Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:7
For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
7. sheaves ] Joseph’s dream presupposes that the patriarch was leading a settled and agricultural life (cf. Gen 26:12). In Gen 46:31-34 Jacob and his family are shepherds and herdsmen, but the fact that the failure of crops compels them to seek for corn in Egypt, Gen 42:1, shews that they were partly dependent upon local crops. Cf. Gen 12:10, Gen 36:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 7. We were binding sheaves in the field] Though in these early times we read little of tillage, yet it is evident from this circumstance that it was practised by Jacob and his sons. The whole of this dream is so very plain as to require no comment, unless we could suppose that the sheaves of grain might have some reference to the plenty in Egypt under Joseph’s superintendence, and the scarcity in Canaan, which obliged the brethren to go down to Egypt for corn, where the dream was most literally fulfilled, his brethren there bowing in the most abject manner before him.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
We were binding sheaves in the field; a secret insinuation of the occasion of Josephs advancement, which was from his counsel and care about the corn of Egypt.
Your sheaves stood round about; this was a posture of ministry and service, as is manifest both from Scripture and from common usage.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves in the field,…. So it was represented in his mind in a dream, as if it was harvest time, and he and his brethren were at work together in the field binding up sheaves of corn that were reaped, in order to be carried home:
and, lo, my sheaf arose, and stood upright; it seemed to him, that after he had bound and laid it on the ground, that it rose up of itself, and stood erect:
and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf; the sheaves which his brethren bound up, they also stood upright, and all around his sheaf, and bowed unto it; so it appeared to him in his dream. This was a fit emblem of their coming to him into Egypt for corn, and bowing to him, when their sheaves were empty, and his was full. In an ancient book of the Jews h Joseph’s sheaf is interpreted of the Messiah, whom they call the son of Ephraim. Joseph no doubt was a type of the true Messiah, and in this of his exaltation and glory, and of that honour given him by all his saints who come to him, and receive from him all the supplies of grace.
h Raya Mehimna in Zohar in Gen. fol. 87. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) Stood upright.Heb., took its station. It is the verb used in Gen. 24:13, where see Note. It implies that the sheaf took the position of chief. We gather from this dream that Jacob practised agriculture, not occasionally, as had been the case with Isaac (Gen. 26:12), but regularly, as seems to have been usual also at Haran (Gen. 30:14).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7-9. Sheaves stars “The two dreams very obviously shadow forth Joseph as having kingly authority over his father, mother, and brethren . The scene of the first is laid in the wheat field, where he and his brethren are symbolized by the sheaves . But to repeat and solemnly deepen the impression, the scene of the second is laid in heaven, and now not only his brethren, but his father and mother, (Leah probably, since Rachel was dead,) under heavenly symbols bow down, not to his star, but to him .
How powerfully must this dream have returned to the minds of them all, when, more than twenty years after, the venerable patriarch and his eleven sons did obeisance to the prince of Egypt, who said to them, ‘I am Joseph.’” Newhall. On the import of double dreams, see note on chap.
41:32.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 37:7 For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
Ver. 7. We were binding sheaves. ] This was fulfilled, when they came to him for grain into Egypt. Here Joseph dreams of his advancement, but not of his imprisonment: so do many professors, which therefore prove apostates.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
in the field = in the midst of the field.
stood upright. Hebrew took its stand, or was set upright.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
your sheaves: Gen 42:6, Gen 42:9, Gen 43:26, Gen 44:14, Gen 44:19
obeisance: Phi 2:10, Col 1:18
Reciprocal: Gen 37:9 – another dream Gen 41:32 – doubled Gen 43:28 – bowed Gen 44:16 – behold Gen 49:8 – thy father’s Gen 50:18 – fell 2Sa 1:2 – he fell
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 37:7. Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field This was a secret intimation of the occasion of Josephs advancement, which was from his counsel and care about the corn in Egypt. Your sheaves stood round about A posture this of ministry and service; and made obeisance to my sheaf How wonderfully was this fulfilled when his brethren, making application to him for corn, came and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth!