Genesis 44: Joseph Continues the Trial of His Brothers
Joseph then sends his brothers back to their home but unknown to them he puts their money in their sacks and a silver cup in Benjamin’s. Then when they have gone a ways off, he has them stopped, accused of theft and brought back. Judah offers to take Benjamin's place who must become Joseph’s servant as a result of the theft. He tells Joseph that Jacob would die if he thought anything bad happened to Benjamin. Perhaps Joseph continues his charade in order to get his father to come to Egypt because if he just sent all the brothers home, they might never return. Also, as some have thought, he may have wanted to test the brothers to see if they would come back for Benjamin who may have been the new favored son of Jacob.
Here we see that Judah has taken over as the spokesman for the brothers even though Reuben was the oldest. Judah now seems the most honorable by offering to stay in place of Benjamin and as such, becomes a type for Christ who offers Himself as the object of wrath for men’s sin. It is also through the line of Judah that Jesus comes to men.
