Joseph’s brothers hated him. He was his father’s favourite, which they resented, and if his dreams were to be taken seriously (as Jacob suspected), he would ultimately reign over them, the idea of which was intolerable. The events of Genesis 37 therefore presented Joseph’s brothers with a choice: to become Joseph’s slaves or to accept twenty pieces of silver in exchange for his life.

Sadly, under Judah’s leadership, they took the easy way out.

Yet, quite brilliantly, Joseph gave his brothers a chance to redeem themselves.

In Genesis 42, the ten of them went to Egypt to buy grain.

Joseph took Simeon captive and sent his brothers back to Canaan with their ten portions of silver in their bags.

And so, in Genesis 43, the nine brothers plus Benjamin took the silver back to Joseph together with ten *more* portions of silver (Gen. 43.12), only for Joseph to put all twenty portions of silver in their bags, plant his silver cup in Benjamin’s bag, and send them on their way (44.1–2).

Consequently, when the cup was found, the brothers were presented with exactly the same choice as before:

to go their way with twenty portions of silver in exchange for the life of their younger brother or to become Joseph’s slaves (44.17). Happily, they made a different decision.

They bowed before Joseph (like the sheaves in Joseph’s dream), and Judah sacrificed his freedom for the sake of his father’s favourite. They had seen the pain their sin had brought about, and had learned their lesson (44.33–34). -James Bejon