Genesis 37:2-14 BSB

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:2-4

Joseph at home. "Joseph, being seventeen years old," &c.; Picturesque scene is the encampment of Jacob. How well the dark camel-hair tents harmonize with the general character of the spots in which they are pitched. Peace and purity should dwell there. Ten men of the tribe of Jacob are most depraved, but their characters only threw into brighter prominence that of Joseph. It is probable that Jacob gave greater attention to the training of Joseph than to that of his brethren. He showed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:2-11

§ 11. THE GENERATIONS OF JACOB ( GENESIS 37:2-50:26). 2. By those who repudiate the Mosaic authorship of Genesis the present section is variously distributed among the alleged candidates for the honor of its composition. Beyond the ascription of Genesis 38:1-30 ; to the Jehovist, there is the most complete absence of unanimity among partitionists as to whom the different portions are to be assigned. Genesis 37:2-36 , which Tuch declares to be the work of the Elohist, Bleek... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:2-11

Joseph in his father's house. I. JOSEPH EMPLOYED WITH HIS BRETHREN . 1. With them in the sense of as well as them . That is to say, Joseph no more than the other sons of his father was trained to indolence. It is the duty of parents to educate their children in some useful and honorable calling. Even when not required for procuring daily bread, it is of advantage as a means of withdrawing one from temptations which would otherwise beset him, while it largely enhances the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:3

Now (literally, and) Israel loved Joseph more than all his children (literally, sons), because he was the son of his old age —literally, a son of old age (was) he to him; not a son possessing the wisdom of advanced years (Onkelos), but a son born in his old age (Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch, et alii ) , which was literally true of Joseph, since he was born in his father's ninety-first year. Yet as Joseph was only a year or two younger than the children of Bilhah and Zilpah, and as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:4

And when (literally, and) his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they (literally, and they ) hated him ,—as Esau hated Jacob ( Genesis 27:41 ; cf. Genesis 49:23 )— and could not speak peaceably unto him —literally, they were not able to speak of him for peace, i e . they could not address him in such a way as to wish him well; they could not offer him the customary salutation of Shalom , or Peace. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:5

And Joseph dreamed a dream (in which, though, as the sequel shows, intended as a Divine communication, there was nothing to distinguish it from an ordinary product of the mind), and he told it to his brethren :—not in pride, since there is no reason to suppose that Joseph as yet understood the celestial origin of his dream but in the simplicity of his heart (Kalisch, Murphy), though in doing so he was also guided, unconsciously it may be, but still really, by an overruling providence, who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:6

And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed. Though Joseph did not certainly know that his dream was supernatural, he may have thought that it was, the more so as dreams were in those times commonly regarded as mediums of Divine communication; and in this case it was clearly his duty to impart it to the household, and all the more that the subject of it seemed to be for them a matter of peculiar importance. In the absence of information to the contrary, we are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:7

For (literally, and ) , behold, we were binding sheaves —literally, binding things bound, i.e. sheaves, alumim, from alam , to bind; the order of the words and the participial form of the verb indicating that the speaker describes the vision as it appeared to his mind— in the field ,—literally, in the middle of the field ; from which it would appear that Jacob was not a mere nomad, but carried on agricultural operations like his father Isaac ( Genesis 26:12 )— and, lo ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:8

Esau separates from Jacob. I. GOD REQUIRES ENTIRE DEVOTEDNESS AND FAITH . Edom is allied to the true kingdom, but is not one with it . We may keep in mind the relationship between the descendants of the two brothers, that we may learn the more clearly to distinguish the true heirs of the blessing. II. THE TRUE BELIEVERS SET APART BY SPECIAL GRACE . The rest of the Book of Genesis follows the course of the one family in whose midst the ark of the covenant, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:8

And his brethren (who had no difficulty in interpreting the symbol's significance) said to him (with mingled indignation and contempt), Shalt thou indeed reign over us ?—literally, reigning, wilt thou reign? i.e. wilt thou actually reign over us? the emphasis resting on the action of the verb— or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? The form of expression is the same as that of the preceding clause. And they hated him yet the more (literally and they added again to hate him )... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:2-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:2-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:2-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 37:8

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