And he (Jacob) sa id 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. So (literally, and ) he sent him out of the vale of Hebron ( vide Genesis 35:27 ), and he same to Shechem —a distance of sixty miles. read more
Joseph leaving home. "Go, I pray thee, see whether," &c.; Joseph left home unexpectedly. He knew not when he left it to seek his brethren that he would never come back again. After a longer journey than he anticipated Joseph finds his brethren. I. Like many leaving home, Joseph MET WITH FAITHFUL GUIDES . There are generally companions, teachers, ministers to help. II. Like many leaving home, Joseph FELL INTO SNARES . He could not help himself. The snares were not such... read more
And a certain man (or simply a man) found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field (obviously seeking some thing or person): and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren: —or, more emphatically, My Brethren I ( sc . am) seeking — tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks —or, Where (are) they shepherding? read more
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 caravan road from Mount Gilead to Egypt, the scene of one of the greatest miracles of Elisha the prophet ( 2 Kings 6:13-18 ), and, though now a deserted ruin, still called by its ancient name. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. "Just beneath Tell... read more
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 read more
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. read more
C ome 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 devoured him (which will account for his disappearance); and we shall see what will become of his dreams —or, what his dreams will be. read more
God's providence and man's responsibility. I. GOD 'S PURPOSES CARRIED OUT BY MEN IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR OWN PLANS . The word to Abraham ( Genesis 15:13 ) does not seem to have been thought of by Jacob. After long wandering he seemed to be settled in Canaan. But God was bringing to pass his word. Jacob's injudicious fondness for Joseph, the anger and murderous design of his brethren (cf. John 11:50 ; Acts 3:17 ), Reuben's timid effort for his deliverance (cf. Acts... read more
And Reuben (the eldest son, and therefore probably regarding himself as in some degree responsible for Joseph's safety) heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him —literally, Let us not destroy his life ( nephesh ). And Reuben said (further) unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness ( i.e. into a dry pit that was near), and lay no hand upon him; that (the adverb indicates the purpose Reuben had in view) ... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 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 solicitous of the safety of his sons while in the vicinity of Shechem (Lawson), or he hoped to effect a reconciliation between them and Joseph (Candlish). And he ( i.e. Joseph, in response to this invitation, expressed a willingness to undertake a mission to his... read more