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The story of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers is among the most tender in the scriptures. His own brothers hated him, (Genesis 37:4), and kidnapped him, (Genesis 37:23). They had even planned to murder him, (Genesis 37: 18ff). They “settled” for selling him into slavery, (Genesis 37:28), a possible if not likely death sentence. And … Continue reading “Genesis 45:1-15 Commentary by Wil Gafney”

Long before HBO had Tony Soprano, the Bible had Joseph, arguably the original bad-guy protagonist. Many excellent commentaries will describe Genesis 45 as an admirable moment of forgiveness, reconciliation, and catharsis, and that interpretation is both reasonable and edifying. But we miss the theological and emotional complexity of this passage if we allow Joseph to … Continue reading “Genesis 45:1-15 Commentary by Cameron B.R. Howard”

Introduction: The Context of Joseph’s Story The story of Joseph (Genesis 37, 39-50) is one of the longest sustained narratives in the Old Testament, and is the longest in the Book of Genesis. This week’s narrative lectionary picks up midway through the story of Joseph. We drop in on Joseph after he has been betrayed … Continue reading “Genesis 39:1-23; 40:1-23 Commentary by Rolf Jacobson”

The story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37-50 is a story of jealousy and sibling rivalry… … a story of dramatic changes of fortune, revenge and forgiveness, and God working behind the scenes to make good out of human suffering. The story touches on human realities that touch all of our lives, whether … Continue reading “Genesis 37:3-8, 26-34; 50:15-21 Commentary by Dennis Olson”

The story of Joseph and his brothers is a timeless story of preferential parental love and sibling rivalry. As so often in life, in the story sibling rivalry eventuates in discord and eventually violence. The conflict escalates in three phases: first, the teenager Joseph brings a “bad report” about his brothers to their father, Jacob … Continue reading “Genesis 37:3-8, 17b-22, 26-34; 50:15-21 Commentary by Jacqueline E. Lapsley”

In our text for today, sibling rivalry comes close to murder and sets in motion a chain of events that occupy the rest of the book of Genesis (chapters 37-50). Indeed, the events of this text will impact the rest of the story of the Israelites, as they leave the Promised Land at the end … Continue reading “Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”

Unlike the rest of Genesis, which comprises short, episodic stories that can usually stand alone, Genesis 37-50 reads like a short story or novella. Sometimes referred to as the “Joseph cycle,” this set of chapters relates the dramatic tale of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, from his betrayal at the hands of his brothers, … Continue reading “Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Commentary by Cameron B.R. Howard”

The story in Genesis 32 about the wrestling match between Jacob and God is one of the key texts for understanding the character of Jacob. It is appropriate, then, that the story is included in the series of Jacob stories assigned for this summer. This is the last story in that series (though Jacob also … Continue reading “Genesis 32:22-31 Commentary by Kathryn M. Schifferdecker”

The story of Jacob’s wrestling with the angel provides an embarrassment of riches for homiletical possibilities. There is the mysterious incarnation of God into human form; there is the act of wrestling which simultaneously connotes both intimacy and struggle, but ultimately yields a blessing; there is the theme of identity that is connected to one’s … Continue reading “Genesis 32:22-31 Commentary by Sara Koenig”

In Genesis 32, Jacob and his family have finally left the homestead of his father-in-law Laban who is responsible for much of Jacob’s present circumstances: Laban had deceived him into marrying sisters, Leah and Rachel whose conflict and competition with each other resulted in dozens of children with them and with their slaves whom he … Continue reading “Genesis 32:22-31 Commentary by Wil Gafney”