37:5 Joseph 1 had a dream, 2 and when he told his brothers about it, 3 they hated him even more. 4
1 tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Heb “dreamed a dream.”
3 sn Some interpreters see Joseph as gloating over his brothers, but the text simply says he told his brothers about it (i.e., the dream). The text gives no warrant for interpreting his manner as arrogant or condescending. It seems normal that he would share a dream with the family.
4 tn The construction uses a hendiadys, “they added to hate,” meaning they hated him even more.
5 sn Joseph’s brothers were already jealous of him, but this made it even worse. Such jealousy easily leads to action, as the next episode in the story shows. Yet dreams were considered a form of revelation, and their jealousy was not only of the favoritism of their father, but of the dreams. This is why Jacob kept the matter in mind.
6 tn Heb “kept the word.” The referent of the Hebrew term “word” has been specified as “what Joseph said” in the translation for clarity, and the words “in mind” have been supplied for stylistic reasons.