Bereshis 37:18

18 And when they saw him merachok (afar off, in the distance), even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to kill him.

Bereshis 37:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:18

And when they saw him afar off
They knew him as soon as they saw him, by his stature, his gesture or manner of walking, and especially by his coat of various colours he now had on, ( Genesis 37:23 ) ;

even before he came near unto them;
the distance he was from them when they first spied him is particularly remarked and repeated, not to show the quickness of their sight, but for the sake of what follows; to observe how soon their passions were raised, how intense and prepense their malice, and which put them upon devising ways and means to destroy him, for it follows:

they conspired against him, to slay him;
they entered into a consultation, and devised the most crafty methods they could think of to take away his life, and yet conceal the murder.

Bereshis 37:18 In-Context

16 And he said, I seek my achim; tell me, now, where they ro’im (feed their flocks).

17 And the ish said, They are departed from here; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dotan. And Yosef went after his achim, and found them in Dotan.

18 And when they saw him merachok (afar off, in the distance), even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to kill him.

19 And they said one to another, Hinei, this ba’al hachalomot cometh.

20 Come now therefore, and let us kill him, and throw him into one of the borot (pits), and we will say, Some chayyah ra’ah (evil wild beast) hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his chalomot.