Genesis 37:18-36

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:12-22

Here is, I. The kind visit which Joseph, in obedience to his father's command, made to his brethren, who were feeding the flock at Shechem, many miles off. Some suggest that they went thither on purpose, expecting that Joseph would be sent to see them, and that then they should have an opportunity to do him a mischief. However, Joseph and his father had both of them more of the innocence of the dove than of the wisdom of the serpent, else he had never come thus into the hands of those that... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:23-30

We have here the execution of their plot against Joseph. 1. They stripped him, each striving to seize the envied coat of many colours, Gen. 37:23. Thus, in imagination, they degraded him from the birthright, of which perhaps this was the badge, grieving him, affronting their father, and making themselves sport, while they insulted over him. ?Now, Joseph, where is the fine coat?? Thus our Lord Jesus was stripped of his seamless coat, and thus his suffering saints have first been industriously... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:31-36

I. Joseph would soon be missed, great enquiry would be made for him, and therefore his brethren have a further design, to make the world believe that Joseph was torn in pieces by a wild beast; and this they did, 1. To clear themselves, that they might not be suspected to have done him any mischief. Note, We have all learned of Adam to cover our transgression, Job 31:33. When the devil has taught men to commit one sin, he then teaches them to conceal it with another, theft and murder with lying... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:18

And when they saw him afar off ,.... They knew him as soon as they saw him, by his stature, his gesture or manner of walking, and especially by his coat of various colours he now had on, Genesis 37:23 , even before he came near unto them ; the distance he was from them when they first spied him is particularly remarked and repeated, not to show the quickness of their sight, but for the sake of what follows; to observe how soon their passions were raised, how intense and prepense their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:19

And they said one to another ,.... According to the Targum of Jonathan, Simeon and Levi said what follows: nor is it unlikely, since they were hot, passionate, cruel, and bloody minded men, as appears by the affair of Shechem; and perhaps this may be the reason why Joseph afterwards, when governor of Egypt, took Simeon and bound him, Genesis 42:24 ; which was but a just retaliation for his advice to cast him into a pit when slain: behold, this dreamer cometh ; or "master of dreams" ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:20

Come now therefore, and let us slay him ,.... Agree to do it, and actually do it: and cast him into some pit ; or, "one of the pits" F19 באחד הברות "in unam cisternarum", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "in unam ex cisternis istis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "in unam fovearum", Schmidt. , which were near, and were dug for the collection of rainwater, as was usual in those countries where water was scarce: and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him ; which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:21

And Reuben heard it ,.... Overheard what they said, not being in the consultation; perhaps knowing his temper and disposition to be more mild and gentle, and being the elder brother, might fear he would overrule matters against them, and therefore Simeon and Levi did not choose to have him in the debate; or he might be at some distance and entirely absent when the consultation was held, and their intention was reported to him by some of them: and he delivered him out of their hands ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:22

And Reuben said unto them, shed no blood ,.... Innocent blood, as the Targum of Jonathan; the blood of a man, a brother's blood, one that had not done anything wherefore it should be shed, and which would involve in guilt, and bring vengeance on them: he seems to put them in mind of the original law in Genesis 9:6 , but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him : which might seem to answer the same purpose, namely, by depriving him of his life in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:23

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren ,.... To the very place where they were, and had, in a kind and obliging manner, asked of their welfare, and related their father's concern for them, who had sent him on this errand: that they stripped, Joseph out of his coat; his coat of many colours, that was on him ; according to Jarchi and Aben Ezra, this was not one and the same coat, but divers, and that the sense is, that with his coat of many colours, and besides... read more

John Gill

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

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