Joseph’s Silver Cup - Donaldson Papers

Genesis 42-50

Is not this [the cup] in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? Genesis 44:5

Introduction

In the dramatic climax of Genesis, a single silver cup hidden in a sack of grain changes the course of a family’s history forever. Joseph became the Viceroy of Egypt. He sent his steward to overtake his brothers on their journey home; the steward delivered a startling accusation: “Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed used for divination?”. This mysterious vessel—described as a goblet or bowl—has puzzled theologians and scholars for centuries: How could a faithful servant of God engage in the practice of reading omens?

For some, the cup was merely a strategic ruse, a clever tool used by Joseph to incite fear and test his brothers’ repentance without him truly believing in magic. For others, it represents a genuine historical practice of noble Egyptians known as hydromancy, where a seer interpreted patterns in liquid. Yet, a more mystical tradition found in ancient Jewish lore suggests the cup held a deeper secret: a glowing, celestial jewel called the Tzohar, which Joseph reportedly placed inside the vessel to “open his eyes” to things invisible to the natural world.

Whether viewed as a test of character or a consecrated instrument of revelation, Joseph’s cup stands as a significant biblical precedent for the use of physical objects in divine communication. From the Urim and Thummim of the High Priest to the seer stones used by Joseph Smith, the story of the silver cup invites us to explore sacred objects.

Word Origin

In Genesis 44:5, the Hebrew word translated as “divination” is נַחֵ֥שׁ (naḥaš). Interestingly, the verb nichesh (to divine) comes from the Hebrew word nachash, which means “serpent” or “snake”. In a previous post, “Serpent in the Garden,” we saw how the serpent was an established symbol for Jesus Christ.

Those who deny that Joseph used a divination cup cite Deuteronomy 18:10, which states, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination.” It is worth noting, however, that Deuteronomy 18:10 prohibits divination using the Hebrew word qesem (קֶסֶם). This is a broad term that encompasses divination, oracles, and witchcraft. The prohibited activity is different than nahaš in Genesis 44:5.

Use of Sacred Objects

In addition to Joseph’s cup. God frequently worked through physical objects to manifest His power, provide direction, or reveal His will to His people in the Old Testament. These objects were viewed as consecrated instruments or “media” for divine interaction rather than having inherent power themselves.

The primary ways sacred objects were used include:

1. Seeking Divine Direction and Inquiry

The most prominent revelatory instruments were the Urim and Thummim, which were stones or objects kept in the high priest’s breastplate. Abraham used the Urim and Thummim to study and learn about the stars.

High Priests: Figures like Aaron and David used these instruments to “inquire of the Lord” for specific guidance, such as military strategy or identifying the Lord’s chosen course.
The Ephod: The ephod was essentially the carrier for the Urim and Thummim, which were stones or objects kept within the priest’s breastplate attached to the garment.
The Twelve Tribes: According to some traditions, the engraved stones representing the twelve tribes on the breastplate would glow or grow dim to signal Gods approval or to identify a sinner, such as in the case of Achan’s guilt.

2. The Casting of Lots

Casting lots was a recognized and sanctioned method for determining the divine will in critical matters.

Selecting Leaders: Saul was identified as the first king of Israel through the casting of lots.
Dividing Land: Joshua used lots to distribute the land of Canaan among the various tribes.
Detecting Guilt: The sin of Achan was discovered through this process, which was believed to manifest the Lord’s judgment.
Book of Mormon: Nephi and his brothers cast lots when they returned to Jerusalem to get the Brass Plates.
New Testament: The remaining Apostles drew lots to select Matthias after Judas Iscariot’s death, seeing the result as God’s divine will.

3. Miracles and Healing

Physical objects often served as conduits for God’s miraculous power and protection.

Rods: Moses’ rod was instrumental in his miracles, including parting the sea and drawing water from a rock. Aaron’s rod was a symbol of divine authority by miraculously budding.
The Brass Serpent: God instructed Moses to make a brass serpent on a pole; those who looked upon this physical object were healed from the bites of poisonous snakes.
Jesus’ Use of Matter: Later in the New Testament, Jesus used physical elements by employing spittle and clay in healing a blind man, thereby reinforcing the notion that divine power can be conveyed through tangible substances.

4. Signs and Communion

The Ark of the Covenant: This was the most sacred physical medium, functioning as the throne or dwelling place where God communed with man from above the “mercy-seat”.
Gideon’s Fleece: Gideon sought a physical sign to confirm his mission by placing a wool fleece on the ground and asking for it to be wet while the ground stayed dry, and vice versa.

Objections to Sacred Objects

Objections to the use of sacred objects for revelation typically stem from theological concerns, the negative labeling of such practices as “magic,” and the historical conflict between different religious worldviews.

Some of the primary reasons for these objections include:

Pejorative Labeling: Many people use terms like “magic,” “divination,” or “the occult” specifically to discredit religious traditions they do not believe in. These labels often carry a negative connotation for modern Christians, acting as designations for phenomena the society considers supernatural or demonic rather than divine.
Biblical Prohibitions: A major source of objection is that later biblical law, specifically in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, explicitly forbade most forms of divination. Critics argue that a godly man like Joseph of Egypt would not have used a divination cup because it reflects pagan practices that were eventually considered an “abomination” to the Hebrews.
Concerns of Idolatry and Superstition: Some theologians argue that “prying into the future” through physical objects clouds the mind with superstition and provides an incentive for idolatry. They believe that God provided authorized prophets to make such physical objects superfluous.
Profaning the Holy Spirit: Critics like John Calvin argued that using physical tools for revelation transfers the honor due only to God to physical matter or imaginary deities. Instead of claiming to be God’s prophet, they asserted possession of a “magic” item.
Modern Cultural Shifts: Many modern objections are shaped by Protestant movements that endeavor to separate God from our daily, tangible experiences. This perspective labels the use of physical objects for divine interaction as “grossly superstitious” or a remnant of a “magic worldview.”

Joseph of Egypt and Joseph Smith

The connection between Joseph Smith and Joseph of Egypt is fascinating. For example, in 2 Nephi 3, we read that among Joseph of Egypt’s descendants would be “A choice seer” whose name would also be Joseph. Both Joseph of Egypt’s cup and Joseph Smith’s seer stones were physical objects used as conduits for divine interaction and revealing hidden knowledge. While separated by millennia, these tools share striking parallels in their composition, methods of use, and the way contemporaries perceived them.

1. Composition and Physical Nature

Joseph of Egypt: His primary revelatory object was a silver cup (sometimes translated as a bowl or goblet). In ancient Egyptian culture, such vessels were often made of silver or copper and were highly valued for both their financial and spiritual significance.
Joseph Smith: He used seer stones and the Nephite interpreters (two transparent stones set in silver bows). Like the silver cup, these were considered “consecrated instruments” prepared by God for sacred purposes.

2. Methods of Receiving Revelation

The “Hat” and The “Cup”: Joseph Smith typically placed his seer stone into a hat and drew it close to his face to exclude all light, allowing a “spiritual light” to shine in the darkness and reveal words or images.
Hydromancy and the Tzohar: Joseph of Egypt’s method is often associated with hydromancy—pouring water, oil, or wine into a cup and interpreting the resulting patterns or reflections. However, ancient Jewish legends provide a closer parallel: they suggest Joseph placed a glowing jewel called the Tzohar inside his silver cup and peered into it to interpret dreams and see the future. This mirrors Joseph Smith’s use of a stone inside a dark container to receive revelation.

3. Shared Functions as Tools for Truth

Finding Lost and Hidden Things: Both prophets used their tools to locate hidden objects. Joseph Smith used his stones to find lost items. Joseph of Egypt’s steward claimed the cup was used to “find the truth” regarding his brothers, and legends say Joseph used it to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh and his servants.
Testing and Discernment: Both objects were central to tests of character. Joseph of Egypt planted his cup in Benjamin’s sack as part of a strategic ploy to test his brothers’ repentance and loyalty. Similarly, Martin Harris once tested Joseph Smith by substituting a regular rock for a seer stone to see if Joseph could still “see”.

4. Perceptions of “Magic” vs. Religion

In both eras, critics used labels like “magic,” “divination,” and “the occult” to discredit these practices, viewing them as superstitious or demonic. Conversely, the practitioners saw these objects as having legitimate biblical precedents. While later Mosaic Law forbade divination, these prohibitions were given centuries after Joseph of Egypt, making such methods culturally appropriate for his time. Also, as noted above, a different word was used for “divination. For Joseph Smith, the stones appear to serve as a “training ground”; as he matured spiritually, he eventually learned to receive revelation directly without the aid of physical objects.

The Tzohar Stone

Hugh Nibley points out an interesting footnote to the Joseph of Egypt story is an ancient Jewish mystical legend about the Tzohar stone. The Tzohar was the specific device or object used to provide light within Noah’s Ark. While the word is often translated in the Bible as “window,” its literal meaning is “shiner” or “illuminator.”

Nibley noted that the shining stones prepared by the Brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon followed the specific pattern of Noah’s Ark. Just as the tsohar illuminated the Ark, the Brother of Jared molted sixteen small stones out of a rock and asked the Lord to touch them so they would shine in the darkness of their barges.

In apocryphal traditions such as the Sefer Raziel, the Tzohar is described as a book or stone written on sapphire that was originally given to Adam by the angel Raziel to teach him. It was later delivered to Noah before he entered the Ark, and he eventually passed it to his son Shem, who in turn gave it to Abraham.

Jacob eventually gave the stone to Joseph. However, Jacob intentionally gave it to him while it was “dark,” wishing for Joseph to discover its divine power for himself. Joseph later placed this glowing jewel inside his silver cup to interpret dreams and see the future.

Conclusion

Joseph’s silver cup is a fascinating biblical artifact. Whether it is a clever test of his brothers’ character or a sacred tool for divine revelation. At first glance, the cup was the ideal device for Joseph’s strategy, upsetting his brothers so they would reveal their true repentance. He concealed his true identity until his family was ready for reconciliation.

Those who delve deeper will find that the cup illustrates an extensive biblical tradition of God using material objects to reveal spiritual truths. Using “tangible symbols” like the Urim and Thummim and seer stones shows that God often communicates with His children in ways that are culturally relevant to them, using common tools to guide them to deeper spiritual insights. The cup’s true contents—the legendary Tzohar stone or a hydromancy vessel—mattered less than its prophetic use: to reveal truth to Joseph.

In the end, the silver cup’s tale shows how God’s guiding hand frequently works through the physical realm. Joseph’s capacity to “discover the truth” stemmed from his connection with the living God, not from the silver. The object’s true calling was not in predicting what was to come, but in the restoring of the broken family of Israel and laying a foundation for God’s work.