Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
The steward's words are spoken just outside the city, where he overtakes the brothers after they have been sent away with full sacks of grain. By Joseph's order his silver cup had been hidden in Benjamin's sack to gain further proof of the brothers' character, and the steward is then sent after them. Overtaking them, he accuses them of taking and stealing the cup and declares they have done evil in so doing. That charge means they are accused of returning evil for good.
The cup in question is Joseph's own silver drinking-cup as lord and governor, as king and ruler. It is described as the cup in which his lord drinks and by which indeed he divines. Such a kingly drinking-cup was regarded as a sure detector if poison was placed in the drink. It was believed to reveal whether poison had been put in the drink and was valued as protection against murder by poisoning.
Joseph himself never claimed divining power and did not actually practice divination. He allowed his brothers to think he could uncover the secrets of their lives and discern their secret acts. The cup was spoken of as one by which he divined in that supposed sense, not because he used it for divination.
The steward's words are spoken just outside the city, where he overtakes the brothers after they have been sent away with full sacks of grain. By Joseph's order his silver cup had been hidden in Benjamin's sack to gain further proof of the brothers' character, and the steward is then sent after them. Overtaking them, he accuses them of taking and stealing the cup and declares they have done evil in so doing. That charge means they are accused of returning evil for good.
The cup in question is Joseph's own silver drinking-cup as lord and governor, as king and ruler. It is described as the cup in which his lord drinks and by which indeed he divines. Such a kingly drinking-cup was regarded as a sure detector if poison was placed in the drink. It was believed to reveal whether poison had been put in the drink and was valued as protection against murder by poisoning.
Joseph himself never claimed divining power and did not actually practice divination. He allowed his brothers to think he could uncover the secrets of their lives and discern their secret acts. The cup was spoken of as one by which he divined in that supposed sense, not because he used it for divination.