Genesis 37
1 Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brethren.
5 His dreams and the interpretation.
12 Jacob sends him to his brethren, who counsel to slay him.
21 At Reuben's desire they cast him into a pit;
25 and afterwards sell him to the Ishmaelites; while Ruben grieves at not finding him.
31 His coat, covered with blood, is sent to Jacob, who mourns him inordinately.
36 Joseph is brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar.
[A.M. 2276. B.C. 1728.]
father ... stayed <01 04033> [wherein his father was a stranger. Heb. of his father's sojournings.]
account <08435> [the generations.]
{Toledoth,} the history, narrative, or account of the lives and actions of Jacob and his sons; for in this general sense the original must be taken, as in the whole ensuing history there is no genealogy of Jacob's family.
wives <0802> [wives.]
bad report <01681 07451> [evil report.]
loved <0157> [loved.]
sons ...... son <01121> [son.]
tunic <03801> [a coat.]
special <06446> [colours.]
{Kethoneth passim}, a coat made of stripes of different coloured cloth.
hated ...... able <08130 03201> [hated him.]
able ... speak .... kindly <01696 07965 03201> [and could not speak peaceably unto him.]
Or, rather, "and they could not speak peace to him," i.e., they would not accost him in a friendly manner: they would not even wish him well, in the eastern mode of salutation of, Peace be to thee! It is not an unusual thing for an Arab or Turk to hesitate to return the {salÆ’m}, if given by a Christian, or by one of whom he has not a favourable opinion; and this may always be considered as an act of hostility.
had <02492> [dreamed.]
hated <08130> [and they.]
Listen <08085> [Hear.]
sheaves ............ sheaf ......... sheaves .... sheaf <0485> [your sheaves.]
bowed down <07812> [obeisance.]
think .... rule over us or ... dominion <04427 04910> [reign over us.]
another dream .............. dream <02472 0312> [another dream.]
sun <08121> [the sun.]
stars <03556> [stars.]
mother <0517> [Shall I.]
jealous <07065> [envied.]
kept <08104> [observed.]
Shechem <07927> [in Shechem.]
<03212> [come.]
[Here am I.]
check .... welfare <07965 07200> [see whether it be well with. Heb. see the peace of thy brethren, etc.]
Hebron <02275> [Hebron.]
wandering <08582> [he was.]
looking <01245> [What.]
looking <01245> [seek.]
tell ... where <05046 0375> [tell me.]
Dothan ............ Dothan <01886> [Dothan.]
plotted <05230> [conspired.]
this <01976> [Behold.]
Simulated Irony: Where the words in question are used by man either in dissimulation or hypocrisy. For other instances of this figure see 2 Sa 6:20; Ps 22:8; Isa 5:19; Mt 22:16; 27:29; 27:40, 42, 43; Mk 15:29.
master <01167> [dreamer. Heb. master of dreams.]
kill <02026> [and let.]
say .......... see <0559 07200> [and we.]
Reuben heard <08085 07205> [Reuben heard.]
Let's <05221> [not kill him. Heb. {nephesh.}]
Reuben ......................... said <0559 07205> [Reuben said.]
shed <08210> [Shed.]
lay ..... him <07971> [lay.]
stripped <06584> [stript.]
special <06446> [colours. or, pieces.]
threw <07993> [and cast.]
cistern .... cistern <0953> [the pit.]
sat <03427> [they sat.]
Ishmaelites <03459> [Ishmeelites.]
Gilead <01568> [Gilead.]
spices <05219> [spicery.]
{Nechoth,} is rendered by the LXX. "incense;" Syriac, "resin;" Samaritan, "balsam;" Acquila, "storax;" which is followed by Bochart. This drug is abundant in Syria, and here Moses joins with it resin, honey, and myrrh; which agrees with the nature of the storax, which is the resin of a tree of the same name, of a reddish colour, and peculiarly pleasant fragrance.
balm <06875> [balm]
{Tzeri,} which in Arabic, as a verb, is to flow, seems to be a common name, as balm or balsam with us, for many of those oily, resinous substances, which flow spontaneously, or by incision, from various trees or plants; accordingly the ancients have generally interpreted it resin.
myrrh <03910> [myrrh.]
{Lot,} is probably, as Junius, De Dieu, Celsius, and Ursinus contend, the same as the Arabic {ladan}, Greek [ladanon,] and Latin {ladanum}.
profit <01215> [What profit.]
cover <03680> [conceal.]
sell ..... Ishmaelites <04376 03459> [sell him.]
hand <03027> [let not.]
brother ...... brothers <0251> [he is our.]
agreed <08085> [were content. Heb. hearkened.]
Midianite <04084> [Midianites.]
sold <04376> [sold.]
tore <07167> [he rent.]
son's <01121> [thy son's.]
wild animal <02416 07451> [evil beast.]
daughters <01323> [his daughters.]
go <06965> [rose up.]
go ......... Joseph's <03381> [For I.]
<04092> [the Midianites.]
officials <05631> [officer. Heb. eunuch.]
But the word signifies not only eunuchs, but also chamberlains, courtiers, and officers.
captain <08269> [captain. Or, chief marshal. Heb. chief of the slaughtermen, or executioners.]
