Genesis 37:20

20 Let's kill him, throw him into one of the cisterns, and say that a wild animal has eaten him. Then we'll see what happens to his dreams."

Genesis 37:20 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:20

Come now therefore, and let us slay him
Agree to do it, and actually do it:

and cast him into some pit;
or, "one of the pits" ^F19, which were near, and were dug for the collection of rainwater, as was usual in those countries where water was scarce:

and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him;
which would seem plausible, since wild beasts were frequent in those parts, as lions and bears, see ( 1 Kings 13:24 ) ( 2 Kings 2:24 ) ;

and we shall see what will become of his dreams;
who will be the lord then, and reign, and have the dominion, he or we.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F19 (twrbh dxab) "in unam cisternarum", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "in unam ex cisternis istis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "in unam fovearum", Schmidt.

Genesis 37:20 In-Context

18 They saw him from a distance. Before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

19 They said to each other, "Look, here comes that master dreamer!

20 Let's kill him, throw him into one of the cisterns, and say that a wild animal has eaten him. Then we'll see what happens to his dreams."

21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to save Joseph from their plot. "Let's not kill him," he said.

22 "Let's not have any bloodshed. Put him into that cistern that's out in the desert, but don't hurt him." Reuben wanted to rescue Joseph from them and bring him back to his father.