Genesis 44:5

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:1-34

Joseph and his brothers (42:1-45:28)When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy grain, Joseph recognized them but they did not recognize him (42:1-8). Rather than make himself known to them immediately, Joseph decided to test them to see if they had experienced any change of heart over the years. Joseph was not looking for revenge. His apparently harsh treatment of them, mixed with kindness, was designed to stir their consciences. They realized they were being punished for their unjust... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 44:5

divineth. This was to confirm their belief that Joseph was an Egyptian. Emphasized by Figure of speech Polyptoton . Hebrew divining he divineth. evil. Hebrew. R'a'a. See App-44 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 44:4-6

"And when they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this that in which my lord drinketh, whereby he indeed divineth? ye have done evil in so doing. And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words.""And when they were gone out of the city ..." Willis said, "Unfortunately it is impossible to know what city in Egypt is... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 44:5

Genesis 44:5. Whereby indeed he divineth— This cup, which the Septuagint call κονδυ, kondu, the AEgyptian name for a cup, was a goblet or bowl, it is thought, with a great belly. It is plain, this was a cup used for common purposes; for the steward says, is not this it in which my lord drinketh? It is evident also, from Gen 44:15 that to divine signifies to know or foretel things which are beyond the reach of common understandings: it is therefore probable, that there was some sort of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 44:5

5. Is not this it in which my lord drinketh—not only kept for the governor's personal use, but whereby he divines. Divination by cups, to ascertain the course of futurity, was one of the prevalent superstitions of ancient Egypt, as it is of Eastern countries still. It is not likely that Joseph, a pious believer in the true God, would have addicted himself to this superstitious practice. But he might have availed himself of that popular notion to carry out the successful execution of his... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 44:1-5

That Joseph practiced divination is not clear from Genesis 44:5 or Genesis 44:15. He may have, but this seems inconsistent with his character as a man of faith in Yahweh. It also seems unlikely since Joseph had the gift of interpreting dreams (divine revelations) from God. If anyone needed to resort to divination it would not have been Joseph. Some interpreters, however, believe Joseph’s claim was just part of his ruse. [Note: E.g., Waltke, Genesis, p. 559; and Mathews, Genesis 11:27-50:26, p.... read more

John Dummelow

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

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 44:1-34

Temperament and Grace Genesis 44:3-4 A man's reputation after death is a very haphazard thing. History is full of minor characters of whom after ages have formed a very definite, but possibly wholly wrong idea, based on some single and perhaps insignificant incident in their career, or a chance remark upon them. The same thing may even happen in lifetime: sometimes a man or woman carries about through mature years a wholly false character, founded on some irrelevant thing they did or said in... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 44:1-34

VISITS OF JOSEPH’S BRETHRENGenesis 42:1-38; Genesis 43:1-34; Genesis 44:1-34"Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good."- Genesis 50:19-20.THE purpose of God to bring Israel into Egypt was accomplished by the unconscious agency of Joseph’s natural affection for his kindred. Tenderness towards home is usually increased by residence in a foreign land; for absence, like a little death, sheds a halo round those separated from us.... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 44:1-34

CHAPTER 44 The Feigned Dismay and the Bringing Back 1. The cup concealed and the dismay (Genesis 44:1-13 ) 2. The return to Joseph’s house (Genesis 44:14-34 ) read more

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