At dawn, Joseph's command went forth: "Fill their sack with food, return their silver as before. And in the youngest one's sack-place my silver cup."
The brothers departed, hearts lighter than before. But scarcely had they left the city when Joseph's steward overtook them:
"Why have you repaid good with evil? This is my master's cup-the one he drinks from, the vessel of divination. What wickedness you have done!"
The brothers cried out, horrified:
"Far be it from us! We even returned the silver found in our sacks. Why would we steal? If any man among us has it, let him die! The rest of us will be your slaves."
"So be it," the steward replied. "But only the one who has the cup shall be my slave. The rest may go free."
One by one the sacks were opened, from the eldest down to the youngest. And there—gleaming in Benjamin's sack—lay the silver cup.
A cry of anguish tore the air. The brothers rent their garments, despair falling upon them like a heavy chain. Together they turned back to the city, to Joseph's house.
There, they fell to the ground before him.
Joseph's voice thundered: "What have you done? Did you not know that a man such as I can surely divine the truth?"
Judah, broken, answered: "What can we say, my lord? God has found out our guilt. We are your slaves-all of us, and the one with the cup."
But Joseph declared coldly: "Far be it from me! Only the one found with the cup shall remain my slave. The rest-go back to your father in peace."
Then Judah rose, courage swelling in his heart. He stepped forward and bowed low:
"My lord, let your servant speak though you are as Pharaoh himself. You asked us of our family. We told you: an aged father, and a youngest son. His brother is gone, and his father's soul clings to this boy. We warned you: if the guy leaves, our father will die. Yet you demanded, 'Bring him to me.'
Now we have returned as you said. But if the boy does not go back with us, our father-whose life is bound up in the boy's-will die of grief. I guaranteed the boy's safety to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back, I will bear the blame forever.'
Therefore, let me remain in place of the boy as your slave, my Lord. Let him return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I cannot bear to see his misery!"