And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
When they had left the city but hadn't gone very far, Joseph said to his household manager, 'Go quickly and chase after those men. When you catch up to them, ask them, "Why have you repaid good with evil?"'
Joseph is setting up a test by having his steward chase after his brothers and accuse them of stealing, even though Joseph secretly planted evidence to frame them.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Joseph, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers and later rose to become a powerful leader in Egypt, is orchestrating a test of his brothers' character during a time of famine. As his brothers are leaving Egypt after purchasing grain, Joseph instructs his steward to pursue them and accuse them of stealing his silver cup, which Joseph had secretly placed in their belongings. This setup reveals Joseph's ongoing struggle with forgiveness and his desire to see if his brothers have truly changed since their past betrayal.
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