When the brothers are accused of being spies and one is held hostage in Egypt until the return of the others, their reaction is to see this as punishment for their cruelty to Yosef many years before. They recall that they ignored his pleading to them from the pit. Apparently, they view their passive cruelty as justifying a greater punishment than the sale itself!  

We compare their view with Ramban’s ideas about the relative value of intentions, personality, and actions as they relate to Avraham’s test during Akeidat Yitzhak, and compare Avraham at the Akeida with the story and transformation of the brothers.  

Yosef and his Brothers
Yosef acting like a stranger toward his brothers
The Brothers come to Egypt
Admission of Guilt
KMTT