Genesis 37:15-20 NIV

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 37:15

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:19

Behold, this dreamer cometh - החלמות בעל baal hachalomoth , this master of dreams, this master dreamer. A form of speech which conveys great contempt. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:20

Come now and let us slay him - What unprincipled savages these must have been to talk thus coolly about imbruing their hands in an innocent brother's blood! How necessary is a Divine revelation, to show man what God hates and what he loves! Ferocious cruelty is the principal characteristic of the nations and tribes who receive not the law at his mouth. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:18

Verse 18 18.And when they saw him afar off. Here again Moses, so far from sparing the fame of his own family by adulation, brands its chiefs with a mark of eternal infamy, and exposes them to the hatred and execration of all nations. If, at any time, among heathens, a brother murdered his brother, such impiety was treated with the utmost severity in tragedies, that it might not pass into an example for imitation. But in profane history no such thing is found, as that nine brethren should... read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:18

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