Thematic Bible: Jacob's sons, when accused by joseph of robbery
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So the men took their gift and twice as much money, got up, took Benjamin with them, and set out for Egypt. Eventually they appeared before Joseph. As soon as Joseph noticed that Benjamin had come with them, he ordered his palace manager, "Bring the men into the palace. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, because these men will be dining with me for lunch." So the man did what Joseph had ordered, and brought the men to Joseph's palace. read more.
The men were terrified as they were being taken to Joseph's palace. "It's because of that money that was returned to our sacks the first time we were brought to him," they reasoned. "He's seeking an excuse to attack us, enslave us, and confiscate our donkeys!" So they approached Joseph's palace manager and talked with him at the palace entrance. "Your Excellency," they said, "The first time we came here to buy food, when we arrived at our overnight lodging place, we opened our sacks and discovered each man's money was still in the mouth of his sack. All of our money was there! We've brought it back with us in full. We've also brought along some more money to buy supplies, but we don't know who put our money back into our sacks."
The men were terrified as they were being taken to Joseph's palace. "It's because of that money that was returned to our sacks the first time we were brought to him," they reasoned. "He's seeking an excuse to attack us, enslave us, and confiscate our donkeys!" So they approached Joseph's palace manager and talked with him at the palace entrance. "Your Excellency," they said, "The first time we came here to buy food, when we arrived at our overnight lodging place, we opened our sacks and discovered each man's money was still in the mouth of his sack. All of our money was there! We've brought it back with us in full. We've also brought along some more money to buy supplies, but we don't know who put our money back into our sacks."
"Your Excellency," they replied, "Why do you speak like this? Far be it from your servants to act like this. Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money that we found at the top of our sacks. How, then, could we have stolen silver or gold from your master's palace? Go ahead and execute whichever one of your servants is discovered to have it, and we'll remain as your master's slaves." read more.
"Agreed," he responded. "Just as you've said, the one who is found to have it in his possession will become my slave, and the rest of you will be innocent." So they quickly dismounted, unloaded their sacks onto the ground, and each one of them opened his own sack. The palace manager searched for the cup, beginning with the oldest brother's sack and ending with the youngest brother's sack, and there it was! in Benjamin's sack. At this, they all tore their clothes, reloaded their donkeys, and returned to the city. Joseph was waiting for them back at his palace when his brothers returned. They fell to the ground in front of him, and Joseph asked them, "Why did you do this? Don't you know that I'm an expert at divination?" "What can we say, Your Excellency?" Judah replied. "How can we explain this or justify ourselves? God has discovered the sin of your servants, and now we've become slaves to you, Your Excellency, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been discovered."
"Agreed," he responded. "Just as you've said, the one who is found to have it in his possession will become my slave, and the rest of you will be innocent." So they quickly dismounted, unloaded their sacks onto the ground, and each one of them opened his own sack. The palace manager searched for the cup, beginning with the oldest brother's sack and ending with the youngest brother's sack, and there it was! in Benjamin's sack. At this, they all tore their clothes, reloaded their donkeys, and returned to the city. Joseph was waiting for them back at his palace when his brothers returned. They fell to the ground in front of him, and Joseph asked them, "Why did you do this? Don't you know that I'm an expert at divination?" "What can we say, Your Excellency?" Judah replied. "How can we explain this or justify ourselves? God has discovered the sin of your servants, and now we've become slaves to you, Your Excellency, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been discovered."