Genesis 37

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:24

And they took him, and cast him into a pit ,.... Into the same that Reuben pointed to them, whose counsel they gladly took and readily executed, supposing he meant the same thing they did, starving him to death: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it ; only serpents and scorpions, as the Targum of Jonathan; and Jarchi adds, this remark, that there was no water in it, seems to be made either to furnish out a reason why Reuben directed to it, that he might be the more easily... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:25

And they sat down to eat bread ,.... Not at all concerned at what they had done, nor in the least grieved for the affliction of Joseph, and without any pity and compassion for him in his distress, but joyful and glad they had got him into their hands, and like to get rid of him for ever: and they lifted up their eyes, and looked , after they had eaten their food, or while they were eating it: and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead ; a place of merchandise for spices... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:26

And Judah said unto his brethren ,.... In sight of the Ishmaelites, a thought came into his mind to get Joseph sold to them: what profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood ? it could be no advantage to them even if they could have concealed his blood from men; and if it was discovered, as it would, in all likelihood, by come means or another, then they must be answerable for it; and if not, God would take vengeance on them, from whom they could never conceal it; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:27

Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites ,.... For a slave, and that will defeat his dream; and as these were going down to Egypt, where they would sell him, he would be far enough from them, and there would be no probability of his ever being lord over them: and let not our hand be upon him ; to take away his life, either by stabbing or starving him: for he is our brother, and our flesh ; they had all one father, though different mothers, and therefore, as the relation was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:28

Then there passed by Midianites, merchantmen ,.... The same with the Ishmaelites before mentioned, as appears from the latter part of this verse; for as these were near neighbours, so they might join together in merchandise, and travel in company for greater safety, and are sometimes called the one, and sometimes the other, as well as they might mix together in their habitations and marriages; and are hence called Arabians by the Targums, as before observed, and so by Josephus, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:29

And Reuben returned unto the pit ,.... It is very probable he had pretended to go somewhere on business, with an intention to take a circuit, and come to the pit and deliver his brother, and go home with him to his father. The Jews say F2 Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 38.) he departed from his brethren, and sat down on a certain mountain, that he might descend in the night and take Joseph out of the pit, and accordingly he came down in the night, and found him not. So Josephus F3 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:30

And he returned unto his brethren ,.... From the pit, and whom he suspected had took him and killed him, as was their first design, not being with them when they proposed to sell him, and did: and said, the child is not ; not in the pit, nor in the land of the living, but is dead, which is sometimes the meaning of the phrase, Jeremiah 31:15 ; he calls him a child, though seventeen years of age, because the youngest brother but one, and he himself was the eldest, and also because of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:31

And they took Joseph's coat ,.... After they had told Reuben what they had done with him, who being willing to make the best of things as it was, joined with them in the following scheme: by this it appears, that when they took Joseph out of the pit they did not put his coat on him, but sold him naked, or almost so, to the merchants: and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood ; that being, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi observe, most like to human blood. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:32

And they sent the coat of many colours ,.... Which was what they dipped in the blood of the kid; this they sent to Jacob in such a condition, by the hand of some messenger; the Targum of Jonathan says, the sons of Zilpah and Bilhah; but more probably some of their servants, whom they instructed what to say to their father when they presented it to him; not caring to appear in person at first, lest they be thrown into such commotion and confusion at their father's distress, as might tend to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:33

And he knew it , and said, it is my son's coat ,.... He took it, and examined it, and was soon convinced, and well assured it was his son's coat; read the words without the supplement "it is", and the pathos will appear the more, "my son's coat!" and think with what a beating heart, with what trembling limbs, with what wringing of hands, with what flowing eyes, and faultering speech, he spoke these words, and what follow: an evil beast hath devoured him ; this was natural to conclude... read more

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