Genesis:44

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* Verse 1-17 - Joseph tried how his brethren felt towards Benjamin . Had they envied and hated the other son of Rachel as they had hated him , and if they had the same want of feeling towards their father Jacob as heretofore , they would now have shown it . When the cup was found upon Benjamin , they would have a pretext for leaving him to be a slave . But we cannot judge what men are now , by what they have been formerly ; nor what they will do , by what they have done . The steward charged them with being ungrateful , rewarding evil for good ; with folly , in taking away the cup of daily use , which would soon be missed , and diligent search made for it ; for so it may be read , Is not this it in which my lord drinketh , as having a particular fondness for it , and for which he would search thoroughly ? Or , By which , leaving it carelessly at your table , he would make trial whether you were honest men or not ? They throw themselves upon Joseph 's mercy , and acknowledge the righteousness of God , perhaps thinking of the injury they had formerly done to Joseph , for which they thought God was now reckoning with them . Even in afflictions wherein we believe ourselves wronged by men , we must own that God is righteous , and finds out our sin . * Verse 18-34 - Had Joseph been , as Judah supposed him , an utter stranger to the family , he could not but be wrought upon by his powerful reasonings . But neither Jacob nor Benjamin need an intercessor with Joseph ; for he himself loved them . Judah 's faithful cleaving to Benjamin , now , in his distress , was recompensed long afterwards by the tribe of Benjamin keeping with the tribe of Judah , when the other tribes deserted it . The apostle , when discoursing of the mediation of Christ , observes , that our Lord sprang out of Judah , Hebrews strkjv @7:14 . and he not only made intercession for the transgressors , but he became a Surety for them , testifying therein tender concern , both for his Father and for his brethren . Jesus , the great antitype of Joseph , humbles and proves his people , even after they have had some tastes of his loving-kindness . He brings their sins to their remembrance , that they may exercise and show repentance , and feel how much they owe to his mercy . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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