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Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:12

And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. Very probably some considerable time after the telling of the above dreams; it was usual to remove flocks from place to place for the sake of pasturage; and sometimes at a great distance, as Shechem was from Hebron, where Jacob now dwelt, said F9 Bunting's Travels, p. 79. Ainsworth in loc. to be about sixty miles; but this is not so much to be marvelled at as the place itself, whither they went, for though Jacob had bought... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:13

And Israel said unto Joseph ,.... After his brethren had been gone some time to Shechem: do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem ? this question is put, not as ignorant of it, or doubting about it, but to put Joseph in mind of it, and in order to what follows: come, and I will send thee unto them ; which is pretty much he should, considering the length of the way, sixty miles, the dangerous place in which they were feeding their flocks, and especially seeing his brethren... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:14

And he said to him, go, I pray thee ,.... Or "now" F11 נא "nunc", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius. , directly, immediately, which is more agreeable to the authority of a father: see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks ; it having been many days, and perhaps months, since he had heard anything of them; and the rather Jacob might be under a concern for them, because of the danger they were exposed to from the neighbouring... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:15

And a certain man found him ,.... Many of the Jewish writers F12 Pirke Eliezer, c. 38. Targum Jon. & Jarchi in loc. say, this was an angel, the angel Gabriel, in the likeness of a man; but according to Aben Ezra, it was a traveller he met on the road; but it is more probable, as Schimidt observes, that it was some man at work in the field that came upon him and took notice of him: and, behold, he was wandering in the field ; in some field near Shechem, perhaps the same his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:16

And he said, I seek my brethren ,.... Whom, no doubt, he described to the man, and told him who they were, and to whom they belonged; or otherwise the man would have been at a loss to know who he meant, and what further to say to him, and without which Joseph would never have made the following request to him: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks ; in what part of the country they are, what field they are in, how far to it, and which the way. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:17

And the man said, they are departed hence ,.... They had been there, in the field where he and Joseph were, and which was probably the field before mentioned; but for good reasons, perhaps for want of pasture, or in order to find better feeding for their cattle, they were gone from thence, from the fields about Shechem: for I heard them say, let us go to Dothan ; this was, as some say, four miles from Shechem, others eight F13 Bunting's Travels, p. 79. Ainsworth in loc. ; according... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:14

Go - see whether it be well with thy brethren - Literally, Go, I beseech thee, and see the peace of thy brethren, and the peace of the flock. Go and see whether they are all in prosperity. See Clarke on Genesis 37:4 ; (note). As Jacob's sons were now gone to feed the flock on the parcel of ground they had bought from the Shechemites, (see Genesis 33:19 ;), and where they had committed such a horrible slaughter, their father might feel more solicitous about their welfare, lest the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:12

Verse 12 12.And his brethren went. Before Moses treats of the horrible design of fratricide, he describes the journey of Joseph, and amplifies, by many circumstances, the atrocity of the crime. Their brother approaches them in the discharge of a duty, to make a fraternal inquiry after their state. He comes by the command of his father; and obeys it without reluctance, as appears from his answer. He searches them out anxiously; and though they had changed their place, he spares neither labor nor... 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

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