I. Summary
Joseph hides a silver vessel in Benjamin’s sack as he sends his brothers home with grain. Benjamin is sentenced to slavery when the vessel is found in his sack. Judah pleads with Joseph to enslave him instead of Benjamin, lest Jacob die of hardship.
II. Photo
Judah pleads with Joseph: “When [Jacob] sees that the boy is not with us, he will die; and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.” (v. 31)
III. Outline
1-2. Joseph has his brothers’ sacks filled with grain, their money, and a silver vessel for Benjamin
3. The brothers set off for Canaan
4-6. Joseph sends for his brothers accusing them of stealing his silver vessel
7-9. The brothers deny the charge, condemning any thief to death
10. Joseph’s servant says he will enslave the thief
11-12. The brothers open their sacks and lament when the vessel is found in Benjamin’s sack
13. All the brothers return to Joseph
14. The brothers bow to Joseph
15. Joseph proclaims his divination powers
16-17. The brothers offer to be slaves but Joseph only wants Benjamin
18-34. Judah tells the story from Jacob’s perspective and asks to be enslaved instead of Joseph
IV. Select Verses
7-9: They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing! Look, the money that we found at the top of our sacks, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? Should it be found with any one of your servants, let him die; moreover the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves.”
11-12: Then each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack. He searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. At this they tore their clothes. Then each one loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.
31, 34: When [Jacob] sees that the boy is not with us, he will die; and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol… For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the suffering that would come upon my father.
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Photo copied from http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/down-among-the-dead-men-best-selling-author-simon-winchester-recalls-his-first-big-mistake-as-a-9033111.html