genesis-37:12-36,-luke-24:27

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:36

Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's - The word סריס saris , translated officer, signifies a eunuch; and lest any person should imagine that because this Potiphar had a wife, therefore it is absurd to suppose him to have been a eunuch, let such persons know that it is not uncommon in the east for eunuchs to have wives, nay, some of them have even a harem or seraglio where they keep many women, though it does not appear that they have any progeny; and probably discontent on this ground might... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:12

Verse 12 12.And his brethren went. Before Moses treats of the horrible design of fratricide, he describes the journey of Joseph, and amplifies, by many circumstances, the atrocity of the crime. Their brother approaches them in the discharge of a duty, to make a fraternal inquiry after their state. He comes by the command of his father; and obeys it without reluctance, as appears from his answer. He searches them out anxiously; and though they had changed their place, he spares neither labor nor... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:18

Verse 18 18.And when they saw him afar off. Here again Moses, so far from sparing the fame of his own family by adulation, brands its chiefs with a mark of eternal infamy, and exposes them to the hatred and execration of all nations. If, at any time, among heathens, a brother murdered his brother, such impiety was treated with the utmost severity in tragedies, that it might not pass into an example for imitation. But in profane history no such thing is found, as that nine brethren should... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:20

Verse 20 20.And cast him into some pit. Before they perpetrate the murder, they seek a pretext whereby they may conceal their crime from men. Meanwhile, it never enters into their mind, that what is hidden from men cannot escape the eyes of God. But so stupid is hypocrisy, that while it flees from the disgrace of the world, it is careless about the judgment of God. But it is a disease deeply rooted in the human mind, to put some specious color on every extreme act of iniquity. For although an... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:21

Verse 21 21.And Reuben heard it. It may be well to observe, while others were hastening to shed his blood, by whose care Joseph was preserved. Reuben doubtless, in one affair, was the most wicked of them all, when he defiled his father’s couch; and that unbridled lust, involving other vices, was the sign of a depraved nature: now suddenly, he alone, having a regard to piety, and being mindful of fraternal duty, dissolves the impious conspiracy. It is uncertain whether he was now seeking the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:22

Verse 22 22.Cast him into this pit. The pious fallacy to which Reuben descended, sufficiently proves with what vehemence the rage of his brethren was burning. For he neither dares openly to oppose them, nor to dissuade them from their crime; because he saw that no reasons would avail to soften them. Nor does it extenuate their cruelty, that they consent to his proposal, as if they were disposed to clemency; for if either one course or the other were necessary, it would have been better for him... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:23

Verse 23 23.They stripped Joseph out of his coat (134) We see that these men are full of fictions and lies. They carelessly strip their brother; they feel no dread at casting him with their own hands into the pit, where hunger worse than ten swords might consume him; because they hope their crime will be concealed; and in taking home his clothes, no suspicion of his murder would be excited; because, truly, their father would believe that he had been torn by a wild beast. Thus Satan infatuates... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:25

Verse 25 25.And they sat down to eat bread. This was an astonishing barbarity, that they could quietly feast, while, in intention, they were guilty of their brother’s death: for, had there been one drop of humanity in their souls, they would at least have felt some inward compunctions; yea, commonly, the very worst men are afraid after the commission of a crime. Since the patriarchs fell into such a state of insensibility, let us learn, from their example, to fear lest, by the righteous anger... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:28

Verse 28 28.Then there passed by Midianites. Some think that Joseph was twice sold in the same place. For it is certain, since Median was the son of Abraham and Keturah, that his sons were distinct from the sons of Ishmael: and Moses has not thoughtlessly put down these different names. (135) But I thus interpret the passage: that Joseph was exposed for sale to any one who chose, and seeing the purchase of him was declined by the Midianites, he was sold to the Ishmaelites. Moreover, though they... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:30

Verse 30 30.And he returned. We may hence gather that Reuben, under pretense of some other business, stole away from his brethren, that, unknown to them all, he might restore his brother, drawn out of the pit, to his father; and that therefore he was absent at the time when Joseph was sold. And there is no wonder that he was anticipated, when he had taken his course in a different direction from theirs, intending to reach the pit by a circuitous path. But now at length Reuben having lost all... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:36

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:25

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:28

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 37:30

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