5 Isn't this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.' "
5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.'"
5 This is the chalice my master drinks from; he also uses it for divination. This is outrageous!'"
5 Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.' "
5 Why have you stolen my master's silver cup, which he uses to predict the future? What a wicked thing you have done!'"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 44:5
Commentary on Genesis 44:1-17
(Read Genesis 44:1-17)
Joseph tried how his brethren felt towards Benjamin. Had they envied and hated the other son of Rachel as they had hated him, and if they had the same want of feeling towards their father Jacob as heretofore, they would now have shown it. When the cup was found upon Benjamin, they would have a pretext for leaving him to be a slave. But we cannot judge what men are now, by what they have been formerly; nor what they will do, by what they have done. The steward charged them with being ungrateful, rewarding evil for good; with folly, in taking away the cup of daily use, which would soon be missed, and diligent search made for it; for so it may be read, Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, as having a particular fondness for it, and for which he would search thoroughly? Or, By which, leaving it carelessly at your table, he would make trial whether you were honest men or not? They throw themselves upon Joseph's mercy, and acknowledge the righteousness of God, perhaps thinking of the injury they had formerly done to Joseph, for which they thought God was now reckoning with them. Even in afflictions wherein we believe ourselves wronged by men, we must own that God is righteous, and finds out our sin.