Genesis 37

In chapter 36, Esau was increasing in power and wealth. In contrast, Jacob, still waiting for the promise, lived in the land as a foreigner, like his father. He remained a temporary resident with a single family.

Worldly greatness often comes more quickly than spiritual greatness. Waiting for the promised spiritual blessing while others prosper tests patience, faith, and perseverance.

• The account of Jacob and his family now turns to Joseph and his brothers. Jacob is still important, but the story focuses on Joseph, who is introduced as an obedient seventeen-year-old son.

• he brought their father a bad report about them: Bringing a bad report is not popular, but it was the right thing to do. It shows that Joseph was faithful from the beginning. As the story continues, his brothers’ wicked behavior becomes clearer. In the end, like Cain, they even tried to kill the brother who pleased God.

• The story of Joseph and his brothers is a distinct section in Genesis. It has a different tone and focus from the earlier parts. The story follows one connected series of events, with Joseph at the center.

• Repeated themes structure the entire story of Joseph. These themes are similar to those in wisdom books like Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Daniel.

  Similar events that happen more than once shape the whole story. Its themes are like those in wisdom books (books that teach how to live well), such as Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Daniel. These books teach that God can bring good out of evil and joy out of suffering.

  Even if this does not fully happen in this life, it will happen in the life to come. Although the wicked may succeed for a time, the righteous (those who live rightly before God) should remain faithful. A deeper and lasting way of life comes through obedience to God.

  Anyone who hopes to be a leader in God’s plan can learn from Joseph’s story. Wisdom guided him and led to his success. Jesus Christ perfectly lived out this wisdom because he is the wisdom of God.

• Judah is also an important person in the story. At first, he was careless and unkind, like his brothers. But later, he truly repented (turned away from his sin). He was willing to give his life to save a younger brother for his father. Because of this, he received an important inheritance.

• Israel (or Jacob): See also 37:13.

• Israel loved Joseph more than his other children. Joseph was born when Israel was old. He was the first son of Israel's favorite wife, Rachel.

• Israel gave Joseph a beautiful robe to show he planned to give him the largest share of the inheritance.

Jacob’s favoritism (treating one child better than the others) toward Joseph made his other sons hate him even more. In the same way, Isaac’s and Rebekah’s favoritism had divided their family. Now Jacob’s favoritism would lead to separation between him and his son Joseph.

God confirmed his choice of this faithful son as the future leader of the family through two symbolic dreams. This is the first of three dream sequences in chapters 37–50 (see 40:1–41:36; compare 15:13; 20:3; 28:12–15; 31:24). Dreams were often seen as a way God spoke to people. People considered a dream to be more important if it was given twice (repeated to show it was certain).

The sheaves of grain suggest how Joseph would gain authority over his family (see 42:1–3).

The brothers reacted angrily to the revelation, unlike Joseph, who was honest and faithful. This shows why they were not chosen as leaders. Leaders in God's plan cannot be full of jealousy and hatred.

In their anger, they missed an important part of the revelation. They also would become rulers ("stars," 37:9) and would successfully gather their sheaves (37:7).

the sun and moon and eleven stars: Signs like the sun, moon, and stars often stand for rulers. The dream showed that Joseph would become a leader over the whole family of Israel.

your mother … and I: Joseph's birth mother, Rachel, was dead (35:19). Leah was now the matriarch of the clan.

• Joseph’s brothers hated him because they were jealous. Instead of recognizing that God was at work, they tried to stop his dreams from coming true (37:18–36). These actions show that they were not ready to lead God’s people.

  God’s choice of a leader (especially someone young or who seems unqualified) often reveals what is in people’s hearts. It shows whether they are willing to accept that leader’s authority. Joseph’s brothers represent many people throughout history who act with envy (jealous anger) and malice (a desire to harm others) because they are not committed to doing the Lord’s will.

• Jacob wondered what the dreams meant because he knew God would choose the next leader. He understood that God could choose the younger son to lead the older ones and could reveal all this in dreams.

It was foolish for Jacob to send Joseph on such a mission, knowing how the brothers felt about him. Joseph obeyed his father by going to find his brothers despite their hatred for him.

The brothers traveled over a wide area. Shechem was about 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) from Hebron. Dothan was another 24 kilometers (15 miles) beyond Shechem.

When Joseph's brothers saw him coming, they plotted to kill … that dreamer and stop his dreams. Earlier, they had unjustly killed the men of Shechem to avenge their sister (chapter 34). Now, in the region of Shechem, they plotted to unjustly kill their own brother out of jealousy.

Reuben might have been trying to regain his father's favor (35:22) by acting as the firstborn leader (compare 42:22). Reuben succeeded in saving Joseph's life, but he did not win his father's favor (37:29–30).

The repeated theme of changed clothes points to changes in status, position, and authority (see 37:3, 23; 38:14, 19; 39:15–18; 41:14, 42).

The Ishmaelite traders were descendants of the slave child who was cast out for mocking Isaac. Now they would enslave Joseph. When he was sold for 20 pieces of silver and carried to Egypt, he was at least preserved alive.

Judah began to take a leadership role, which he continued to develop as the story goes on (see 43:8–10).

• The Ishmaelites are called Midianite traders (that is, traders from Midian). Ishmaelites were descendants of Abraham through Hagar (16:5). Midianites were descendants of Abraham through Keturah (25:1–2). The term Ishmaelite may have been used more generally for desert tribes (nomadic groups who move from place to place). The Midianites may also have been traveling with a separate group of Ishmaelite traders (37:27).

• Kidnapping (taking a person by force) is mentioned in 40:15. Later, it became a capital offense (a crime punished by death) in Israel’s law (see Exodus 21:16).

When Reuben returned, he tore his clothes in grief. His attempt to restore his relationship with his father by saving Joseph had gone wrong.

The family’s long pattern of deception influenced the brothers. Jacob had used a young goat to deceive Isaac (27:5–17). Now Jacob’s sons deceived him using a goat (see study note on 30:34–36).

your son's: The brothers were so full of hatred that they did not call Joseph by name or acknowledge him as their brother (see 21:10).

recognized: Compare with 27:23.

Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist: This showed his extreme distress and mourning (see 44:13; Job 1:20; 16:15). Jacob was devastated and refused to be comforted. This betrayal affected his entire family.

sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar: Joseph worked in a position that matched his potential for leadership, but he still faced more testing.