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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:2-11
Joseph in his father's house. I. JOSEPH EMPLOYED WITH HIS BRETHREN. 1. With them in the sense of as well as them. That is to say, Joseph no more than the other sons of his father was trained to indolence. It is the duty…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:2-4
Joseph at home. "Joseph, being seventeen years old," &c. Picturesque scene is the encampment of Jacob. How well the dark camel-hair tents harmonize with the general character of the spots in which they are pitched. Peac…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:3
Now (literally, and) Israel loved Joseph more than all his children (literally, sons), because he was the son of his old age—literally, a son of old age (was) he to him; not a son possessing the wisdom of advanced years…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:4
And when (literally, and) his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they (literally, and they) hated him,—as Esau hated Jacob (Genesis 27:41; cf. Genesis 49:23)—and could not speak peaceab…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:5
And Joseph dreamed a dream (in which, though, as the sequel shows, intended as a Divine communication, there was nothing to distinguish it from an ordinary product of the mind), and he told it to his brethren:—not in pr…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:6
And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. Though Joseph did not certainly know that his dream was supernatural, he may have thought that it was, the more so as dreams were in those times…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:7
For (literally, and), behold, we were binding sheaves—literally, binding things bound, i.e. sheaves, alumim, from alam, to bind; the order of the words and the participial form of the verb indicating that the speaker de…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:8
And his brethren (who had no difficulty in interpreting the symbol's significance) said to him (with mingled indignation and contempt), Shalt thou indeed reign over us?—literally, reigning, wilt thou reign? i.e. wilt th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:8
Esau separates from Jacob. I. GOD REQUIRES ENTIRE DEVOTEDNESS AND FAITH. Edom is allied to the true kingdom, but is not one with it. We may keep in mind the relationship between the descendants of the two brothers, that…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:9
And he dreamed yet another dream,—the doubling of the dream was designed to indicate its certainty (cf. Genesis 41:32)—and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun ( הַשֶ…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:10
And he told it to his father, and to his brethren—whom it manifestly concerned, as, for the like reason, he had reported the first dream only to his brethren. That he does not tell it to his mother may be an indication…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:11
And his brethren envied him. The verb קָנָא (unused in Kal), to become red in the face, seems to indicate that the hatred of Joseph's brethren revealed itself in scowling looks. But his father observed the saying—litera…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:12-25
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:12
And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem—i.e. the modern Nablous, in the plain of Muknah, which belonged to Jacob partly by purchase and partly by conquest (vide Genesis 33:19; Genesis 34:27). Shech…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:12-25
Joseph among his brethren at Dothan. I. THE FRIENDLY MISSION. 1. Its local destination. This was Shechem, at a distance of sixty miles from Hebron, where Jacob had previously resided for a number of years and acquired a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:13
And Israel (vide Genesis 32:28; Genesis 35:10) said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock (literally, Are not thy brethren shepherding?) in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. Either he was solicito…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:14
And he (Jacob) said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren (literally, see the place of thy brethren), and well with the flocks (literally, and the peace of the flock); and bring me word again…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:17
And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan—Dothaim, "the Two ells," a place twelve miles north of Samaria in the direction of the plain of Esdraelon, situated on the great carav…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:18
And when (literally, and) they saw him afar off, even (or, and) before he came near unto them, they (literally, and they) conspired against him (or, dealt with him fraudulently) to slay him
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:19
And they said one to another (literally, a man to his brother), Behold, this dreamer—literally, this lord of dreams (of. Genesis 14:13; Exodus 24:14)—cometh—expressive of rancor, contempt, and hatred.
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:20
Come now therefore, and lot us slay him, and cast him into some pit (literally, into one of the pits or cisterns in the neighborhood), and we will say (sc. to his father and ours), Some (literally, an) evil beast hath d…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:23
And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors—i.e. his coat of ends, or coat of pieces (vide on Genesis 37:3)—that was on him. Genesis 37…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:26-36
EXPOSITION Genesis 37:26, Genesis 37:27 And Judah (apparently shrinking from the idea of murder) said unto his brethren, What profit is it if (literally, what of advantage that) we slay our brother, and conceal his bloo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:26-36
Joseph carried by Midianites to Egypt. I. THE INFAMOUS SALE. 1. The wicked proposal. "Come, and let us sell him. By whatever motives Judah was actuated, the notion that either he or his brethren had a right thus to disp…