Beginning of the End: Final Test of Their Repentance

 Joyfully they set out on their return. Simeon and Benjamin were with them, their animals were well-burdened with grain, and all felt that they had safely escaped the dangers 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 inquired angrily, “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.” This cup was supposed to possess the power of detecting any poisonous substance placed in it. Cups of this kind were highly valued as a safeguard against murder by poisoning.

The travelers answered the steward’s accusation, “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 you lord’s house? With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”

“Let it be according to your words,” said the steward; “he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.”

The search began immediately. “Then each man speedily let down 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. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

The brothers tore their clothes in utter wretchedness and slowly returned to the city. By their own promise, Benjamin was doomed to slavery. They followed the steward to the palace, and finding the governor still there, fell to the ground before him.

“What deed is this you have done?” he said. “Did you not know that such a man as I can practice divination?” Joseph intended to draw from them an acknowledgment of their sin.

Judah answered, “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.”

“Far be it from me that I should do so,” was the reply. “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.”