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Matthew Henry on Genesis 37:23-30
They threw Joseph into a pit, to perish there with hunger and cold; so cruel were their tender mercies. They slighted him when he was in distress, and were not grieved for the affliction of Joseph, see Am 6:6; for when…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 37:23-30
We have here the execution of their plot against Joseph. 1. They stripped him, each striving to seize the envied coat of many colours, Genesis 37:23. Thus, in imagination, they degraded him from the birthright, of which…
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…
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…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 37:31-36
When Satan has taught men to commit one sin, he teaches them to try to conceal it with another; to hide theft and murder, with lying and false oaths: but he that covers his sin shall not prosper long. Joseph's brethren…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 37:31-36
I. Joseph would soon be missed, great enquiry would be made for him, and therefore his brethren have a further design, to make the world believe that Joseph was torn in pieces by a wild beast; and this they did, 1. To c…
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…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 38:1-30
This chapter gives an account of Judah and his family, and such an account it is, that it seems a wonder that of all Jacob's sons, our Lord should spring out of Judah, Heb 7:14. But God will show that his choice is of g…
Judah's Profligacy. (b. c. 1717.)
JUDAH'S PROFLIGACY. (B. C. 1717.) Here is, 1. Judah's foolish friendship with a Canaanite-man. He went down from his brethren, and withdrew for a time from their society and his father's family, and got to be intimately…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 38:12-23
It is a very ill-favoured story that is here told concerning Judah; one would not have expected such folly in Israel. Judah had buried his wife; and widowers have need to stand upon their guard with the utmost caution a…
Birth of Phares and Zarah. (b. c. 1714.)
BIRTH OF PHARES AND ZARAH. (B. C. 1714.) Here is, I. Judah's rigour against Tamar, when he heard she was an adulteress. She was, in the eye of the law, Shelah's wife, and therefore her being with child by another was lo…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 39:1-6
Our enemies may strip us of outward distinctions and ornaments; but wisdom and grace cannot be taken from us. They may separate us from friends, relatives, and country; but they cannot take from us the presence of the L…
The History of Joseph. (b. c. 1721.)
THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH. (B. C. 1721.) Here is, I. Joseph bought (Genesis 39:1), and he that bought him, whatever he gave for him, had a good bargain of him; it was better than the merchandise of silver. The Jews have a p…
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 39:1-6
EXPOSITION
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
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…