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[124]
Now when after supper they had composed themselves to sleep, Joseph
commanded his steward both to give them their measures of corn, and to
hide its price again in their sacks; and that withal they should put into
Benjamin's sack the golden cup, out of which he loved himself to drink.
- which things he did, in order to make trial of his brethren, whether
they would stand by Benjamin when he should be accused of having stolen
the cup, and should appear to be in danger; or whether they would leave
him, and, depending on their own innocency, go to their father without
him. When the servant had done as he was bidden, the sons of Jacob, knowing
nothing of all this, went their way, and took Symeon along with them, and
had a double cause of joy, both because they had received him again, and
because they took back Benjamin to their father, as they had promised.
But presently a troop of horsemen encompassed them, and brought with them
Joseph's servant, who had put the cup into Benjamin's sack. Upon which
unexpected attack of the horsemen they were much disturbed, and asked what
the reason was that they came thus upon men, who a little before had been
by their lord thought worthy of an honorable and hospitable reception?
They replied, by calling them wicked wretches, who had forgot that very
hospitable and kind treatment which Joseph had given them, and did not
scruple to be injurious to him, and to carry off that cup out of which
he had, in so friendly a manner, drank to them, and not regarding their
friendship with Joseph, no more than the danger they should be in if they
were taken, in comparison of the unjust gain. Hereupon he threatened that
they should be punished; for though they had escaped the knowledge of him
who was but a servant, yet had they not escaped the knowledge of God, nor
had gone off with what they had stolen; and, after all, asked why we come
upon them, as if they knew nothing of the matter: and he told them that
they should immediately know it by their punishment. This, and more of
the same nature, did the servant say, in way of reproach to them: but they
being wholly ignorant of any thing here that concerned them, laughed at
what he said, and wondered at the abusive language which the servant gave
them, when he was so hardy as to accuse those who did not before so much
as retain the price of their corn, which was found in their sacks, but
brought it again, though nobody else knew of any such thing, - so far were
they from offering any injury to Joseph voluntarily. But still, supposing
that a search would be a more sure justification of themselves than their
own denial of the fact, they bid him search them, and that if any of them
had been guilty of the theft, to punish them all; for being no way conscious
to themselves of any crime, they spake with assurance, and, as they thought,
without any danger to themselves also. The servants desired there might
be a search made; but they said the punishment should extend to him alone
who should be found guilty of the theft. So they made the search; and,
having searched all the rest, they came last of all to Benjamin, as knowing
it was Benjamin's sack in which they had hidden the cup, they having indeed
searched the rest only for a show of accuracy: so the rest were out of
fear for themselves, and were now only concerned about Benjamin, but still
were well assured that he would also be found innocent; and they reproached
those that came after them for their hindering them, while they might,
in the mean while, have gotten a good way on their journey. But as soon
as they had searched Benjamin's sack, they found the cup, and took it from
him; and all was changed into mourning and lamentation. They rent their
garments, and wept for the punishment which their brother was to undergo
for his theft, and for the delusion they had put on their father, when
they promised they would bring Benjamin safe to him. What added to their
misery was, that this melancholy accident came unfortunately at
a time when they thought they had been gotten off clear; but they confessed
that this misfortune of their brother, as well as the grief of their father
for him, was owing to themselves, since it was they that forced their father
to send him with them, when he was averse to it.
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