Question 1

Why did Joseph hide his silver cup in Benjamin's sack?

Accepted Answer

Joseph hid the silver cup in Benjamin’s sack to test his brothers’ hearts. Years earlier they had been willing to get rid of their father’s favored son. Now Joseph wants to see if they will abandon Benjamin to save themselves or stand with him and think of their father’s sorrow. By creating this crisis, Joseph can see whether they have truly changed, whether they regret their past sin, and whether love and loyalty now guide them instead of envy and hardness.

Question 2

What does God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants mean?

Accepted Answer

When Judah says, “God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants,” he is not mainly talking about stealing the cup, because they know they did not do that. He is admitting that God is bringing their older sins into the light, especially what they did to Joseph. Their trouble in Egypt feels to them like God’s just hand searching them out. It shows a shift from making excuses to owning guilt and seeing God as right in what he allows to come on them.

Question 3

Why did Judah offer himself as a slave instead of Benjamin?

Accepted Answer

Judah had promised his father that he would be responsible for Benjamin’s safety. When the cup is found with Benjamin and Joseph says the youngest must stay as a servant, Judah cannot bear the thought of Jacob’s grief. He knows his father’s life is “bound up in the lad’s life.” So Judah steps forward and asks to stay in Benjamin’s place. This shows real change in him: instead of sacrificing a brother, he is now willing to suffer so his brother and father can be spared.

Question 4

What does Joseph mean when he says he can certainly divine with the cup?

Accepted Answer

When Joseph’s steward speaks of the cup “whereby indeed he divineth,” and Joseph later says, “such a man as I can certainly divine,” it reflects how Egyptians viewed such special cups, as if they were used for secret knowledge. The wording here has been read in more than one way. At the very least, Joseph is speaking in a way that fits his Egyptian role and adds fear to the test. The passage does not teach that God approves of magic; it shows Joseph using his position to search his brothers’ hearts.

Question 5

How does Judah's speech show repentance and love?

Accepted Answer

Judah’s long appeal to Joseph is full of care and truth. He retells the whole story, speaks gently, and keeps Jacob’s sorrow at the center. He calls Jacob “thy servant my father,” showing respect, and explains that the old man’s life is tied to Benjamin. Judah admits his own promise to be surety for the lad and offers himself instead. This is very different from the earlier jealousy and lies. His words show a broken, changed heart that values his brother and father more than his own safety.

Question 6

What is the importance of the brothers tearing their clothes when the cup is found?

Accepted Answer

When the cup is found in Benjamin’s sack, the brothers tear their clothes. In their culture this is a strong sign of deep grief and distress. It shows they are not glad to be rid of the favored son, as they once were with Joseph. Instead they share Benjamin’s fate and all return to the city together. This shared sorrow and refusal to abandon him are signs that their hearts have softened and that family loyalty has replaced the old envy and cruelty.

Question 7

What does this passage teach about God's providence and justice?

Accepted Answer

In this passage God is quietly at work through ordinary events: a hidden cup, a steward’s words, a false charge. None of it is random. Through these trials God is bringing the brothers to face their old sin, confess it, and show new obedience and love. When Judah says God has found out their iniquity, he sees that their suffering is not meaningless. God is using hard things to expose what is inside them and to move the whole family toward healing and future reunion.

Question 8

How can this story of Joseph and Judah apply to my life today?

Accepted Answer

This story invites you to stop hiding sin and instead admit it before God, like Judah does. It also shows the beauty of standing in the gap for others, even when it costs you. Judah is willing to carry the loss for Benjamin and for his father’s sake. In your life, this can look like taking responsibility, keeping your word, and choosing others’ good over your comfort. It also encourages you to trust that God may use painful tests to change hearts and bring restoration.

Genesis 44:1

And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.

Benjamin and the Silver Cup

Judah Pleads for Benjamin

Benjamin and the Silver Cup

Cross References

Genesis 44:1

And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.

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Benjamin and the Silver Cup

Judah Pleads for Benjamin

Benjamin and the Silver Cup

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