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FEB 6

In my view, Joseph plants the cup on his brother in an attempt to see whether or not his brothers have changed since he was with them many years prior. Just as his brothers had sold him for silver years ago, Joseph wanted to see if the brothers would in fact make a similar transaction; this time leaving Benjamin a slave. I think the best characterization of this ordeal would be to call it a test. Joseph is testing his brothers’ morality and their commitment to each other. If they pass the test, proving to Joseph that they are not the same men that had sold him into slavery, he will accept them back and reward them. The alternative, as Anderson points out, would have the brothers leaving behind another favored son, and coming back to their father who they know cannot handle the grief. This adds an interesting dynamic to the story. Unbeknownst to Joseph, because the brothers know that they cannot return to their father without Benjamin, they are limited in their options.The “test” is not exactly revealing the true nature of his brothers.

As Anderson alludes to, Joseph manages to regain his status as the beloved son by his actions here. While he may have arguably retained it the entire time, having “died” with the status, he certainly lays claim to the title by the end. These events also play on several larger themes of Genesis, namely the idea of receiving what is meant to be received, and not taking it instead. Joseph is in a way acting like God here, giving his brothers a second chance and “testing” their virtue to see if they will make the right decision.