Bible Commentary

And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed [the flock] in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here [am I]. 1729 Having kept him for some time at home, and supposing that length of time had cooled their heats, and worn out their hatred, he … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:13”

And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 12 17 (J). Joseph’s Mission to his Brethren in Shechem 12. in Shechem ] The region of Shechem was famous for its fertility and pasturage. The fact that Jacob’s brethren selected it for pasturing their flocks, indicates that the Dinah narrative, recorded in chap. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:12”

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. 11. envied ] This is the envy of malice rather than of jealousy: it denotes resentment against Joseph for being favoured, and a desire to see him deprived of his privileges. kept the saying in mind ] Lit. “kept the word.” LXX . Lat. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:11”

And he told [it] to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What [is] this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 10. thy mother ] Implying that Rachel was … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:10”

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 9. another dream ] The repetition (cf. Gen 41:5-32) seems to indicate stronger certainty and greater importance. The first dream … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:9”

And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 8. reign over us ] Perhaps with a reference to the future kingdom of Ephraim, or to the leadership of “the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:8”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:7”

And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: And he said unto them, hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. Hear now, so the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, immediately, directly, lest he should forget it, having perhaps dreamt it the night before; though our … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:6”

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told [it] his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 5 11 (E). Joseph’s Dreams 5. dreamed a dream ] The influence of dreams in the E narrative is conspicuous; cf. Gen 20:3. Dreams were regarded by the Oriental as intimations from another world, and were invested … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:5”

And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. Gen 37:4 They hated him Lessons 1. Choice respects to any, from parents, above all others, usually make such favourites to be envied. 2. Flesh and blood usually hate that … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:4”