Considering how cruelly Joseph's brothers treated him as a youth, there is some amusement in this reversed situation. Suddenly Joseph has all of the power and they are the ones pleading with him. Yet instead of behaving cruelly with them as vengeance, Joseph is treated them as honored guests. The are anxious and confused but entirely unharmed. Joseph is having his moment to get to know his brothers as grown men from an outsider's perspective.
44:1 He commands his steward to fill the brother's sacks to the brim with food and again, with all of their money. Joseph will not take his brothers money, he does not need it... but more importantly, he doesn't want it. It is his pleasure and blessing to be able to provide for his family. The position of power has not changed Joseph or caused him to become arrogant or greedy. He never wanted money or power, he only wanted his brother's love. And love is the one thing which cannot be bought, no matter how powerful Joseph becomes.
44:2 Joseph has another plan: he instructs his steward to secretly place his silver cup in Benjamin's sack of grain and money. The steward agrees and does so.
44:3 Early morning arrives and the brothers begin their departure without delay.
44:4-5 When they are only a small way out, Joseph directs his steward to follow and catch up to his brothers. Joseph's plan is to accuse them of stealing the silver cup.
44:6 The steward does just as he is told: he reaches the brothers and asks them why they returned kindness with cruelty (and even though they had not done so this time, they certainly had as youths).
44:7-9 The brothers are so confident that none of them stole a single thing, they offer their sacks to be searched. Kill the one who stole and take the rest of us as slaves, they offer.
44:10-13 The cup is found in Benjamin's sack, of course. His older brothers are tormented. They promised their father that they would return with Benjamin and now, because of this unforeseen event, they are forced to return to Egypt.
44:14-16 Still messing with them, Joseph explains that he divinely knew the men had stolen from him. Judah bows to Joseph (still unknown to him) and repents. Likely, Judah and his other brothers are feeling guilty because of their true crime. They know that they are facing retribution for their crime against Joseph.
44:17 Joseph tells his brothers that they may leave... except for Benjamin. Joseph does not actually want his brothers as slaves. He wants them to be free but he also has a plan.
44:18-19 Here Judah expresses to repentance and earns redemption. When we make a mistake, grave or small, we only allow ourselves access to true forgiveness when we apologize with serenity. Judah, acknowledging the authority of this man (Joseph) risks his life to save his brother's and for his father's sake. He is completely selfless in this moment. Wanting, finally, to do the right and honest and humble thing.
44:20-28 Judah explains that their father is an old man who deeply loves his youngest son, the only son remaining from his father's true love who has died.
44:29 Judah explains to him how difficult it was for his father to allow his son to leave. That he will die of a broken heart if he is not returned.
44:30-33 Judah speaks to Joseph earnestly: he has promised his aging father to protect this boys life and to return him home. If Judah were still cruel, he could have left with the money and the full sacks and left Benjamin behind. But this time, the brothers plead for their sibling's life. In playing this mind game with them, Joseph has given his brothers a chance at redemption. Even though it has caused them confusion and anxiety, Joseph offers his brothers a gift: a gift to be freed from a past wrong.
44:34 Judah expresses his love for his father, as well. He pleads with this man (Joseph) because he does not want to see his father reduced to anger and depression. Judah speaks sincerely and passionately to Joseph not just to save his brother's life but his father's as well.
