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Genesis 44:10 - Guilty one becomes slave?

Genesis 44:10 - בראשית 44:10

Hebrew Text

וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם־עַתָּה כְדִבְרֵיכֶם כֶּן־הוּא אֲשֶׁר יִמָּצֵא אִתּוֹ יִהְיֶה־לִּי עָבֶד וְאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ נְקִיִּם׃

English Translation

And he said, Now also let it be according to your words: he with whom it is found shall be my bondman; and you shall be blameless.

Transliteration

Va'yomer gam-ata k'divreikhem ken-hu asher yimatze ito yihyeh-li eved ve'atem tihyu nekiyim.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר גַּם־עַתָּ֥ה כְדִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם כֶּן־ה֑וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֤א אִתּוֹ֙ יִהְיֶה־לִּ֣י עָ֔בֶד וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּהְי֥וּ נְקִיִּֽם׃
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר גַּם־עַתָּ֥ה כְדִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם כֶּן־ה֑וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֤א אִתּוֹ֙ יִהְיֶה־לִּ֣י עָ֔בֶד וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּהְי֥וּ נְקִיִּֽם׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse (Bereshit 44:10) is part of the narrative where Yosef (Joseph) tests his brothers by having his silver goblet placed in Binyamin's (Benjamin's) sack. Yosef's steward then accuses the brothers of theft, leading to this declaration. The brothers, unaware of Yosef's identity, agree to the terms: whoever is found with the goblet will become a slave, while the others will be exonerated.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi explains that Yosef's phrasing, "כֶּן־הוּא" ("so it shall be"), indicates his acceptance of their proposed judgment. The brothers had previously suggested (Bereshit 44:9) that the guilty party should die, but Yosef modifies their harsh decree to enslavement instead. Rashi notes that this reflects Yosef's mercy, as he did not seek their destruction but rather wished to test their unity and repentance for selling him into slavery years earlier.

Rambam's Perspective on Justice

Rambam (Hilchot Sanhedrin 20:4) discusses the principles of fair judgment, emphasizing that a judge must weigh the severity of a punishment relative to the crime. Yosef's adjustment of the brothers' proposal aligns with this principle—replacing a death penalty with servitude demonstrates a measured response to the alleged theft.

Midrashic Insights

  • Midrash Tanchuma (Vayigash 8) suggests that Yosef's words "יִהְיֶה־לִּי עָבֶד" ("shall be my bondman") hint at his deeper plan to reunite with Binyamin, his full brother, while testing whether the others would abandon him as they had once abandoned Yosef.
  • Bereishit Rabbah (92:8) highlights the brothers' growth in righteousness. Their willingness to stand by Binyamin—unlike their earlier betrayal of Yosef—shows their teshuvah (repentance), which Yosef sought to confirm through this test.

Theological Implications

The verse underscores the theme of divine providence (hashgacha pratit). Yosef's actions, though seemingly punitive, were orchestrated to bring about reconciliation and fulfill Hashem's plan for the family's descent to Egypt (Bereshit 15:13). The brothers' declaration of innocence ("נְקִיִּם") later proves ironic, as their past guilt regarding Yosef is brought to light, leading to their ultimate repentance.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sotah 10b
The verse is referenced in the context of discussing the character of Judah and his leadership qualities, particularly in relation to his promise to his father Jacob regarding Benjamin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is happening in Genesis 44:10?
A: In Genesis 44:10, Yosef (Joseph) is speaking to his brothers after his silver goblet was found in Binyamin's (Benjamin's) sack. Yosef declares that the brother with whom the goblet is found will become his servant, while the others will be free to go. This was a test to see if the brothers had changed since they sold Yosef into slavery years earlier.
Q: Why did Yosef test his brothers with the silver goblet?
A: According to Rashi and other commentators, Yosef tested his brothers to see if they would stand up for Binyamin (Benjamin) or abandon him as they had done to Yosef years earlier. This was to determine if they had done teshuvah (repentance) for their past actions.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Genesis 44:10?
A: The verse teaches the importance of taking responsibility for one's actions. Yosef's test forced the brothers to confront their past behavior. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 91b) discusses how a person is judged based on their current actions, showing the value of growth and repentance.
Q: How does this verse relate to the concept of repentance (teshuvah)?
A: The Rambam (Maimonides) teaches that true repentance is demonstrated when a person is faced with the same situation again and acts differently. Here, Yosef creates a parallel situation to see if the brothers would protect Binyamin (unlike how they treated him), showing whether they had genuinely repented.
Q: Why did Yosef say the brothers would be 'blameless' if only one was punished?
A: Yosef's wording mirrors the brothers' earlier claim of innocence (Genesis 44:9). According to the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah), this was part of Yosef's plan to see if they would take responsibility rather than repeat their past behavior of abandoning a brother to save themselves.