Genesis 37:7-17

7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and 1bowed down to my sheaf."
8 Then his brothers said to him, "2Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?" So they hated him even more * for his dreams and for his words.
9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, "Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven * stars were bowing down to me."
10 He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and 3your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?"
11 4His brothers were jealous of him, but his father 5kept the saying in mind.
12 Then his brothers went to pasture their father's flock in Shechem.
13 Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in 6Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them." And he said to him, "I will go."
14 Then he said to him, "Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me." So he sent him from the valley of 7Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15 A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, "What are you looking for?"
16 He said, "I am looking for my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock."
17 Then the man said, "They have moved from here; for I heard them say, 'Let us go to 8Dothan.' " So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

Genesis 37:7-17 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 8

  • 1. Genesis 42:6, 9; Genesis 43:26; Genesis 44:14
  • 2. Genesis 49:26; Deuteronomy 33:16
  • 3. Genesis 27:29
  • 4. Acts 7:9
  • 5. Daniel 7:28; Luke 2:19, 51
  • 6. Genesis 33:18-20
  • 7. Genesis 13:18; Genesis 23:2, 19; Genesis 35:27; Joshua 14:14, 15; Judges 1:10
  • 8. 2 Kings 6:13

Footnotes 5

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