Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him.
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’”
When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord’s servants.”
Comment: It seems as if Joseph wants to really get the brothers’ attention. While he just wants to catch ten of the brothers, he wants to somehow put a noose around Benjamin’s neck. So with their newly purchased grain bags filled for the journey back to Canaan and neatly sealed, Joseph has their money in full returned to all and his special personal cup hidden in Benjamin’s grain. I wonder if they wondered if Joseph would do the same as he did last time but they obviously didn’t check their bags as they were hurried out the gate with much well-wishing for the trip! Joseph didn’t wait for them to discover their money atop their grain, he sprang the trap. Challenged with wrong-doing the brothers plead innocence and offer the culprit to be killed and themselves as slaves! They must have been pretty sure that their accusers would find nothing!
Prayer: There are very scary situations in life, Lord. Help me to trust You.
As I read it! 