Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 37:1-8”
Categories: Genesis“Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic. His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, ‘Please listen to this dream which I have had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.’ Then his brothers said to him, ‘Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?’ So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.”
---End of Scripture verses---
“Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan.” “In contrast to Esau, who had migrated… This is, the land of Canaan, which only Isaac, of the three patriarchs, had never left. More specifically, the reference is to the Hebron region (v. 14)… The rest of the Book of Genesis is devoted to the story of Joseph—except for the abrupt and puzzling intrusion of the episode of Judah and Tamar (chap. 38) and Jacob’s moving last testament (chap. 49)… Esau has already attained peoplehood and has established kingship and tribal territory in the hill country of Seir, to which his clan had migrated… But Jacob must go down to Egypt where his offspring will become enslaved, as foretold in the covenant God made with Abraham: ‘Your offspring shall be strangers in a land not theirs’ (15:13). This same picture of contrasting destinies appears as an explicit element in Joshua’s farewell speech…at Shechem: ‘I gave Esau the hill country of Seir as his possession, while Jacob and his children went down to Egypt’ (Josh. 24.4). Both events belong to God’s scheme of history; from now on, however, it will be the fortunes of Israel alone that will engage the attention of the biblical Narrator.” (Nahum Sarna)
“These are the records of the generations of Jacob.” (verse 2) This is the final “toledot” (generations) of the book of Genesis, and what follows is not the typical genealogy, but a shift in the biblical narrative from events in the life of Jacob to those of his beloved son, Joseph. “Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives.” Jacob was pasturing his father’s flocks along with Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. It is difficult to determine from the text whether he was serving under them because of his age or if he already ranked above them because of his family status or prodigious abilities. The relationship between Joseph and the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah would likely have been strained, regardless, because of the younger brother’s higher station by birthright and the great favoritism that Israel showered upon the young lad. It is interesting that Bilhah and Zilpah are now considered “wives” and not merely maid-servants of wives. By this time Leah may also have passed away as her sister, Rachel, had done years earlier.
“And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.” (verse 2) To add fuel to the fire of those tensions, Joseph could not tolerate his brothers’ abhorrent behavior while out in the field and far away from the watchful eye of their father. The text doesn’t reveal what the specifics of the improper conduct were, but the mortified mind of the younger brother compelled him to tell his father the shenanigans his brothers were up to. It is tempting to label Joseph a “spoiled tattletale” because of the way this story reads, but the lack of details warrants the use of caution. It is quite possible that the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah were engaging in gross immorality or even criminal behavior. Whatever the reason for Joseph’s snitching, the inspired author reveals in today’s verses the impetus behind his brother’s decision to inflict bodily harm upon him and eventually sell him into slavery.
“Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age…” (verse 3) It is painfully obvious that Jacob didn't learn his lesson from all the pain and anguish caused by his father and mother loving one son above the other in their dysfunctional household. Of course, Benjamin was Jacob’s youngest son, but Jacob was the first born to his beloved wife, Rachel, and this no doubt endeared him to the heart of his aged father. It can be a real challenge for parents to not play favorites with their offspring, especially when there is a whole slew of them running around the house. But even if one child is much more lovable than another, and we share a special bond with that child and they hold a tender place of fondness in our hearts, we should try our best to treat all of our children as equitably as possible. Playing favorites perversely elevates the preferred one and adversely submerges the one that is slighted and neglected. In short, favoritism hurts all parties involved. “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose”(Philippians 2:2).
“And he made him a varicolored tunic.” (verse 3) “The precise meaning of the Hebrew ketonet passim remains unclear. In 2 Samuel 13:18-19 the garment is mentioned as the distinctive dress of virgin daughters of royalty. Josephus describes it as 'a long-sleeved tunic reaching to the ankle.' In Aramaic and rabbinic Hebrew pas means the palm of the hand and the sole of the foot. Radak took passim to mean 'striped.' The Septuagint and Vulgate rendered the Hebrew 'robe of many colors.'” “Some of the later versions read 'coat of many colors' as 'a long sleeved coat,' but it is admitted by all that the text here is difficult and that no one really knows what is meant, except, that is, the only important thing, namely, that it was a distinctive, special garment designed to endow the wearer with special attention and favor... That such distinguished honor be emphasized in so conspicuous a manner was extremely foolish never seems to have entered Jacob's mind. Such action on his part was certain to foster egotism, arrogance, conceit, and pride on Joseph's part, and bitter envy and hatred on the part of his brothers.” (James Burton Coffman)
His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.” (verse 4) Jacob's brothers' jealousy toward him turned into hate, and hatred harbored within the heart never stays put for long. All that bitter emotion was put into motion by means of vindictive words and combative behavior. It was only a matter of time before the hurt feelings and harsh words morphed into something physically dangerous. Nahum Sarna suggested this passage implies that it wasn't the brother's speech that was the problem so much, but rather “'They could not abide his friendly speech.' In other words, they rebuffed every attempt by Joseph to be friendly.” In all likelihood and logic, both of these ideas were true. The brothers couldn't find a kind word for Jacob and they were infuriated all the more when he tried to play nice with them. This is what jealousy and animosity do to people, even the closest of friends and relatives. When Joseph foolishly related his dreams to his seething siblings their rage reached the boiling point and the lid was about to blow off of this pressure cooker.
“Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said to them, ‘Please listen to this dream which I have had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.’ Then his brothers said to him, ‘Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?’ So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.” (verses 5-8) Joseph would later become famous for his ability to interpret dreams, but this one needed no translation. His brothers knew perfectly well the implications Joseph and his dream were making and the compounding of their animosity toward him was the result. There seems to be an underlying inuendo in this dream as well: “The agricultural motif here hints at the circumstances that will occasion Joseph's rise to greatness (chap. 41).” (Nahum Sarna)
Please read Genesis 37:9-17 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
-Louie Taylor
