John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 44:1-34
The Final Test of Joseph’s Brethren2. Put my cup.. in the sack’s mouth of the youngest] Joseph evidently did this as an excuse for keeping Benjamin with him. Perhaps, too, it was a test of the brethren whether they would act as cruelly in deserting their youngest brother as they had dealt with himself. However, they came nobly out of the trial, and a complete reconciliation took place.5. Whereby indeed he divineth] Divination by means of bowls of water was very prevalent among the ancients.... read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 44:6-13
The brothers’ promise was not only rash but foolish since the contents of their sacks had surprised them previously (Genesis 44:9). Years earlier Laban had searched through Jacob’s possessions for his teraphim that remained hidden in Rachel’s tent. Jacob had rashly pronounced a death sentence on the guilty person (cf. Genesis 31:23; Genesis 31:25; Genesis 31:33; Genesis 31:35). Now the Egyptians searched for Joseph’s cup of divination and found it in the sack of Benjamin, Rachel’s son. The... read more