And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” They said to him, “No, my lord, your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies.”
He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.” And they said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.” But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies. By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.” And he put them all together in custody for three days.
On the third day Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.
Comment: Joseph knew who they were. Blood is thicker than water, or so they say. I assume that Joseph had a few emotional battles to fight through because of their past treachery to him. Nevertheless I think that he was planning in the end to sell them what they needed. Benjamin, the absent brother is his only full brother. So his plan his set. Hold one brother; give them enough to meet the present need, sold at the going price; If they brought back the littlest son they could have the captive back and grain a-plenty. His brothers agree – I guess they have to do so or the family back home will all die of starvation.
Prayer: Help me to seek to do to others what I would like to have done to me.
As I read it! 