Judah’s Plea

The brothers are in a tough spot. They had to be thinking, “How stupid could Benjamin be; stealing something from the most powerful man in the world?” That’s, of course, exactly what Joseph wanted them to think.

It’s Judah as leader. Like Reuben had done before offering to slaughter his two sons, the brother’s all offer the impossible.   They claim that they are all willing to accept Benjamin’s punishment and become Joseph’s slaves. There’s a question of sincerity here… but, in any case, this isn’t Joseph’s plan. He wants Benjamin. He wants the brothers to hate Benjamin so they will give up and leave him behind.

It’s a curious contest now between the two protagonist: Judah and Joseph. Decades before, Joseph pleaded with Judah but was unheard. Now Judah pleads with Joseph and Joseph is equally determined to not to hear.

Joseph knew that the man who had sold him into slavery 25 years before would predictably do the same thing now. Joseph’s plan was a bet that Judah would forsake Benjamin. He was convinced that Judah would leave Benjamin behind if there was a plausible enough reason. He could not know that he was dealing with a different man – a different Judah.

“The old has passed away, the new has come.”