Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
The moment comes immediately after the silver cup is discovered in Benjamin's sack. At that discovery the brothers are left speechless. They tear their clothes to express utter wretchedness and deep distress. Tearing the garments in this way is the customary sign of great affliction and deep affliction. They then load their donkeys again.
They return to the city in sadness and sorrow, moving slowly and heavily. They make that return afraid. They believe God's hand is against them because of their past wickedness and wrongdoing, bringing that wrongdoing back upon them.
They expect Benjamin to become a slave and live a life of slavery, doomed to enslavement. That enslavement comes under their own promise. They believe Jacob's fears are now being realized, with his worst fears fulfilled in the loss of his beloved son.
The moment comes immediately after the silver cup is discovered in Benjamin's sack. At that discovery the brothers are left speechless. They tear their clothes to express utter wretchedness and deep distress. Tearing the garments in this way is the customary sign of great affliction and deep affliction. They then load their donkeys again.
They return to the city in sadness and sorrow, moving slowly and heavily. They make that return afraid. They believe God's hand is against them because of their past wickedness and wrongdoing, bringing that wrongdoing back upon them.
They expect Benjamin to become a slave and live a life of slavery, doomed to enslavement. That enslavement comes under their own promise. They believe Jacob's fears are now being realized, with his worst fears fulfilled in the loss of his beloved son.