The Brothers Confess Over Benjamin and Joseph's Found Cup

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz 13:10

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(As it says:) "God has found out the iniquity of your servants" (Genesis 44:16). Do not read "found out" (matza) but rather "brings to light" (motzi). Two brothers never enter a banquet hall together because of the (evil) eye, yet we all found ourselves in a single garden bed over a single iniquity that was in our hand. He said to them: This brother of yours was not with you at that time. They said to him: Whoever is found with the thief is seized along with him. He said to them: If, in the case of your first brother, who neither stole nor caused you grief, you said "He has surely been torn to bits, torn to bits" (Genesis 37:33), then this one, who has stolen and caused you grief, how much more so! Go, say to his father, "He has surely been torn to bits, torn to bits." And are these not words of an a fortiori argument (kal va-chomer)? If a mishap that came about by the hand of the righteous became sustenance for the whole world, then merit that the Holy One, blessed be He, will bring about by their hand—how much more so!

Themes

JosephBenjaminJudahSinProvidence

Biblical References

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