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In the last article we saw how Jacob's sons were having a hard time, when it came to figuring out the new attitude that Joseph was displaying after they had arrived at Egypt with their youngest brother Benjamin.

For it would seem that Joseph had done a complete 180 when it came to his treatment of them, for they had notice he was no longer mean to them, but very hospitable.

This new attitude by Joseph was so unexpected, Jacob's sons had became very leery and afraid of what Joseph's true intentions may have been.

However as we move forward, the Sacred Record reveals that Joseph had invited his brothers to dinner, so he had his chief steward to take his brothers to his house, and get them situated. Joseph would arrive sometime later in the day.

Once Joseph arrived home, his brothers had presented him with the many gifts that their father had them to bring. And after presenting Joseph with the gifts, they would honor Joseph by bowing down before him.

In return, Joseph asked them: "How is everybody, is all well? And what about your aged father you told me about: is he still living?" His brothers would reply by saying: "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And once again, they bowed low before him, in order to show honor and respect.

And while they were bowing before him, Joseph would look around the place and this is when he noticed his little brother Benjamin. After seeing him Joseph said: "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about? May God be gracious to you, my son." After Joseph had said these things, he had once again, became deeply moved at the sight of his little brother.

After this, Joseph would quickly exit the room, for he didn't want his brothers to see him weep. So instead he went into his private room and wept there. Afterwards, Joseph would calm his emotions and wash his face. After doing this, he came out unto his brothers once again, and told the servants: "Serve the food."

So his chief steward would begin to serve the food. It's interesting to point out that everybody would be served their food, while being broken up into three groups. Joseph would be in a group by himself. His brothers were in a group by themselves. And the Egyptian servants who were in the house, were in a group by themselves.

Now the Sacred Record reveals that the reason they were separated into these three groups, dealt with the fact that the Egyptians thought it was detestable to sit, and eat with Hebrews. Perhaps this is why Joseph was eating by himself as well - being that he was a Hebrew?

Now one would think that Joseph's brothers could have picked up on some of the clues, that would've revealed Joseph's true identity. But know that these clues could have been easily missed by anyone. For example, the clue that dealt with Joseph eating by himself, could've been seen as something common, being that a person in Joseph's position who ate by themselves, and away from the help - probably was expected, instead of being seen as strange.

However, there was another clue that could have revealed Joseph's true identity - that shouldn't have been so easily missed? Being that Joseph had his brothers seated in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest. But who knows actually, and maybe Joseph was trying to let his brothers know who he really was, and although his brothers had looked at each other with astonishment when they saw how they were seated, they still weren't able to put two-and-two together when it came to Joseph's true identity.

However, as we move forward we find that Joseph had the food served. And it would be at this time that something else interesting occurred, for we find that Joseph had Benjamin's food portion five times more, than the rest of his brothers. But once again, Jacob's sons didn't have a clue on what this meant. But needless-to-say, they feasted and drank freely as they enjoyed themselves.

Now in the meantime, Joseph would take his chief steward to the side, in order to give him some instructions when it came to his brothers: "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man's sliver in the mouth of his sack. Then put my cup the sliver one, in the mouth of the youngest one's sack, along with the sliver for his grain." -- Genesis 44:1,2

And of course, Joseph's chief steward would do as he was told. And as morning dawned all of Jacob's sons (including Benjamin) were allowed to leave and sent on their way with their donkeys and supplies. Now they had not gone far from the city, when Joseph said to his chief steward:

"Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them: 'Why have you repaid good with evil? Isn't this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.'" So once again the chief steward would do as he was told, and he took some men with him and rode out to catch up with Jacob's sons.

Now once the chief steward had caught up with them, he repeated the words that Joseph had told him to say. But after hearing these false allegations, Jacob's sons responded by saying:

"Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the sliver we had found from within the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal sliver and gold from your master's house? If any of your servants are found to have it; he would die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves." -- Genesis 44:7-9

And after hearing this, the chief steward replied: "Very well, then, let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame."

So Jacob's sons immediately began lowering their sacks to the ground and open them so the chief steward could inspect them. The chief steward would begin with the oldest brother and began to search all their sacks. It wasn't until he searched Benjamin's sack Joseph's missing cup was found. Now when the rest of the brothers had seen that Benjamin had the cup, they were surprised and regrettably worried, for they began to tear their clothes. Shortly after they would all load their donkeys and ride back to Egypt with the chief steward.

When they arrived at Egypt, the chief steward took them straight to Joseph's house. And of course Joseph was still there when his brothers had entered. Now when they saw Joseph, they immediately threw themselves towards the ground before him. After they had done this, Joseph exclaimed: "What is this you have done? Don't you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?"

Judah responded by saying: "What can we say to my lord? What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves: we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup." Now notice that Judah would also add the condition "and the one who was found to have the cup."

Judah did this, because he knew that while they were headed back to Canaan and the chief servant had stopped them and accused them of deception and thievery the brothers had responded by saying: "If any of your servants are found to have it; he would die."

Now obviously they don't won't Benjamin to be killed, so Judah tries to get Joseph to agree with the statement that he just made: "We are now my lord's slaves: we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup."

For they would rather have Benjamin become a slave of servitude, instead of being put to death for thievery.

But will it be so easy for Judah to get Joseph to agree and accept Judah's statement as the new terms for their punishment? Or will Joseph put Benjamin to death? Or does all of this plays into Joseph's true agenda when it comes to Benjamin? And what about the rest of his brothers, what will Joseph do - will he make them his slaves as well?

The Introduction of Abraham

The Birth of Isaac

The Birth of Esau & Jacob

Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty

Jacob - Wrestles with God

Joseph the Favorite Son

**YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE**

83) Pharaoh's Dark Dreams

84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation

85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

86) Joseph the Revealer of Secrets

87) The Unveiling of Pharaoh

88) The Seven Years of Abundance

89) The Famine of Seven Years

90) Joseph the Egyptian Prime Minister

91) Joseph the Temptation of Revenge

92) Joseph's Tipping Point

93) The Confessions of the Ten Tribes

94) The Returning Nine Tribes

95) Jacob the Bereaved

96) Jacob's Reality Check

97) Joseph's Secret Delight

98) <-CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE PAGE->

99) Judah Pleads For Benjamin

100) The Unveiling of Joseph