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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:28
Drawn from the pit. "And they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit." As a compromise Joseph had been thrown into a pit. His brothers at first intended to murder him. Their intention was almost as bad as a murder. Th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:28
Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen;—literally, and passed by the men, Midianites (by country), merchants (by profession). On the different appellations given to the traders vide infra, Genesis 37:36—and they—no…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:31
Delay in fulfillment of God's promises. Between two stages of the history of the covenant family stands the genealogy of Esau's descendants. The text suggests a contrast between their course and that of the family of Ja…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:33
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast (vide Genesis 37:20) hath devoured him (this was precisely what his sons meant him to infer); Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces— טְרֹף טֹרַף, the inf. ab…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:34
And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins,— שָׂק (cf. σάκος, el, frog, saccus), the usual dress of mourners (2 Samuel 3:31; Nehemiah 9:1; Esther 4:1), was a coarse, thick haircloth, of which corn sac…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:35
And all his sons—the criminals become comforters (Lange)- and all his daughters—either Jacob had other daughters besides Dinah (Kalisch, Gerlach, 'Speaker's Commentary'), or these included his daughters-in-law, the word…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 37:36
And the Midianites—or Medanites, descendants of Medan, a brother of Midian, both of whom were sons of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:2). That the Arabian merchants are called Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:27), Midianites (Gen…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:1-23
Sunshine and shadow. I. THE BRIGHTENING SKY. The advancement of Joseph in the house of Potiphar. 1. To Joseph's sense it was a lightening in his bondage. 2. To Joseph's faith it was the smiling of Jehovah's face. 3. To…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:1-6
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:1
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt. The narrative now preparing to recite the fortunes of Joseph in Egypt, which eventually led, through his elevation to be Pharaoh's prime minister, first to the salvation of the patr…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:1-23
Joseph is the house of Potiphar. I. PURCHASED AS A SLAVE. 1. A sad lot. Worse even than being kidnapped by strangers, Joseph had been first sold by his brethren; carried into Egypt, he had there been exposed for sale in…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:1-23
The righteous man. Again the word of the Lord tries Joseph, but not so much now as the word of prophecy, but as the word of command, the doctrine of righteousness. "The Egyptian's house is blessed for Joseph's sake." "T…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:2
And the Lord—Jehovah, as usual, because the entire chapter is the work of the Jehovist (Tuch, Colenso), with the exception of a few alterations by the redactor (Davidson), or because, though the work of the Elohist, it…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:3
And his master saw that the Lord (Jehovah) was with him—this does not imply that Potiphar was acquainted with Jehovah, but simply that he concluded Joseph to be under the Divine protection—and that the Lord (Jehovah) ma…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:4
And Joseph found grace in his sight,—vide Genesis 6:8; Genesis 18:3; Genesis 19:19; Genesis 39:21. Most men are pleased with a good servant. Even Laban bad no objections to Jacob so long as he divided that Jehovah was m…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:5
And it same to pass from the time that he had made (literally, from that time he made) him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that (literally, and) the Lord (Jehovah) blessed the Egyptian's house for Josep…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:7-23
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:7
And it came to pass after these things,—Joseph had by this time been nearly ten years in Potiphar's house (vide Genesis 41:46)—that his master's wife cast her eyes (lasciviously) upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:7-23
Joseph and the wife of Potiphar. I. THE GREAT TEMPTATION. 1. The time of it. Never perhaps had Joseph's prospects been brighter since he left his father's house than towards the close of that decade of years which he sp…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:10
And it came to pass, as she spake—or, though she spake (Kalisch)—to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her (a euphemistic expression), or to be with her. Genesis 39:11, Genesis 39:12 And it cam…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:13-15
And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand (a very indiscreet act on the part of Joseph, considering the possible use that might be made of it), and was fled forth, that she called unto t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:16-18
And she laid up his garment by her (literally, by her side), until his lord came home (literally, until the coming of his lord to his house). And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant,…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:19
And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner (literally, according to these words) did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. A papyrus co…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 39:20
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison,—literally house of enclosure; sohar, from sahar, to encircle, meaning probably a turreted, arched, or rounded building for the confinement of prisoners—a place…