MPV Commentary

1. Joseph instructed his steward to put the cup in Benjamin's sack. The purpose of this action was to test how far the brotherly feelings of the other brothers would be stirred to help their youngest sibling in distress. By restoring the money, Joseph aimed not only to show kindness to their father but also to prevent any negative impressions about Benjamin's character.

2. The cup was a large goblet made of silver, highly valued by its owner due to its expensive material or elegant finish. It had likely been used at the previous day's banquet.

3. As soon as morning broke, Joseph sent the men on their way, expecting them to return home in high spirits after their successful encounter with him.

4. When they left the city, Joseph informed his steward that a valuable item was missing from the governor's house – a silver cup used for divination. The brothers were suspected of theft and a messenger was dispatched to search them.

5. The steward asked if this was the cup in which their lord drank and practiced divination. This practice was common in ancient Egypt, where people believed cups could reveal future events. It is unlikely that Joseph, a devout believer, would have engaged in such superstition, but he might have used it to carry out his plan.

6-7. The steward caught up with the brothers and accused them of stealing the cup. They protested their innocence, inviting a search of their sacks. Each brother's sack was examined, and when the cup was found in Benjamin's, they returned to Joseph's house in an unbearable state of mind, throwing themselves at his feet.

16-34. Judah spoke up, struggling to find words under the weight of his emotions. His speech became more coherent as he continued, offering himself as a slave in place of Benjamin. This remarkable confession acknowledges God's role in exposing their guilt.