“1 And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father’s sojournings, in 2 the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought 3 the evil report of them unto their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors. And 4 his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren; and they hated him, and could not speak peaceably 5 unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his 6 brethren; and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have 7 dreamed; for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves came round about, and made obeisance to my 8 sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed yet a dream; and, behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars made obeisance 10 to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to 11 the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.” 18 “And they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto 19 them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said 20 one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, An evil beast hath devoured him; and 21 we shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand; and said, Let us 22 not take his life. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him: that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. 23 “And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph of his coat, the coat of many 24 colors that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into 25 the pit; and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a traveling company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and 26 myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and 27 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, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened unto him. And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt. 29 “And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph 30 was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a he goat, 31 and dipped the coat in the blood; and they sent the coat of 32 many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found; know now whether it be thy son’s coat or not. And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in 34 pieces. And Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon 35 his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down to the grave to my son mourning. And his father wept for him. 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard.”
SUGGESTIVE OUTLINE.
I. CAUSES:
1. Preliminary. (a) Jacob’s dwelling-place. V. 1. (b) Joseph’s age and occupation. V. 2.
2. Joseph told evil deeds of his brethren to his father. V. 2.
3. Loved his father, and the costly coat. Vs. 3, 4.
4. His dreams. (a) Of the sheaves. Vs. 5–8. (b) Of the sun, moon, and stars. Vs. 9–11. Note 1.
II. RESULTS:
1. Conspiracy to kill him. Vs. 18–20. Note 2.
2. Reuben’s entreaty. Vs. 21–24.
3. The interval. (a) Eating bread. (b) Passing of the Ishmaelites. V. 25.
4. Suggestion of Judah. Vs. 26–28.
5. Reuben’s terror. Vs. 29, 30.
6. Concealment of their guilt. Vs. 31, 32.
7. Father’s grief. Vs. 33–35.
8. Joseph sold into Egypt. V. 36.
Suggestive Readings.—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” pp. 208–212.
NOTES.
1. His brethren envied him.—As the lad stood before his brethren, his beautiful countenance lighted up with the spirit of inspiration, they could not withhold their admiration; but they did not choose to renounce their evil ways, and they hated the purity that reproved their sins. The same spirit that actuated Cain was kindling in their hearts.”
2. Let us slay him.—Stephen says that the “patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt.” Acts 7:9. Envy signifies: (1) “Malice; ill-will; spite.” (2) “Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of another’s excellence or good fortune; a repining at the prosperity or good of another.” Who can stand before envy? Prov. 27:4. The beginning of the history of the children of Israel was marked with envious hatred against their younger brother, just as the end of their history was characterized by the most intensely bitter hatred, even unto death, against their Elder Brother. Joseph was the tender and most-beloved son of his father, through whom he desired communication with his children; but his brethren sold him for twenty pieces of silver; Jesus was the only-begotten Son of God, through whom He emptied His heart of infinite love upon His fallen sons of earth; but they sold him for thirty pieces of silver.
ADDITIONAL STUDY.
(1) Note the downward steps on the part of Joseph’s brethren: (a) Envy, (b) hatred, (c) scheme of murder, (d) deceit, (e) a fearful expectation of wrath to be visited upon them. (2) Show from this chapter that Jacob understood and believed Joseph’s dreams. (3) What mistakes are recorded in this chapter? (a) Of Jacob? (b) Of Joseph? (c) Of Joseph’s brethren? (4) Who inherited Isaac’s earthly possessions, and who inherited the enduring substance? Chapter 35. What was the end of the birthright for which Jacob longed? Esau? Which did each receive? See “Patriarchs and Prophets,” page 208. (5) Show from this chapter that Jacob was a wanderer like his fathers. How old was he at his death? (6) Look up the history of Jacob’s well. What did Joseph’s coat signify? (7) Who was the chief instigator in the crime against Joseph? Gen. 42:24; 43:23; 24:36. See “Patriarchs and Prophets,” page 226. (8) What is the inevitable result of partiality in the family or in the school? (9) Note that the divine plan concerning the children of Israel is, in this chapter, being developed. See chapter 15:13.
