benjamin’s safety before his father (Genesis 43:8–9). He had said, “I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him.” This wasn’t a casual promise but a sacred commitment. Judah’s integrity now compelled him to keep that vow, no matter the cost. His honor and relationship with his father were bound to Benjamin’s safe return. This moment illustrated true leadership and moral maturity—accepting responsibility even when it meant personal loss.
Judah’s appeal shows us the spiritual principle of intercession. He stood between judgment and mercy, pleading for another’s life. In this, Judah becomes a type or foreshadowing of Christ, who became our surety before the Father. As Hebrews 7:22 declares, “By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.” Like Judah, Jesus stepped forward to bear the blame for others, not because He was guilty, but because of His great love.
(Genesis 44:33–34)
“Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”
Please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord: Judah’s plea reached its climax in this self-sacrificial offer. He was willing to take Benjamin’s place and live out his days as a slave in Egypt. This is the most powerful evidence of his transformation. The man who once sold a brother into bondage now offered himself as a substitute to redeem one. Judah’s love and humility revealed that God had changed his heart completely. He had learned the meaning of love through suffering and guilt, and now he demonstrated it by willing self-sacrifice.
This act prefigures the greatest substitutionary act in history—the sacrifice of Christ. Just as Judah offered himself in place of Benjamin, Jesus Christ offered Himself in place of sinners. As John 15:13 declares, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Judah’s willingness to take Benjamin’s punishment exemplifies redemptive love—the love that bears another’s burden willingly. This same love was later reflected in Moses, who offered himself for Israel (Exodus 32:31–32), and in Paul, who said he could wish himself accursed for the sake of his brethren (Romans 9:1–4).
How shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me: Judah’s closing words reveal the depth of his concern. He could not bear to return home and face his father without Benjamin. To him, the sorrow it would bring to Jacob was unthinkable. Judah’s statement echoes the anguish of a truly repentant heart—one that can no longer stand to see pain inflicted on others because of sin. This love for his father and brother showed that Judah had become a man of godly compassion, willing to do whatever it took to make things right.
Through this chapter, Scripture provides overwhelming evidence of the complete moral and spiritual transformation of Joseph’s brothers:
They did not resent Benjamin when he received the favored portion (Genesis 43:34).
They trusted each other, not accusing one another when charged with theft (Genesis 44:9).
They stood together when the cup was found, refusing to abandon Benjamin (Genesis 44:13).
They humbled themselves collectively before Joseph (Genesis 44:14).
They recognized their predicament as divine justice for their sin against Joseph (Genesis 44:16).
They offered themselves as slaves rather than let Benjamin suffer alone (Genesis 44:16).
They showed deep concern for their father’s grief (Genesis 44:29–31).
Judah willingly offered himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for his brother out of love for both Benjamin and Jacob (Genesis 44:33).
The once envious and treacherous men had become humble, repentant, and compassionate. Their transformation was not the result of mere circumstance but of God’s providential hand guiding every test to bring about repentance and renewal. Judah’s intercession stands as one of the most touching portraits of grace in the Old Testament—a foreshadowing of Christ Himself, who would one day intercede for His brethren with far greater mercy and love.
