Genesis 37:31-36

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:36

Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's - The word סריס saris , translated officer, signifies a eunuch; and lest any person should imagine that because this Potiphar had a wife, therefore it is absurd to suppose him to have been a eunuch, let such persons know that it is not uncommon in the east for eunuchs to have wives, nay, some of them have even a harem or seraglio where they keep many women, though it does not appear that they have any progeny; and probably discontent on this ground might... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:31

Verse 31 31.And they took Joseph’s coat. They now return to their first scheme. In order that their father may have no suspicion of their crime, they send the bloody coat, from which he might conjecture that Joseph had been torn by some wild beast. Although Moses alludes to this briefly, I yet think that they rather sent some of their servants, who were not accessory to the crime, than any of their number. For he says soon afterwards, that his sons and daughters came to offer some consolation... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:35

Verse 35 35.And all his sons and daughters rose up. The burden of his grief is more clearly expressed by the circumstance that all his sons and daughters meet together to comfort him. For by the term “rose up,” is implied a common deliberation, they having agreed to come together, because necessity urged them. But hence it appears how vast is the innate dissimulation of men. The sons of Jacob assume a character by no means suitable to them; and perform an office of piety, from which their minds... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 36 36.And the Midianites sold him into Egypt It was a sad spectacle, that Joseph should be thus driven from one hand to another. For it added no small indignity to his former suffering, that he is set to sale as a slave. The Lord, however, ceased not to care for him. He even suffered him to be transferred from hand to hand, in order that, at length, it might indeed appear, that he had come, by celestial guidance, to that very dominion which had been promised him in his dreams. Potiphar is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:1-36

The representative man. Jacob may be said to fall into the background from this time until his parting benediction. The kingdom of God is represented in Joseph and his history. The main points in this chapter are— I. GOD 'S DISTINGUISHING GRACE TO JOSEPH , separating him from his brethren in character, in his father's affection, in the method of his life, in' the communications of the Spirit. Joseph is the type of the believer, faithful to the covenant, amongst both the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 dispose of Joseph's life was not simply an open violation of the Divine law which constituted all men with equal fights, and in particular made every man his brother's keeper, not his brother's destroyer or proprietor, but a hideous discovery of the utter... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 Jacob. On the death of Isaac Esau departed from Canaan with family and possessions (cf. Genesis 27:40 ). The desert and the valleys of Seir were more attractive than quietness of Canaan. Prosperity, such as he cared for, attended him. Among his family we read of dukes, or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:31-32

And they — i.e. Joseph's Brethren, including Reuben, to whom manifestly the matter had been explained, and who wanted the courage either to expose their wickedness or to dissent from their device for deceiving Jacob— took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats ,—more correctly, a he-goat of the goats, since the name of goat seems to have belonged in a wider sense to other animals also (Gesenius); usually understood to mean the somewhat older he-goat which was used as a sin... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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. abs. Kal with the Pual expressing undoubted certainty. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 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 sacks were also made ( Genesis 42:25 ), and which in cases of extreme mental distress was worn next the skin ( 1 Kings 21:27 )— and mourned for his son many days . Though twenty-two years elapsed before Jacob again beheld his son, and though doubtless... read more

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