SERIES B --- A CHOSEN PEOPLE --- LESSON 18

JOSEPH’S CUP

THE SILVER CUP

From Genesis 43:16-44:13

When Joseph’s brothers arrived in Egypt, they took Benjamin before him. Joseph was pleased to see Benjamin with his brothers and made plans to eat with them. [Take these men to my home and prepare a fine lunch for them,] Joseph told his steward, the man in charge of his house. [I will come at noon and they will dine with me.] The steward obeyed and brought the brothers to Joseph’s house. The brothers were afraid when they realized where they were going. [He has found out about the money in our sacks,] they said. [Now he will say that we took it and will make us his slaves and take our donkeys.] When they reached the door of Joseph’s house, the brothers talked to the steward. [We came here before to buy grain,] they said. [On the night we left, we found our money in our sacks. Now we have brought it back, as well as more money to buy grain for this trip. We do not know who put that money into our sacks.] [We received our money so your YHVH must have given it to you,] the steward answered. [Why worry about it?] The steward released Simeon from prison and brought all the brothers into Joseph’s house, where he gave them water to wash their feet and food for their donkeys. The brothers were told that Joseph would eat with them at noon, so they prepared their gifts for him. When Joseph arrived, the brothers bowed down before him and gave him their gifts. Joseph began asking them if all was well with them and how things were with their family. [Is your father still alive and well?] he asked. [Yes, he is alive and well,] they answered. They bowed again before Joseph. Then Joseph saw his brother Benjamin, the only other son of his mother Rachel. [Is this your youngest brother, whom you mentioned to me?] he asked. Then Joseph spoke kindly to Benjamin. [May YHVH be gracious to you, my son.] Joseph wanted to throw his arms around Benjamin, but instead he hurried from the room into his private chamber and wept. When he was able to control himself, he washed his face and joined his brothers again. [Serve the food!] he ordered. It was an Egyptian custom not to eat with Hebrews, for it was considered an offense to the Egyptians. There were three separate tables, one for Joseph, another for the Hebrews and a third for the Egyptians. As they ate, the brothers sat before Joseph from the youngest to the oldest. They looked at each other in amazement when Joseph had them seated in this order for, they couldn’t understand how he would know that. The food was served from Joseph’s table and Benjamin was given five times as much as the others. The brothers ate and drank and began to enjoy themselves with Joseph. When the feast was over, Joseph gave orders to his steward. [Fill their sacks with as much grain as you can and also put their money in the sacks. Put my silver cup in the mouth of the youngest man’s sack, along with his money.] The steward did as Joseph ordered. As soon as morning came, the brothers left with their donkeys loaded. Before they were far from the city, Joseph gave orders to his steward. Go after them, he said. [When you catch up to them, ask why they have repaid evil for good and have stolen your master’s silver cup. Tell them it is my personal drinking cup, the one I use to discover YHVH’s plans and that their theft is a very wicked thing.] The steward caught up to the brothers and told them what Joseph had said. [What are you telling us? We would never do such a thing,] the brothers said to the steward. [Don’t you remember how we brought back the money we found in our sacks before? Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? If you find that cup with anyone here, he will die and we will all become your master’s slaves.] [Then it will be as you have spoken,] said the steward, [except that the man who has the cup will become my master’s slave while the rest of you may go home.] Each of the brothers unloaded his donkey and opened his grain sack. The steward searched the sacks, starting with the oldest brother and ending with Benjamin, in whose sack he found the cup. When the brothers saw the cup, they tore their clothes in anguish, then packed their donkeys again and returned to the city.

COMMENTARY

SILVER CUPS

Joseph was deeply moved when all eleven of his brothers came to but more food. But still Joseph held back. One more scene must be played. Joseph had is servants conceal the silver cup from which he himself drank in the grain sack of his youngest brother, Benjamin. Joseph’s silver cup was no ordinary one. It was his personal cup and was highly prized. Wealthy Egyptians of Joseph’s time made several vessels from gold and silver, including cups and pitchers, plates and bowls. Gold was more plentiful than silver, so silver was considered a greater luxury. Trained artisans designed and made these beautiful vessels. From start to finish, they were watched carefully to be sure they took none of the gold or silver for themselves. Each silver cup was inscribed with the name of the owner, since it was made at his request. It was usually inscribed also with the name of the reigning pharaoh. Prayers, magic spells and symbols were sometimes inscribed on the cup, which were meant to ward off evil. To empty the cup of its contents was believed to help prevent calamity. Silver cups such as the one Joseph had, were often used for divination -- trying to foretell the future or answer important questions. Bubbles or a calm liquid, reflections or not, often told the answer. Thus, the silver cup was a very prized and personal possession, one not easily replaced.