Génesis 37:5-36 NVI

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 37:12

Genesis 37:12. To feed in Shechem In the parts adjoining to Shechem, probably in the lands Jacob had purchased there. After the cruel and barbarous massacre which Jacob’s sons had been guilty of toward the Shechemites, it is a wonder they should venture to seek pasture for their flocks in that neighbourhood; but it is no wonder that their father should be anxious for their safety. It must be observed, however, as the LXX. make a difference in the spelling of the name of that place where... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 37:18-19

Genesis 37:18-19 . When they saw him they conspired against him It was not in a heat, or upon a sudden provocation, that they thought to slay him, but from malice prepense, and in cold blood. Behold this dreamer cometh Hebrew, this master of dreams; that covers his own ambitious desires and designs, with pretences and fictions of dreams. See the progress of vice! From envy and malice they proceeded to conspire against the life of their brother, and then contrived a lie to impose upon... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 37:21

Genesis 37:21. Reuben heard it God can raise up friends for his people, even among their enemies. Reuben, of all the brothers, had most reason to be jealous of Joseph; for he was the firstborn, and so entitled to those distinguishing favours which Jacob was conferring on Joseph; yet he proves his best friend. Reuben’s temper seems to have been soft and effeminate, which had betrayed him into the sin of uncleanness; while the temper of the two next brothers, Simeon and Levi, was fierce,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 37:24-25

Genesis 37:24-25 . They cast him into a pit To perish there with hunger and cold; so cruel were their tender mercies. They sat down to eat bread They felt no remorse of conscience, which, if they had, would have spoiled their stomachs to their meat. A great force put upon conscience commonly stupifies it, and for the time deprives it both of sense and speech. A company of Ishmaelites In Genesis 37:28; Genesis 37:36, they are termed also Midianites, or, as it is in the Hebrew of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 37:26

Genesis 37:26. What profit is it if we slay our brother? It will be less guilt and more gain to sell him. They all agreed to this. And as Joseph was sold by the contrivance of Judah for twenty pieces of silver, so was our Lord Jesus for thirty, and by one of the same name too, Judas. Reuben, it seems, was gone away from his brethren when they sold Joseph, intending to come round some other way to the pit, and to help Joseph out of it. But had this taken effect, what had become of God’s... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 37:31

Genesis 37:31. They took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid It is difficult to say here whether their falsehood or their cruelly to their father be the more to be execrated! read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 37:35

Genesis 37:35. All his sons and all his daughters Namely, Dinah and his daughters-in-law, for several of his sons were married; rose up to comfort him In this his excess of sorrow to which he had imprudently and sinfully abandoned himself. He refused to be comforted Resolving to go down to, the grave mourning, And yet there was no foundation for all this sorrow. Joseph, whose supposed premature and violent death he thus deeply and inconsolably lamented, was still alive and in health;... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:1-36

37:1-50:26 FAMILY GROWTH AND THE MOVE TO EGYPTJoseph taken to Egypt (37:1-36)God had told Abraham that his descendants would become slaves in a foreign land, and would remain there till Canaan was ready for judgment. Then they would destroy the Canaanites and possess their land (see 15:13-16). The long story of Joseph shows how God was directing events according to his preannounced purposes.Being the father’s favourite, Joseph was not popular with his ten older brothers. He was even less... read more

E.W. Bullinger