In the morning after feasting and drinking, Judah and his ten brothers, including Simeon and Benjamin start on their journey home with bags bursting with grain. What they don’t know is that Joseph has put silver in their grain bags and his own drinking cup into Benjamin’s bag. You’d think after last time they’d check. 

Joseph sends his steward out to catch up with them and say that Joseph has been robbed. Then, they open their bags and find the coins and cup. The servant says that Joseph is a diviner, so he can know things that are hidden.

The brother all return to Joseph’s house and are back on their knees, begging for the life of the youngest son, Benjamin. They say that their elderly father’s life is bound to him after the loss of both his beloved wife and her firstborn son. 

Joseph is testing his brothers. They sold him into slavery many years ago and have been living a lie to their Dad that he was killed by wild animals. Instead of accusing them, Joseph wants to shake out a confession. Every night he has thought of them and what they did to him. Do they remember too, or did they forget him the minute he was gone? 

What Joseph uncovers is fear. The brothers think that their Dad will die if anything happens to Benjamin. They had resented Jacob’s favoritism to Joseph, but in removing him, unintentionally elevated Benjamin to priority status. They all almost starved with Jacob’s reluctance to send Benjamin along. They beg for Joseph to believe they didn’t steal the silver or cup, but do not confess their own guilt in Joseph’s disappearance.