The story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 44 involves an interesting case of divination or fortune-telling. In Genesis 44:5 and 44:15, Joseph has his servants place his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack to see if his brothers will abandon Benjamin as they had abandoned Joseph years earlier. This appears to be a test or trick that Joseph devises to assess his brothers’ character and loyalty to each other.
Specifically, in Genesis 44:5, Joseph tells his servant: “Is not this it in which my lord drinks, and by which indeed he divines? You have done wrong in doing so.” Here, Joseph implies that he uses the silver cup for divination, or gaining supernatural knowledge. This sets up the “test” that follows.
Later in Genesis 44:15, Joseph confronts his brothers about the “stolen” cup, saying: “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” Here again, Joseph claims he can perform divination using the silver cup.
Most Bible scholars agree that Joseph was not actually claiming to practice real divination. Rather, this was part of an elaborate test to see if his brothers had changed after selling Joseph into slavery years earlier. By placing the “divination cup” in Benjamin’s sack, Joseph created a crisis to see if the brothers would turn on Benjamin as they had turned on him. The brothers pass the test by offering to become Joseph’s slaves in order to save Benjamin.
So in summary, while Joseph twice implies he can divine using the silver cup, this was likely not true. He was falsely claiming to practice divination to test his brothers’ reactions. His “divination” was simply part of an elaborate ruse to assess his brothers’ loyalty and character after their long separation.
Understanding the Context of Genesis 44
To fully understand Joseph’s actions in Genesis 44, it is helpful to recall the broader context:
- Joseph was the favored son of Jacob, given a beautiful robe (Genesis 37:3)
- His brothers became jealous and sold Joseph into slavery (Genesis 37:27-28)
- Joseph became a leader in Egypt through various trials (Genesis 39-41)
- During the famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food, not recognizing Joseph (Genesis 42:7-8)
- Joseph recognized them but did not reveal himself, accusing them of being spies (Genesis 42:7-17)
- Joseph kept Simeon as a prisoner and insisted they return with Benjamin (Genesis 42:24)
- The brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin (Genesis 43:15)
- Joseph continues to test his brothers before revealing himself (Genesis 44)
Genesis 44 picks up the story as Joseph is still obscuring his identity from his brothers and devising tests to assess if they have changed character since betraying him. The “divination cup” placed in Benjamin’s sack provided such a test. Joseph was not actually claiming to practice divination, but used this as part of his ruse.
Examining Joseph’s Words in Genesis 44:5 and 44:15
Let’s examine Joseph’s words more closely in Genesis 44:5 and 44:15:
Genesis 44:5 – Is not this it in which my lord drinks, and by which indeed he divines? You have done wrong in doing so.”
Genesis 44:15 – Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?”
There are a few key things to notice:
- Joseph twice links the silver cup to divination, claiming great importance
- He implies that divination was a skill or ability he possessed
- The language suggests actual divination ability, but this was likely not true
- This “divination” claim sets up the test scenario he devises using the cup
Joseph spoke convincingly about his divination powers, but there is no evidence he actually practiced real divination. This was an intentional deception to test his brothers’ reactions and character.
Types of Divination in the Ancient World
Although Joseph was not actually practicing divination, it is helpful to understand what divination involved in the ancient world:
- Astrology – Seeking to foretell the future by interpreting movements of celestial bodies.
- Reading Omens – Interpreting meaning from everyday occurrences and signs as predictions.
- Casting Lots – Using items like stones or sticks that are assigned outcomes at random.
- Consulting the Dead – Attempting to gain knowledge from the spirits of dead people.
- Interpreting Dreams – Assigning prophetic meaning to dreams.
Most forms of divination besides dream interpretation were forbidden in ancient Israel. However, divination continued to be practiced in neighboring cultures. Joseph’s brothers would have recognized his claim to use divination as a sign of his power and supernatural capabilities.
Why Did Joseph Falsely Claim to Practice Divination?
If Joseph did not actually use divination, why did he claim to have this power and skill? There are several possible reasons:
- To disguise his true identity – Claiming powers beyond human abilities helped conceal he was their brother.
- To test his brothers’ reactions – How they responded to the “stolen” cup was the real test.
- To portray power – Claiming divination made him seem powerful and hard to deceive.
- Dramatic irony – This builds suspense for the reader who knows the truth.
By claiming to practice divination, Joseph set up an elaborate test of his brothers’ character while continuing to conceal his true identity. This dramatic irony builds suspense and intrigue in the biblical narrative, forcing the brothers into a moral crisis.
God’s Disapproval of Most Divination Practices
Although Joseph falsely claimed to practice divination, the biblical view of divination is overwhelmingly negative. A few reasons for this disapproval:
- Usurps God’s unique authority and omniscience
- Empowers false gods and idols
- Exploits people’s desires and fears
- Denies God’s sovereignty over the future
The Mosaic Law contains strict prohibitions against divination, sorcery, witchcraft, consulting mediums and spiritists, and other “detestable practices” (Deuteronomy 18:9-13). However, prophecy and dream interpretation by men and women directed by God were viewed as valid.
So the Bible accepts some forms of gaining supernatural knowledge if they come from God. But divination involving magic, manipulating forces, communing with spirits, astrology, and other practices are condemned. They deny God’s unique wisdom and authority.
Joseph’s Divination in Broader Biblical Context
While Joseph’s use of “divination” in Genesis 44 was likely not real, the Bible includes some other notable examples relating to divination:
- Laban used divination to track his stolen idols from Jacob (Genesis 30:27)
- Casting lots was used to divide the Promised Land (Numbers 26:55)
- Saul sought a medium to contact Samuel (1 Samuel 28:8)
- Babylonians used various divination arts (Daniel 1:20, 2:2)
- Prophets were forbidden to practice divination (Deuteronomy 18:14)
The shifting view on certain divination practices highlights dilemmas in properly discerning God’s will. But the overall biblical perspective remains negative, especially when used manipulatively or to subvert trust in God alone.
Joseph’s story provides an interesting case where pretending to use divination actually fulfilled God’s greater purposes to test character, reveal identity, and fulfill prophecy (Genesis 50:20). But this likely does not condone typical divination.
Lessons from Joseph’s Actions
While imperfect, some lessons emerge from Joseph’s use of “divination” in testing his brothers:
- God can use unexpected methods to fulfill His purposes
- Tests of character reveal true growth and change
- Outward appearances can conceal deeper truths
- Dramatic twists and ironies make for great stories
- Trusting God is better than trusting in supernatural shortcuts
Joseph’s story highlights God’s sovereignty and ability to work powerfully despite human deception and flaws. While his methods are questionable, God redeemed the situation to bring repentance, reconciliation, and redemption.
Conclusion
In Genesis 44, Joseph falsely claims to practice divination by using his silver cup. But this was not true divination. Rather, Joseph devised an elaborate test to assess if his brothers had changed character since betraying him years earlier. By framing Benjamin for stealing his “divination cup,” Joseph created a moral crisis to test his brothers’ reactions. While his methods seem deceptive, God worked through the situation to bring about repentance and restoration in Joseph’s family, fulfilling His divine purposes. The Bible consistently condemns divination and other attempts to manipulate supernatural knowledge. Joseph’s story provides an ironic inversion where faked divination exposed moral growth. This emphasizes God’s sovereignty in turning situations meant for evil into opportunities for transformation.