1And JacobH3290 dweltH3427 in the landH776 wherein his fatherH1 was a strangerH4033, in the landH776 of CanaanH3667. 2These are the generationsH8435 of JacobH3290. JosephH3130, being seventeenH6240 H7651 yearsH8141 oldH1121, was feedingH7462 the flockH6629 with his brethrenH251; and the ladH5288 was with the sonsH1121 of BilhahH1090, and with the sonsH1121 of ZilpahH2153, his father'sH1 wivesH802: and JosephH3130 broughtH935 unto his fatherH1 their evilH7451 reportH1681. 3Now IsraelH3478 lovedH157 JosephH3130 more than all his childrenH1121, because he was the sonH1121 of his old ageH2208: and he madeH6213 him a coatH3801 of many coloursH6446. 4And when his brethrenH251 sawH7200 that their fatherH1 lovedH157 him more than all his brethrenH251, they hatedH8130 him, and couldH3201 not speakH1696 peaceablyH7965 unto him. 5And JosephH3130 dreamedH2492 a dreamH2472, and he toldH5046 it his brethrenH251: and they hatedH8130 him yet the moreH3254 . 6And he saidH559 unto them, HearH8085, I pray you, this dreamH2472 which I have dreamedH2492 : 7For, behold, we were bindingH481 H8432 sheavesH485 in the fieldH7704, and, lo, my sheafH485 aroseH6965, and also stood uprightH5324 ; and, behold, your sheavesH485 stood round aboutH5437, and made obeisanceH7812 to my sheafH485. 8And his brethrenH251 saidH559 to him, Shalt thou indeedH4427 reignH4427 over us? or shalt thou indeedH4910 have dominionH4910 over us? And they hatedH8130 him yet the moreH3254 for his dreamsH2472, and for his wordsH1697. 9And he dreamedH2492 yet anotherH312 dreamH2472, and toldH5608 it his brethrenH251, and saidH559, Behold, I have dreamedH2492 a dreamH2472 more; and, behold, the sunH8121 and the moonH3394 and the elevenH6240 H259 starsH3556 made obeisanceH7812 to me. 10And he toldH5608 it to his fatherH1, and to his brethrenH251: and his fatherH1 rebukedH1605 him, and saidH559 unto him, What is this dreamH2472 that thou hast dreamedH2492 ? Shall I and thy motherH517 and thy brethrenH251 indeedH935 comeH935 to bow downH7812 ourselves to thee to the earthH776? 11And his brethrenH251 enviedH7065 him; but his fatherH1 observedH8104 the sayingH1697. 12And his brethrenH251 wentH3212 to feedH7462 their father'sH1 flockH6629 in ShechemH7927. 13And IsraelH3478 saidH559 unto JosephH3130, Do not thy brethrenH251 feedH7462 the flock in ShechemH7927? comeH3212, and I will send theeH7971 unto them. And he saidH559 to him, Here am I. 14And he saidH559 to him, GoH3212, I pray thee, seeH7200 whether it be wellH7965 with thy brethrenH251, and wellH7965 with the flocksH6629; and bringH7725 me wordH1697 againH7725 . So he sentH7971 him out of the valeH6010 of HebronH2275, and he cameH935 to ShechemH7927. 15And a certain manH376 found himH4672, and, behold, he was wanderingH8582 in the fieldH7704: and the manH376 asked himH7592, sayingH559, What seekestH1245 thou? 16And he saidH559, I seekH1245 my brethrenH251: tellH5046 me, I pray thee, whereH375 they feedH7462 their flocks. 17And the manH376 saidH559, They are departedH5265 henceH2088; for I heardH8085 them sayH559, Let us goH3212 to DothanH1886. And JosephH3130 wentH3212 afterH310 his brethrenH251, and foundH4672 them in DothanH1886. 18And when they sawH7200 him afar offH7350, even before he came nearH7126 unto them, they conspiredH5230 against him to slayH4191 him. 19And they saidH559 oneH376 to anotherH251, Behold, thisH1976 dreamerH1167 H2472 comethH935 . 20ComeH3212 now therefore, and let us slayH2026 him, and castH7993 him into someH259 pitH953, and we will sayH559, Some evilH7451 beastH2416 hath devouredH398 him: and we shall seeH7200 what will become of his dreamsH2472. 21And ReubenH7205 heardH8085 it, and he deliveredH5337 him out of their handsH3027; and saidH559, Let us not killH5221 H5315 him. 22And ReubenH7205 saidH559 unto them, ShedH8210 no bloodH1818, but castH7993 him into this pitH953 that is in the wildernessH4057, and layH7971 no handH3027 upon him; that he might ridH5337 him out of their handsH3027, to deliverH7725 him to his fatherH1 againH7725 . 23And it came to pass, when JosephH3130 was comeH935 unto his brethrenH251, that they striptH6584 H853 JosephH3130 out ofH854 his coatH3801, his coatH3801 of many coloursH6446 that was on him; 24And they tookH3947 him, and castH7993 him into a pitH953: and the pitH953 was emptyH7386, there was no waterH4325 in it. 25And they sat downH3427 to eatH398 breadH3899: and they lifted upH5375 their eyesH5869 and lookedH7200, and, behold, a companyH736 of IshmeelitesH3459 cameH935 from GileadH1568 with their camelsH1581 bearingH5375 spiceryH5219 and balmH6875 and myrrhH3910, goingH1980 to carry it downH3381 to EgyptH4714. 26And JudahH3063 saidH559 unto his brethrenH251, What profitH1215 is it if we slayH2026 our brotherH251, and concealH3680 his bloodH1818? 27ComeH3212, and let us sellH4376 him to the IshmeelitesH3459, and let not our handH3027 be upon him; for he is our brotherH251 and our fleshH1320. And his brethrenH251 were contentH8085 . 28Then there passedH5674 by MidianitesH4084 merchantmenH582 H5503 ; and they drewH4900 and lifted upH5927 JosephH3130 out of the pitH953, and soldH4376 JosephH3130 to the IshmeelitesH3459 for twentyH6242 pieces of silverH3701: and they broughtH935 JosephH3130 into EgyptH4714. 29And ReubenH7205 returnedH7725 unto the pitH953; and, behold, JosephH3130 was not in the pitH953; and he rentH7167 his clothesH899. 30And he returnedH7725 unto his brethrenH251, and saidH559, The childH3206 is not; and I, whitherH575 shall I goH935 ? 31And they tookH3947 Joseph'sH3130 coatH3801, and killedH7819 a kidH8163 of the goatsH5795, and dippedH2881 the coatH3801 in the bloodH1818; 32And they sentH7971 the coatH3801 of many coloursH6446, and they broughtH935 it to their fatherH1; and saidH559, This have we foundH4672 : knowH5234 now whether it be thy son'sH1121 coatH3801 or no. 33And he knew itH5234, and saidH559, It is my son'sH1121 coatH3801; an evilH7451 beastH2416 hath devouredH398 him; JosephH3130 is without doubtH2963 rent in piecesH2963 . 34And JacobH3290 rentH7167 his clothesH8071, and putH7760 sackclothH8242 upon his loinsH4975, and mournedH56 for his sonH1121 manyH7227 daysH3117. 35And all his sonsH1121 and all his daughtersH1323 rose upH6965 to comfortH5162 him; but he refusedH3985 to be comfortedH5162 ; and he saidH559, For I will go downH3381 into the graveH7585 unto my sonH1121 mourningH57. Thus his fatherH1 weptH1058 for him. 36And the MidianitesH4092 soldH4376 him into EgyptH4714 unto PotipharH6318, an officerH5631 of Pharaoh'sH6547, and captainH8269 of the guardH2876.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 PARENTAL PARTIALITY. (
Gen 37:1-
Gen 37:4)
Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger--that is, "a sojourner"; "father" used collectively. The patriarch was at this time at Mamre, in the valley of Hebron (compare
Gen 35:27); and his dwelling there was continued in the same manner and prompted by the same motives as that of Abraham and Isaac (
Heb 11:13).
2 generations--leading occurrences, in the domestic history of Jacob, as shown in the narrative about to be commenced.
Joseph . . . was feeding the flock--literally, "Joseph being seventeen years old was a shepherd over the flock"--he a lad, with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah. Oversight or superintendence is evidently implied. This post of chief shepherd in the party might be assigned him either from his being the son of a principal wife or from his own superior qualities of character; and if invested with this office, he acted not as a gossiping telltale, but as a "faithful steward" in reporting the scandalous conduct of his brethren.
3 son of his old age--Benjamin being younger, was more the son of his old age and consequently on that ground might have been expected to be the favorite. Literally rendered, it is "son of old age to him"--Hebrew phrase, for "a wise son"--one who possessed observation and wisdom above his years--an old head on young shoulders.
made him a coat of many colors--formed in those early days by sewing together patches of colored cloth, and considered a dress of distinction (
Judg 5:30;
2Sam 13:18). The passion for various colors still reigns among the Arabs and other people of the East, who are fond of dressing their children in this gaudy attire. But since the art of interweaving various patterns was introduced, "the coats of colors" are different now from what they seem to have been in patriarchal times, and bear a close resemblance to the varieties of tartan.
4 could not speak peaceably unto him--did not say "peace be to thee" [
Gen 43:23, &c.], the usual expression of good wishes among friends and acquaintances. It is deemed a sacred duty to give all this form of salutation; and the withholding of it is an unmistakable sign of dislike or secret hostility. The habitual refusal of Joseph's brethren, therefore, to meet him with "the salaam," showed how ill-disposed they were towards him. It is very natural in parents to love the youngest, and feel partial to those who excel in talents or amiableness. But in a family constituted as Jacob's--many children by different mothers--he showed great and criminal indiscretion.
5 THE DREAMS OF JOSEPH. (Gen. 37:5-36)
Joseph dreamed a dream--Dreams in ancient times were much attended to, and hence the dream of Joseph, though but a mere boy, engaged the serious consideration of his family. But this dream was evidently symbolical. The meaning was easily discerned, and, from its being repeated under different emblems, the fulfilment was considered certain (compare
Gen 41:32), whence it was that "his brethren envied him, but his father observed the saying" [
Gen 37:11].
12 his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem--The vale of Shechem was, from the earliest mention of Canaan, blest with extraordinary abundance of water. Therefore did the sons of Jacob go from Hebron to this place, though it must have cost them near twenty hours' travelling--that is, at the shepherd rate, a little more than fifty miles. But the herbage there was so rich and nutritious that they thought it well worth the pains of so long a journey, to the neglect of the grazing district of Hebron [VAN DE VELDE].
13 Israel said, . . . Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem?--Anxious to learn how his sons were doing in their distant encampment, Jacob despatched Joseph; and the youth, accepting the mission with alacrity, left the vale of Hebron, sought them at Shechem, heard of them from a man in "the field" (the wide and richly cultivated plain of Esdraelon), and found that they had left that neighborhood for Dothan, probably being compelled by the detestation in which, from the horrid massacre, their name was held.
17 Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan--Hebrew, Dothaim, or "two wells," recently discovered in the modern "Dothan," situated a few hours' distance from Shechem.
18 when they saw him afar off--on the level grass field, where they were watching their cattle. They could perceive him approaching in the distance from the side of Shechem, or rather, Samaria.
19 Behold, this dreamer cometh--literally, "master of dreams"--a bitterly ironical sneer. Dreams being considered suggestions from above, to make false pretensions to having received one was detested as a species of blasphemy, and in this light Joseph was regarded by his brethren as an artful pretender. They already began to form a plot for Joseph's assassination, from which he was rescued only by the address of Reuben, who suggested that he should rather be cast into one of the wells, which are, and probably were, completely dried up in summer.
23 they stripped Joseph out of his coat . . . of many colors--Imagine him advancing in all the unsuspecting openness of brotherly affection. How astonished and terrified must he have been at the cold reception, the ferocious aspect, the rough usage of his unnatural assailants! A vivid picture of his state of agony and despair was afterwards drawn by themselves (compare
Gen 42:21).
25 they sat down to eat bread--What a view does this exhibit of those hardened profligates! Their common share in this conspiracy is not the only dismal feature in the story. The rapidity, the almost instantaneous manner in which the proposal was followed by their joint resolution, and the cool indifference, or rather the fiendish satisfaction, with which they sat down to regale themselves, is astonishing. It is impossible that mere envy at his dreams, his gaudy dress, or the doting partiality of their common father, could have goaded them on to such a pitch of frenzied resentment or confirmed them in such consummate wickedness. Their hatred to Joseph must have had a far deeper seat. It must have been produced by dislike to his piety and other excellencies, which made his character and conduct a constant censure upon theirs, and on account of which they found that they could never be at ease till they had rid themselves of his hated presence. This was the true solution of the mystery, just as it was in the case of Cain (
1John 3:12).
they lifted up their eyes, . . . and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites--They are called Midianites (
Gen 37:28), and Medanites, in Hebrew (
Gen 37:36), being a travelling caravan composed of a mixed association of Arabians. Those tribes of Northern Arabia had already addicted themselves to commerce, and long did they enjoy a monopoly, the carrying trade being entirely in their hands. Their approach could easily be seen; for, as their road, after crossing the ford from the trans-jordanic district, led along the south side of the mountains of Gilboa, a party seated on the plain of Dothan could trace them and their string of camels in the distance as they proceeded through the broad and gently sloping valley that intervenes. Trading in the produce of Arabia and India, they were in the regular course of traffic on their way to Egypt: and the chief articles of commerce in which this clan dealt were
spicery from India, that is, a species of resinous gum, called storax, balm--"balm of Gilead," the juice of the balsam tree, a native of Arabia-Felix, and myrrh--an Arabic gum of a strong, fragrant smell. For these articles there must have been an enormous demand in Egypt as they were constantly used in the process of embalming.
26 Judah said, . . . What profit is it if we slay our brother?--The sight of these travelling merchants gave a sudden turn to the views of the conspirators; for having no wish to commit a greater degree of crime than was necessary for the accomplishment of their end, they readily approved of Judah's suggestion to dispose of their obnoxious brother as a slave. The proposal, of course, was founded on their knowledge that the Arabian merchants trafficked in slaves; and there is the clearest evidence furnished by the monuments of Egypt that the traders who were in the habit of bringing slaves from the countries through which they passed, found a ready market in the cities of the Nile.
they . . . lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold him--Acting impulsively on Judah's advice, they had their poor victim ready by the time the merchants reached them; and money being no part of their object, they sold him for
twenty pieces of silver--The money was probably in rings or pieces (shekels), and silver is always mentioned in the records of that early age before gold, on account of its rarity. The whole sum, if in shekel weight, did not exceed Ł3.
they brought Joseph into Egypt--There were two routes to Egypt: the one was overland by Hebron, where Jacob dwelt, and by taking which, the fate of his hapless son would likely have reached the paternal ears; the other was directly westward across the country from Dothan to the maritime coast, and in this, the safest and most expeditious way, the merchants carried Joseph to Egypt. Thus did an overruling Providence lead this murderous conclave of brothers, as well as the slave merchants both following their own free courses--to be parties in an act by which He was to work out, in a marvellous manner, the great purposes of His wisdom and goodness towards His ancient Church and people.
29 Reuben returned unto the pit--He seems to have designedly taken a circuitous route, with a view of secretly rescuing the poor lad from a lingering death by starvation. His intentions were excellent, and his feelings no doubt painfully lacerated when he discovered what had been done in his absence. But the thing was of God, who had designed that Joseph's deliverance should be accomplished by other means than his.
31 they took Joseph's coat--The commission of one sin necessarily leads to another to conceal it; and the scheme of deception which the sons of Jacob planned and practised on their aged father was a necessary consequence of the atrocious crime they had perpetrated. What a wonder that their cruel sneer, "thy son's coat," and their forced efforts to comfort him, did not awaken suspicion! But extreme grief, like every other passion, is blind, and Jacob, great as his affliction was, did allow himself to indulge his sorrow more than became one who believed in the government of a supreme and all-wise Disposer.
34 Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins--the common signs of Oriental mourning. A rent is made in the skirt more or less long according to the afflicted feelings of the mourner, and a coarse rough piece of black sackcloth or camel's hair cloth is wound round the waist.
35 and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son--not the earth, for Joseph was supposed to be torn in pieces, but the unknown place--the place of departed souls, where Jacob expected at death to meet his beloved son.