Genesis 44:1-34 - Exposition

Joseph's artifice to detain Benjamin, or the story of the silver goblet.

I. JOSEPH 'S STRATAGEM ( Genesis 44:1-13 ).

1. The formation of the plot ( Genesis 44:1-5 ).

2. The execution of the plot ( Genesis 44:6-12 ).

3. The result of the plot ( Genesis 44:13-16 ).

II. BENJAMIN 'S SENTENCE ( Genesis 44:17 ).

1. Exceedingly severe . He became a bondman. Remark upon the sadness of slavery, even when most mitigated.

2. Circumstantially justified . Appearances were against him. But the evidence of circumstances is sometimes fallacious.

3. Absolutely undeserved . In every sense of the expression Benjamin was blameless.

4. Wisely designed . It was meant to assay the characters of both Benjamin and his brethren.

III. JUDAH 'S SUPPLICATION ( Genesis 44:18-34 ).

1. Deferential humility ( Genesis 44:18 ). It is difficult to imagine language more respectful and deferential than that of Judah. Almost every word is so framed as to convey a sense of Joseph's lofty station, superior dignity, and just cause of indignation against the speaker.

2. Artless simplicity ( Genesis 44:19-26 ). Infinitely more powerful than either voluble rhetoric or closely-compacted argument is the plain and unsophisticated logic of truth. Without the most distant approach to sophistry, or even an attempt at persuasion, Judah confines himself to a bare recital of the facts of the case which were already well known to Joseph.

3. Inimitable pathos ( Genesis 44:28-32 ). Depicting his father's love for Benjamin for his dead mother's and his lost brother's sakes, he tells how he himself had become surety for the lad to his aged parent, and that if he should fail to take him back again in safety he would bring down his father's grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.

4. Heroic self-sacrifice ( Genesis 44:33 , Genesis 44:34 ). Rather than that Benjamin should not go home again to Hebron, he would himself remain a bondman to my lord the governor for ever. Nay, he explicitly makes offer that he should take the young man's place, as he would rather die than see the sorrow which his absence would bring down upon his venerable sire. Noble Judah! thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise.