Genesis 37 – Joseph Sold into Slavery
Timeline: 1898 BC
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Parallels between JJoseph & Jesus
Resources Allen Nolan |
Many commentators came up different ways that Joseph was like Jesus. See some of the differences here. After Esau moved to Sier (Edom), Jacob remained in Heran. He had not seen the fulfillment of the Promised Land that would eventually belong to his descendants.. 1 Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. This is the history of Jacob. In this verse we see that Jacob's name is used but later he is referred to as Israel. this represents a transition. While Jacob is still used of a person, the name Israel is used when it concerns the father of a nation or a prophet. Jacob was grooming Joseph to be in charge so he was obiligated to report the situation in the field to his father. Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher were sons of Jacob's concubines Joseph reported to his father because he did not have authority enough, being a junior, to reprove, correct, and check them. Joseph was a lot like his dad. He was a hard worker, a man of integrity and he was responsible. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. Notice that here Jacob is referred to as Israel, the new name used when his actions are orchestrating a divine plan. If you were to translate this verse literally from the original Hebrew into English, it would say "a son of old age was he to him". The words "son of his old age" is a Hebrew phrase, for "a wise son"—one who possessed observation and wisdom above his years. The Scripture does not say that Jacob loved Joseph more than his brothers...but that "Israel loved Joseph more than all his brothers." So Joseph was favored because he was wise for his age. The word "loved" is translated from the a Hebrew word that mean "to Favor." Many sources indicate that the "coat of many colors" is translated fro, a Hebrew word that means robe or outer coat which has long sleeve to the wrists and went all the way to the ankles. It may have been a robe without seams, sewn from top to bottom in one piece. Such a garment was worn by noblemen and kings' daughters. The purpose of this garment was to mark out Joseph as the future head of the family. Joseph’s brothers had grieved and disgraced Jacob in many things. Reuben slept with Bilhah, Jacob's concubine in an effort to keep her from becoming a legitimate wife and he was worried she would take the place of his mother, Leah. Thus he lost his firstborn birthright. Simeon and Levi weren't worthy because of their cruelty to the Shechimites. Their hatred was so deep and keen, they not only inwardly hated him, but they could not conceal their hatred. 5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf." God gave dreams to reveal His plan. It is probable that Joseph did not understand his dreams at first, and therefore, in great simplicity, told it to his brothers. These dreams were given as divine confirmation that he was the right person to receive the birthright. 8 And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. The brother's jealousy grew even worse when they hear of the dream. Not only was Joseph favored by Israel, but they rightly interpreted the dream, though they hated the interpretation of it. 9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me." Everything that is started in Genesis is finished in Revelation. This second dream is not only a prophecy what will happen in Joseph's lifetime but also an interpretation of Revelation chapter 12. Everything in Revelation is explained somewhere else in scripture. 10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?" And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Revelations were frequently made to Jacob so he retained it in his memory. By giving Joseph a second dream God was making it perfectly clear what was going to happen. Joseph will become the leader of his family. 12 Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them." So he said to him, "Here I am." 14 Then he said to him, "Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me." So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem. Jacob was concerned about them because they were in hostile territory about 50 miles away. This was where Simeon and Levi massacred all the men in the town. So, he sends Joseph to find out if they're okay. 15 Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, "What are you seeking?" Some Rabbinical commentators point out that the "certain man" is an angel or a Christophany giving Joseph direction. So he said, "I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks." And the man said, "They have departed from here, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan. Then Joseph traveled another 20 miles northward. he word Dothan means "two wells," and both wells are still in existence, one of which bears the name of the "pit of Joseph". 18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, "Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, 'Some wild beast has devoured him.' We shall see what will become of his dreams!" The hatred of Joseph's brethren grew. When they saw him coming, they formed a plot to kill him, to stop his dreams from coming true. This is not the first time they planned murder which shows their violent and dangerous nature. 21 But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, "Let us not kill him." And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him"—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father. Reuben, who had acted so badly with his father's concubine, was not a man of violence so he didn't take part in that plot. He must have gone off somewhere after they put Joseph into the pit. He had every intention of coming back to deliver him to his father again; safe and sound, in order to reconcile with his father. 23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it. The "pit" was a bottled-shaped cistern hewn in the rock with bottle shaped hallow mouths used as an underground recepticle for collecting rainwater. Cisterns often became dry before the rains came. It is impossible to get out from it without help. 25 And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. They were cold and ruthless for even though they heard Joseph pleas, they refused to listen and went on with their meal. The traveling caravan of both Midianites and Midianites are not the sons of Ishmael. The term Ishmaelites here refers to the tribes who were subject to Ishmael's authority and that of his race rather than the descendant of both Hagar and Keturah (sons of Abraham's concubines). This area was a well traveled trade route. All these products were in great demand in Egypt because they were used for embalming which was a major industry in Egypt. 26 So Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brothers listened. Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt. In Exodus 31:32 the standard price for a slave was thirty shekels but in Leviticus 27:5 twenty shekels is set for a young man. They rationalized that by not killing him, they wouldn't be guilty of God's command. Judah's line produced King David and his dynasty and, eventually, through the line of Perez, came the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" 29 Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. And he returned to his brothers and said, "The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?" Reuben had his heart set on returning Joseph to his father. These verses do not indicate that Reuben knew that they sold Joseph. Assuming his brothers killed Joseph, he tore his clothes which was their way of mourning and we see this over and again in the Old Testament. 31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, "We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?" They "sent" the tunic indicating that they probably sent some of their servants, whom they instructed what to say to their father when they presented it to him, unwilling to see the first reaction by Jacob. 33 And he recognized it and said, "It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces." Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, "For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning." Thus his father wept for him. The brothers never once thought how their father would feel when he received the news of Joseph. They let Jacob jump to the conclusion that he was killed by a wild animal. 36 Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. Joseph was brought to Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt located on the west bank of the Nile It was the seat of Pharoah, king of Egypt, in whose court Moses was brought up. Bible Study Questions 1. Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
2. Israel loved Joseph because He was wise for his age then all his children.
3. In Joseph's dream, the sheep stood all around and bowed down to my sheep.
4. Jacob was happy that Joseph was having visions.
5. Joseph's brothers went to feed their father's flocks in Hamon.
6. Dothan gave directions to Joseph when he was looking for his brothers.
7. Simeon delivered Joseph out of their brother's hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.”
8. The brother's planned to drown Joseph in the pit of water.
9. Servants took the robe to their father and asked if it belonged to Joseph.
10. Descendants of Ishmael sold Joseph to Potiphar, captain of the guard.
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