“Then each hurried to put his pack down on the ground, and each one opened his pack. He searched, starting with the oldest and ending with the youngest; and the goblet was found in the pack belonging to Binyamin.”
Genesis 44:11-12
Yosef collected himself. It is assumed that Yosef had been taken from his family by way of the traveling slave trade when he was about seventeen and now, years later, he was seeing his actual brother for the first time since. Tears were coming and he had to get himself in check. So he went to his room and cried. I know that feeling. There are many times when I tear up thinking about seeing my family again, let alone seeing them at the airport or such. I have not been even in the same state as my family since leaving for college in 1993. So to see them even after a few months can be a tearful reunion. But upon seeing Binyamin especially, Yosef broke down in tears.
The meal was had and Binyamin was spoiled, even having a portion five times the size of his brothers. But Binyamin also was spoiled with additional coins and a silver cup. Both these things were a surprise to him, and one would bring about some trouble. Not knowing that he was in possession of stolen goods, Binyamin left with his brothers to head back home. Not far out, though, the traveling band was stopped by Yosef’s guards. When they checked the bags, they found the missing goblet in the bag of Binyamin. The brothers had already swore an oath to their father, so instead of allowing Binyamin to remain behind as a slave, they volunteered to take his place.
In reading this account I believe that one thing is evident. The brothers had grown up since their childish ways with Yosef. They knew the pain they had caused Ya’akov. They saw the distress their father had lived with for so long. And they allowed the fear they saw in his eyes to be their driving force. So with that, each brother willingly allowed themselves to be considered as Yosef’s slave as opposed to Binyamin. Finally they had learned, and finally they were willing to lay down their life for a brother.
Genesis 43:30 – 44:17
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