3-098-934 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The cup in Benjamin's sack, 1668. Biblical scene: Joseph had his steward plant his personal silver cup in Benjamin's sack to test his brothers. He wanted to know if they would be willing to risk danger in order to save their half brother Benjamin. Since Joseph and Benjamin were born from Rachel, this test was necessary to reveal if they would betray Benjamin as they had with Joseph. After the brothers began their journey back to Canaan, Joseph ordered the steward to go after them and to question them about the 'missing' silver cup. The steward found the cup in Benjamin's sack - just as he had planted it the night before. This caused a stir amongst the brothers. However, they agreed to be escorted back to Egypt. When the Vizier (Joseph) confronted them about the silver cup, he demanded that the one who possessed the cup in his bag become his slave. In response, Judah pleaded with the Vizier that Benjamin be allowed to return to his father, and that he himself be kept in Benjamin's place as a slave. Alternative Jewish tradition claims that Joseph practiced divination using this silver cup. One of a series of canvases depicting episodes from the Old Testament, painted by Escalante between 1667 and 1668 for the sacristy of the Merced Calzada in Madrid.