The answer is, that only by such harsh treatment could the conscience of his brothers be stirred to these depths; by this way alone could they be brought to genuine repentance for their crime against Jo'seph. He had forgiven them in his heart long ago, but knew that they must be brought to the lowest depths of sorrow before their souls could be healed. They had been terribly distressed by the fear of being punished, and had felt the Hand of God upon them, but such feelings were not enough to save them.
Before revealing himself to his brothers, and openly forgiving them, Jo'seph wished to see a clear proof of their repentance and a change of heart. Would they desert Ben'ja-min when he was about to be made a slave, and return to their father without him? Would they treat this son of Ra'chel as they had once treated her elder son? Were their hearts still full of envy and hatred toward a favorite son of their aged father? All of these questions must be answered to the satisfaction of Jo'seph before he could treat them as his brothers again. Proof that they were worthy to receive the blessings yet to be given them must be found, so Jo'seph took these harsh, apparently unfair methods to prove their sincerity.
The test succeeded in every possible way, and the brothers endured the trial in a manner which did them credit. Ju'dah, who spoke for the entire group, came forward with a tender, heart-stirring, and eloquent appeal for a true understanding of their position. He boldly declared that he and all his brothers were determined to cling to Ben'ja-min, and that they were willing to pay the full penalty required for the crime with which he was charged.
The plea which Ju'dah made on this momentous occasion is truly one of the masterpieces of the He'brew language. He did not insist upon the innocence of Ben'ja-min, nor did he confess his guilt; but he did make a humble confession of his own iniquity. Without giving a description of the crime against Jo'seph, he admitted that he and his brothers had been guilty of great sins in their lives, and that the LORD had now called them to account.
In his pleadings for Ben'ja-min's release, Ju'dah spoke with words that came from the heart, and with a sincerity which no one could doubt. He gave a true and moving description of the trials which had come to his father's family, and told with great feeling all that had taken place between his brothers and the E'gyp-tian ruler during their two visits. He held himself strictly to the truth, but spoke with such fervor that his appeal could not be denied.
