Genesis 37:28-36

28 Then some 1Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and 2sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus 3they brought Joseph into Egypt.
29 Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he 4tore his garments.
30 He returned to his brothers and said, "5The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?"
31 So 6they took Joseph's tunic, and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood;
32 and they sent the varicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, "We found this; please examine it to see whether it is your son's tunic or not."
33 Then he examined it and said, "It is my son's tunic. 7A wild beast has devoured him; 8Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!"
34 So Jacob 9tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.
35 Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, "Surely I will 10go down to Sheol in mourning for my son." So his father wept for him.
36 Meanwhile, the Midianites 11sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh's officer, the captain of the bodyguard.

Genesis 37:28-36 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 37

In this chapter begins the history of Joseph, with whom the remaining part of this book is chiefly concerned; and here are related the hatred of his brethren to him, because he brought an ill report of them to his father, and because his father loved him, and which was increased by the dream he dreamed, and told them of, Ge 37:1-11; a visit of his to his brethren in the fields, whom he found after a long search of them, Ge 37:12-17; their conspiracy on sight of him to slay him, but by the advice of Reuben it was agreed to cast him into a pit, which they did, Ge 37:18-24; and after that, at the motion of Judah, sold him to the Ishmaelites, who were going to Egypt, Ge 37:25-28; this being done, Reuben being absent, and not finding Joseph in the pit, was in great distress, Ge 37:29,30; their contrivance to deceive their father, and make him believe that Joseph was destroyed by a wild beast, which on the sight of the coat he credited, and became inconsolable, Ge 37:31-35; and the chapter concludes with the sale of Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, Ge 37:36.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Genesis 37:25; Judges 6:1-3; Judges 8:22, 24
  • 2. Genesis 45:4, 5; Psalms 105:17; Acts 7:9
  • 3. Genesis 39:1
  • 4. Genesis 37:34; Genesis 44:13
  • 5. Genesis 42:13, 36
  • 6. Genesis 37:3, 23
  • 7. Genesis 37:20
  • 8. Genesis 44:28
  • 9. Genesis 37:29
  • 10. Genesis 25:8; Genesis 35:29; Genesis 42:38; Genesis 44:29, 31
  • 11. Genesis 39:1

Footnotes 4

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