Genesis 44: Judah offers himself

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

In Chapter 37, the brothers plot to kill Joseph, but Reuben knows it was a bad idea. He convinced them to toss Joseph into a pit instead, planning to rescue him later. But apparently when Reuben was away, Judah persauded his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery.

All these years later, it is Judah who offers himself to replace Benjamin as the Egyptian Governor's slave, as he had promised to Jacob he'd be responsible for him. When Judah pleads before the Governor (not knowing it's Joseph),  he doesn't actually confess that the brothers sold Joseph into slavery, but it seems clear they're remorseful for the heartbreak they caused their father. They didn't want to cause their father more grief in losing his youngest, Benjamin. Judah pleaded for the Governor's mercy on Jacob, a sad old man in a distant country.

This is the second time, after the episode with Tamar, that Judah took responsibility for what he had done.  

Perhaps doing bad deeds doesn't mean a person is bad.

Another interesting thing: up until now I thought Joseph's gift of dream interpretation was evidence of a close relationship with the God within, with inner knowing or intuition. In this chapter, he says he uses his silver cup for divination. It's hard to say at this point if he actually does use it for divination, or that his saying so is a lie, is part of the ruse. 

If Joseph did rely on the silver cup (although he hadn't needed a silver cup before becoming governor), why would he risk losing it at all?

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)