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Joseph: 15 What have you done? Don’t you know that someone in my position practices divination and can discover secrets hidden from most men?

Judah (speaking for the rest): 16 What can we possibly say to you, my lord? How can we explain this? How can we clear ourselves of this mistake? God has found your servants to be guilty. Here we are then, slaves to you, my lord, all of us and also the one in whose possession the cup has been found.

Judah speaks the truth. God has uncovered their guilt and exposed it for all to see. Not that someone in their party has stolen Joseph’s cup—that’s not what he means—but years ago they conspired and stole Joseph’s freedom. Ironically they could now lose their freedom to Joseph.

Joseph: 17 Far be it from me that I should do something like that! Only the one in possession of the cup will be my slave. As for the rest of you, go in peace to your father!

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15 Joseph said to them, “What is this you have done?(A) Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?(B)

16 “What can we say to my lord?(C)” Judah(D) replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence?(E) God has uncovered your servants’(F) guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves(G)—we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.(H)

17 But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do such a thing!(I) Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave.(J) The rest of you, go back to your father in peace.”(K)

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