And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
But Joseph replied, 'I would never do such a thing! Only the man who was caught with the cup will become my slave. The rest of you can go back home to your father in peace.'
Joseph refuses to punish all the brothers and declares that only Benjamin (who was framed with the cup) will be kept as a slave while the others can return home.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Joseph's test of his brothers when he was the powerful governor of Egypt and they didn't recognize him. Joseph had secretly planted his silver cup in Benjamin's sack to see if his brothers would abandon Benjamin like they had abandoned him years earlier. Judah had just pleaded for all the brothers to become slaves together rather than leave Benjamin behind.
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