Genesis 37:1

1 Forsooth Jacob dwelled in the land of Canaan, in which his father was a pilgrim; (And Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, where his father was a foreigner;)

Genesis 37:1 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:1

And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger,
&c.] And this stands opposed unto, and is distinguished from the case and circumstances of Esau and his posterity, expressed in the preceding chapter, who dwelt in the land of their possession, not as strangers and sojourners, as Jacob and his seed, but as lords and proprietors; and so these words may be introduced and read in connection with the former history; "but Jacob dwelt" ^F1; and this verse would better conclude the preceding chapter than begin a new one. The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases the words, "and Jacob dwelt quietly"; or peaceably, in tranquillity and safety; his brother Esau being gone from him into another country, he remained where his father lived and died, and in the country that by his blessing belonged to him:

in the land of Canaan,
and particularly in Hebron, where Isaac and Abraham before him had dwelt.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (bvyw) "at habitavit", Schmidt.

Genesis 37:1 In-Context

1 Forsooth Jacob dwelled in the land of Canaan, in which his father was a pilgrim; (And Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, where his father was a foreigner;)

2 and these were the generations of him. Joseph when he was of sixteen years, yet a child, kept a flock with his brethren, and he was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, the wives of his father; and he accused his brethren at the father of the worst sin. (and this is the story of his descendants. Joseph, when he was seventeen years old, yet a boy, kept a flock with his brothers, and he was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives; and he accused his brothers of the worst sins to their father.)

3 Forsooth Israel loved Joseph above all his sons, for he had begotten him in his eld (age); and he made to Joseph a coat of many colours (and he made a coat of many colours for Joseph).

4 Forsooth his brethren saw that he was loved of the father more than all they, and they hated him, and might not speak anything peaceably to him. (And his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than he loved any of them, and so they hated him, and would not say a kind word to him.)

5 And it befelled that he told to his brethren a sweven that he saw, which cause was the seed of more hatred. (And it befell that he told his brothers about a dream that he had, which was the reason, yea, the seed, of even more hatred.)