Genesis 37:21

21 And Ruben having heard it, rescued him out of their hands, and said, Let us not kill him.

Genesis 37:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:21

And Reuben heard [it]
Overheard what they said, not being in the consultation; perhaps knowing his temper and disposition to be more mild and gentle, and being the elder brother, might fear he would overrule matters against them, and therefore Simeon and Levi did not choose to have him in the debate; or he might be at some distance and entirely absent when the consultation was held, and their intention was reported to him by some of them:

and he delivered him out of their hands;
from slaying him; that is, he endeavoured to do it by proposing another scheme:

and said, let us not kill him;
or let us not smite the soul ^F20; the dear soul, or take away life.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (vpn wnkn al) "ne percutiamus vel occidamus animam", Sam. Ar. Syr.

Genesis 37:21 In-Context

19 And each said to his brother, Behold, that dreamer comes.

20 Now then come, let us kill him, and cast him into one of the pits; and we will say, An evil wild beast has devoured him; and we shall see what his dreams will be.

21 And Ruben having heard it, rescued him out of their hands, and said, Let us not kill him.

22 And Ruben said to them, Shed not blood; cast him into one of these pits in the wilderness, but do not lay hands upon him; that he might rescue him out of their hands, and restore him to his father.

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph came to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his many-coloured coat that was upon him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gr. smite him to the life.