Genesis 37:20

20 now therefore, come and let us slay him and cast him into a cistern, and we will say, Some evil beast has devoured him; and we shall see what will become of 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.

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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 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer comes;

20 now therefore, come and let us slay him and cast him into a cistern, and we will say, Some evil beast has devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

21 When Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands and said, Let us not kill him.

22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood but cast him into this cistern 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.