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John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:21

Gen 37:21 And Reuben heard [it], and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. Ver. 21. And he delivered him out of their hands. ] Josephus relates his arguments, whereby he prevailed with them: as (1.) That God would surely see them; (2.) Their father would extremely grieve at it; (3.) That Joseph was but a child, and their brother; (4.) That they would bring upon themselves the guilt of innocent blood, &c. It was happy they hearkened to him. God would have it... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:22

Gen 37:22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, [but] cast him into this pit that [is] in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. Ver. 22. Shed no blood. ] Every drop of it hath a tongue to cry for vengeance. Well might King James say, that if God did allow him to kill a man, he would think God did not love him. David, God’s darling, falling into that crimson sin, carried the bruise of that fall with him to his... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:23

Gen 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, [his] coat of [many] colours that [was] on him; Ver. 23. They stripe Joseph out of his coat. ] For, (1) It an eyesore to them; (2.) There with they would colour their cruelty. And this while they were doing, Joseph used many entreaties for himself, but they would not hear him. Gen 42:21 Reuben also pleaded hard for the child, but all to no purpose. Gen 37:22 Their tender mercies were... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:24

Gen 37:24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit [was] empty, [there was] no water in it. Ver. 24. They cast him into a pit. ] Where they meant he should pine and perish with hunger, which is a more cruel death than to die by the sword. Lam 4:9 Thus died Drusus by the command of Tiberius; food being denied him, he had eaten the stuffings of his bed. a I have heard of a certain bishop, saith Melancthon, who, having cast ten men into a dungeon for their religion’s sake, kept... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:25

Gen 37:25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry [it] down to Egypt. Ver. 25. And they sat down to eat. ] To weep for their wickedness, they should have sat down rather. But the devil had drawn a hard hoof over their hearts, that either they fdt no remorse of what they had done, for present; or else they sought to ease themselves of it... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:26

Gen 37:26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit [is it] if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Ver. 26. What profit is it? &c. ] Cui bono said that old judge in Rome. a This is a song that most men will listen to. As the Jassians in Strabo, delighted with the music of an excellent harper, ran all away, when once they heard the market bell ring, save a deaf old man, that could take little delight in the harper’s ditties. But it were to be wished, that whenever we are... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:27

Gen 37:27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he [is] our brother [and] our flesh. And his brethren were content. Ver. 27. For he is our brother, and our flesh. ] This consideration should be, as the angel’s call to Abraham, to stay our hand from striking another; (1.) That he is our brother, in respect of God; for "have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?" Mal 2:10 (2.) That he is "our flesh," in regard of our first parents.... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:28

Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty [pieces] of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. Ver. 28. For twenty pieces of silver. ] A goodly price! not all out the price of a slave. Exo 21:32 Here "they sold the just one for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes." Amo 2:6 The Hebrews tell us, that of these twenty shekels, every of the ten brethren had two, to buy shoes for... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:29

Gen 37:29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph [was] not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. Ver. 29. He rent his clothes. ] In token of extreme passion. A custom in use also among some heathens. read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 37:30

Gen 37:30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child [is] not; and I, whither shall I go? Ver. 30. The child is not; and I, &c. ] In an old manuscript, I met with these words thus pathetically rendered: - “Heu quid agam! periit puer ille, puer puer ille.” Reuben was the oldest, and therefore thought he should be most blamed. Besides, he had not forgot how highly his father had been lately offended with him, for his detestable incest. read more

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