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Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 37:29

29, 30. 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. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 37:12-36

2. The sale of Joseph into Egypt 37:12-36Joseph’s brothers met his second recorded visit to them with great antagonism. They plotted to kill him and so render his dreams impossible to fulfill. For practical reasons they decided to sell him and to deceive Jacob into thinking that a wild beast had killed him. In spite of their plan God kept Joseph alive and safe in Egypt. Ironically, by selling Joseph into Egypt his brothers actualized the dreams they sought to subvert. The focus of this pericope... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 37:29-36

Reuben was absent during the sale of Joseph. When he returned and found Joseph missing he felt great distress. Jacob would have held him responsible for Joseph’s safety since Reuben was the oldest of the brothers. Joseph’s brothers covered one sin with another."The message accompanying the cloak [Genesis 37:32] has a certain blunt brutality about it. They did not try to soften the blow." [Note: Leupold, 2:973.] Jacob had deceived his father with the skin of a goat (Genesis 27:16). Now his sons... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:1-36

Joseph is Hated by his Brethren and Sold into EgyptWith the exception of a few passages chiefly in Genesis 46, 49, the rest of the book of Genesis is taken from the Primitive source.The chief event with which the rest of Genesis is concerned, namely, the migration of Israel to Egypt, displays the working out of God’s purposes declared in Genesis 15. In Egypt the chosen race grew in peace from a tribe to a nation, instead of having to encounter the hostility of the Canaanites as their numbers... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:29

(29) Reuben returned.—Evidently he was not present when Joseph was sold to the Midianites. This has been made into a difficulty, but really it confirms the truth of the narrative. For the difficulty arises solely from the supposition that Joseph’s brethren immediately after casting him into the pit “sat down to eat bread,” an act well described as most cold-blooded. But they were not actually guilty of it; for what the narrative says is that they were having their evening meal when the caravan... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 37:1-36

Joseph and His Brethren Genesis 37:0 With the story of Joseph we come to the last division of Genesis. The development and progress of the household of Jacob, until at length it became a nation in Egypt, had Joseph as a pioneer. The fullness of the narrative is worthy of consideration. There is a fourfold value and importance in the record of Joseph's life. (1) It gives the explanation of the development of the Hebrews. (2) It is a remarkable proof of the quiet operation of Divine Providence... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:1-36

JOSEPH’S DREAMSGenesis 37:1-36"Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee."- Psalms 76:10THE migration of Israel from Canaan to Egypt was a step of prime importance in the history. Great difficulties surrounded it, and very extraordinary means were used to bring it about.The preparatory steps occupied about twenty years, and nearly a fourth of the Book of Genesis is devoted to this period. This migration was a new idea. So little was it the result of an accidental dearth, or of any of those... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 37:1-36

XII. THE GENERATIONS OF JACOB CHAPTER 37 The Story of Joseph 1. Jacob dwelling in Canaan (Genesis 37:1 ) 2. Joseph’s character and feeding the flock (Genesis 37:2 ) 3. Beloved of his father (Genesis 37:3 ) 4. Hated by his brethren (Genesis 37:4 ) 5. The dream of the sheaves (Genesis 37:5-8 ) 6. The dream of the sun, moon and stars (Genesis 37:9-11 ) 7. Joseph seeks his brethren (Genesis 37:12-17 ) 8. The plot against Joseph (Genesis 37:18-22 ) 9. Joseph in the pit and sold... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:1-36

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN How significant is the truth of verse 1, "Jacob lived in the land where his father sojourned, in the land of Canaan." It had taken him some years to finally settle there, but even though dwelling, he was still really only a sojourner (Hebrews 11:9). He did not remain indefinitely, but later went down to Egypt, where he died (ch.46:5-6; 49:33). We have seen in Chapter 36 a long list of the generations of Esau, but a great contrast faces us in Chapter 37, where we read... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:1-36

JOSEPH ’S HISTORY DISPENSATIONAL ASPECT OF JACOB’S HISTORY Following F.W. Grant in the Numerical Bible, the life of Jacob gives as its lesson the story of that discipline by which the Spirit of God brings us from weakness to power, from nature’s strength to that wholesome weakness in which alone is strength. But for this, natural strength must be crippled, which is provided for in two ways: in allowing us to realize the power of another nature (Esau) and in the direct dealing of God with our... read more

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