Genesis 37:12-37

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 37:12

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

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

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