Joseph’s cup of divination appears in Genesis 44 during the testing of his brothers. After becoming ruler in Egypt, Joseph used this test to examine the hearts of his brothers and to see if they had changed from when they betrayed him years earlier.
In Genesis 44:1–2, Joseph commanded his steward to fill his brothers’ sacks with food and return their money, but also to secretly place his silver cup in the sack of the youngest, Benjamin. After the brothers departed, Joseph sent his steward to overtake them and accuse them of stealing the cup.
The steward confronted them, saying, “Why have you repaid evil for good? Is this not the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination?” (Genesis 44:4–5). The brothers were shocked and denied any wrongdoing, saying that whoever was found with the cup would die and the rest become slaves. The cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.
The phrase “with which he indeed practices divination” refers to the Egyptian custom of using special cups in rituals of divination or seeking omens. While the text records the steward’s words, it does not indicate that Joseph personally practiced divination. More likely, he used this language to maintain his Egyptian identity and increase the intensity of the test.
When the brothers returned to Joseph’s house, Judah offered himself in place of Benjamin, showing the transformation and repentance of the brothers. This event led to Joseph revealing his identity and the reconciliation of the family (Genesis 45).
The cup serves as a tool in Joseph’s divine plan to expose the truth and bring about repentance. It is a reminder that God can use even seemingly deceptive circumstances to fulfill His greater purpose of restoration and grace.
