Joseph and Benjamin’s Cup
Joseph thinks that little Benjamin may provide the leverage he needs to force Jacob to come to Egypt.
Bronze Age ?3000 – ?1050 BC
Joseph thinks that little Benjamin may provide the leverage he needs to force Jacob to come to Egypt.
Bronze Age ?3000 – ?1050 BC
The sons of Jacob have been to Egypt to buy corn during a famine, little knowing the lordly official in charge of the granaries there was the brother they sold into slavery years before. On returning home, they have discovered the money they thought they had paid to Joseph still in the sacks, and are bemused and frightened.
JOSEPH’S brothers were now faced with taking Benjamin to Egypt with a fraud charge hanging over them, or abandoning Simeon to an Egyptian jail. As the grip of famine tightened, Jacob had no choice but to send his sons back for more corn, with Benjamin, double the money, and a box of gifts.
When his brothers came before Joseph, much to his satisfaction all eleven bowed low, and awaited his next whim – which most unexpectedly was to invite them to a lavish dinner. Joseph had to slip out occasionally, to hide his tears.
At length, Joseph sent them all home, but almost at once his steward overtook them, and accused them of stealing a silver cup. The brothers swore innocence, but there it was, in little Benjamin’s bag, where Joseph had stowed it.
This time, Joseph declared he would keep Benjamin hostage until the brothers brought their father to him. But they begged him to relent, convinced that losing Benjamin would be the death of Jacob.