Midras Maleakhi 2:10: Aggadat Bereshit

Chapter (75) 76: Torah [1] "Then Judah approached him" (Genesis 44:18). And scriptures say this: "Have we not all one Father? [Did not one God create us? Why do we break faith with one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?]" (Malachi 2:10). "We, your twelve servants, are brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan" (Genesis 42:13). Not like the tents of the measure of mercy, nor like the Egyptians who bow down to every kind of idolatry, as it was said in the tribes of Egypt, "and do not defile yourselves [with the fetishes of Egypt]" (Ezekiel 20:7). But we trust in only one God who created us, as it is said, "Did not one God create us?" (Malachi 2:10). So why would one betray his brother? As it is said, "Why should you betray us, by secretly keeping the money you found in our sacks?" (Genesis 44:8). And you accuse us of theft, as it is said, "The man who found the cup" (Genesis 44:17). We violate the covenant that the Lord made with our forefathers, and not only that, but the laws that we have made among ourselves. As it is said, "If you are honest, leave one of your brothers here in prison" (Genesis 42:19). And you said, "Bring your youngest brother" (Genesis 44:23). Our father did not ask for it, yet we complied with his request, as it is said, "If I don't bring him back to you, I'll be guilty forever" (Genesis 43:9). And you say, "The man who found the cup" (Genesis 44:17). So where is the covenant that the Lord gave us in His Torah, saying, "Do not oppress one another" (Leviticus 25:17), and "You shall not work your brother like a slave" (Leviticus 25:39)? Why then would one betray his brother? (Malachi 2:10).