Genesis 37

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:12

(12) Shechem.—Jacob’s sons seem to have retained Shechem, by right of their high-handed proceedings. related in Genesis 34:27-29. By seizing the “tafs” of the Shechemites, Simeon and Levi must have added. large numbers of grown men to the roll of their retainers; and after accustoming them to their service. they would have become powerful enough to resist any attacks of the natives. (See Genesis 34:29, and Note on Genesis 17:13). But it gives us a great idea of Jacob’s wealth and power, that... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:14

(14) Whether it be well with thy brethren.—Jacob might well fear lest the natives should form a confederacy against his sons, and take vengeance upon them for their cruelty. They were too fierce themselves to have any such alarm, but Jacob was of a far more timid disposition.The vale of Hebron.—The flocks and herds which formed the portion of Jacob’s cattle which pastured nearest home, occupied the country immediately to the north of Hebron as far as the tower of Eder; but he would no doubt... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:17

(17) Dothan.—This town was twelve miles north of Shechem, and is famous as being the place where Elisha struck the Syrian army with blindness (2 Kings 6:13-23) It is situated in a small but fertile valley, and Jacob’s sons, having exhausted the produce of the larger plain round Shechem, had moved northward thither. Not having found them at Shechem, Joseph did not know where to go, but wandered about “in the field”—the open downs—till he met some one who could give him information. Had he been a... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:19

(19) This dreamer.—Heb., this lord of dreams, a phrase expressive of contempt. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:20

(20) Into some pit.—Heb., into one of the pits, that is, cisterns dug to catch and preserve the rain water. In summer they are dry, and a man thrown into one of them would have very little chance of escape, as they are not only deep, but narrow at the top. The Jewish interpreters accuse Simeon of being the prime mover in the plot, and say that this was the reason why Joseph cast him into prison (Genesis 42:24). read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:22

(22) Into this pit that is in the wilderness.—Reuben apparently pointed to some cistern in the desolate region which girds the little valley of Dothan around. We learn from Genesis 42:21 that Joseph begged hard for mercy, and to be spared so painful a death, but that his brothers would not hear.Though never represented in the Scriptures as a type of Christ, yet the whole of the Old Testament is so full of events and histories, which reappear in the Gospel narrative, that the Fathers have never... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:25

(25) A company of Ishmeelites.—Dothan was situated on the great caravan line by which the products of India and Western Asia were brought to Egypt. As the eastern side of Canaan is covered by the great Arabian desert, the caravans had to travel in a north-westernly direction until, having forded the Euphrates, they could strike across from Tadmor to Gilead. The route thence led them over the Jordan at Beisan, and so southward to Egypt. For “Ishmeelites,” we have “Midianites,” Heb., Medyanim, in... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:28

(28) Twenty pieces of silver.—Twenty shekels of silver were computed, in Leviticus 27:5, as the average worth of a male slave under twenty. It would be about £2 10s. of our money, but silver was of far greater value then than it is now. 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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:31

(31) A kid of the goats.—Heb., a full grown he-goat. Maimonides thinks that the reason why he-goats were so often used as sin-offerings under the Levitical law was to remind the Israelites of this great sin committed by their patriarchs. read more

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:12

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:14

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:17

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:19

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:20

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:22

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:25

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:28

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

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 37:31

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