Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 37”
Categories: Genesis- A brief summary of the final section of Genesis beginning with chapter 37.
I am posting an introduction to Genesis chapter 37 by James Burton Coffman from his commentary on Genesis provided free online by www.studylight.org with no additional commentary of my own. He gives some excellent insights and important things to consider as we delve into this material over the next several weeks. Thanks!
“Here, in Genesis 37:2, begins the tenth and final division of Genesis, the same being the [~toledowth] of Jacob, following logically upon that of Esau just concluded. The narrative in this section is concerned chiefly with the story of Joseph; and, for that reason, liberal scholars often fail to see that the story of Joseph is secondary, absolutely, to the overall history of Israel, the posterity of Jacob, as they are removed to Egypt, rise to greatness as a nation, suffer enslavement, and are later delivered. It is the authority of the patriarch Jacob that continues throughout this section to the very end of it, especially as it pertained to the bringing in of the Messiah; and the authority of Joseph pertained only to the secular and temporal affairs of the chosen nation. The whole section, therefore, is accurately introduced as the [~toledowth] of Jacob.
One need not be surprised that critical commentators resist such a conclusion. It should be remembered that they are still preoccupied with trying to justify their inaccurate understanding of the use of [~toledowth] in the early chapters of Genesis. As Dummelow observed, "This section is the history of Jacob's descendants, especially of Joseph."[1] Although Joseph is a key factor in the development of the nation at this point, dominating the narrative almost completely. Nevertheless, "Jacob is still the dominant character."[2]
The entire last section of Genesis, beginning here, records eleven important events which were significant in the continued development of Israel. Willis, following Skinner, listed these as follows.[3]
- Joseph sold into Egypt by his brothers (Genesis 37).
- Judah continues the Messianic line through his daughter-in-law (Genesis 37).
- Joseph is cast into prison in Egypt (Genesis 39).
- Joseph interprets the dreams of the butler and the baker (Genesis 40).
- Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream (Genesis 41:1-52).
- When the predicted famine comes, Joseph's brothers come to Egypt (Genesis 41:53-44:34).
- On the second trip, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers (Genesis 45).
- Jacob and all his family move to Egypt (Genesis 46-47).
- Jacob blesses the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48).
- Final blessing and prophecy of Jacob (Genesis 49).
- Death, burial, and mourning for Jacob, Joseph's reconcilation with his brothers, his death, embalming, and request concerning his bones, when at last the children of Israel should re-enter Canaan (Genesis 50).
The very summary of these dramatic events suggests the intense interest that has always centered in this part of Genesis. Scholars of all shades of belief have praised the unity, beauty, and effectiveness of this astounding narrative, in which the finger of God is so evident, overruling the sins and wickedness of men in order to achieve the divine purpose.
Furthermore, there is no need to question whether, or not, we are dealing here with history or legend. It is history, accurate and detailed history. As Richardson said, the onus of proof does not rest upon those receiving this account as history, "but on those who seek some other explanation."[4]
It is also of very great interest that Joseph appears in these chapters as somewhat of a type of Jesus Christ. We cannot affirm that he is indeed such a type, for the N.T. nowhere refers to him as such, and in the fact of his name being finally identified with the Northern Israel (Ephraim), their reprobacy, and final removal from the face of the earth, one is surely confronted with an insurmountable obstacle (in making him a type), as is also the case with his marriage to a pagan princess. Nevertheless, there are significant resemblances which have been pointed out by many:
- The brothers of Joseph were envious and hated him; just so it was with Jesus who was hated by his brethren ("For envy they delivered him"... Matthew 27:18).
- Both Joseph and Jesus were sold for silver.
- The efforts of Joseph's brothers to destroy him actually elevated him; and the efforts of Satan to destroy Christ made him the Saviour of all the world.
- Joseph found himself "in a sense" between two malefactors, the butler and the baker; Christ was crucified between two thieves.
- One of those characters was forgiven and elevated, the other was not; just so the two thieves with Jesus - one was forgiven the other not.
- Joseph, beloved of the father, was sent with a mission to the brethren; Jesus was sent from the Father with a mission to Israel.
- Joseph begged of the chief butler that he would remember him when restored to his honor; and, in an interchange resembling this, but with marked differences, the forgiven thief requested that Jesus would "remember" him when he came into his kingdom.
- Joseph saved the whole Jewish nation from the famine and death by bringing them into the land of Goshen; Christ saves the new Israel by bringing them into his kingdom.
"Though these parallels are not stamped as typical in the N.T., there can hardly be any doubt as to their validity."[5]There is yet another oddity in that Joseph begged the body of the First Israel from Pharaoh, along with the privilege of burying it. And another Joseph, in time, begged the body of the New Israel from Pontius Pilate, along with the privilege of burying it!”
Please read Genesis 37:18-24 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
-Louie Taylor
