A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Genesis · Chapter 37
CHAP. XXXVII.
Verſ. 2. JOſeph being ſeventeen years old, &c.]
Hereby it appears that theſe things were done before Iſaacs death. Joſeph was thirty years old when he ſtood before Pharaoh, chap. 41. 46. and then was Jacob 121 years old (for nine years after, when the ſeven years of plenty were ſpent, and two of the famine, he was but 130) therefore Jacob was but 108 now when Joſeph was 17, and Iſaac but 168 (for he was but 60 years older then Jacob. Gen. 25. 26. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Eſaus heel, and his name was called Jacob: and Iſaac was 60 years old when ſhe bare them) whereas he lived 180 years, chap. 35. 28. a little after the time that Joſeph ſtood before Pharaoh.
And the lad was with the ſonnes of Bilhah and Zilpah:]
As there was alwayes great emulation between Rachel and Leah, ſo it was likely enough to be continued amongſt their children: and therefore it is very probable that Jacob did purpoſely place Joſeph amongſt the ſonnes of the handmaids, rather then amongſt the ſonnes of Leah, that he might be trained up in the knowledge and skill of ordering his cattle, amongſt thoſe that were not ſo likely to maligne him, and that the rather alſo becauſe he might well hope that Bilhah (who was Rachels handmaid) and her ſonnes would even for Rachels ſake be the more tender over Joſeph.
And Joſeph brought unto his father their evil report.]
That is, Joſeph returned to his father their evil words and deeds; and principally I conceive it is meant of their evil dealing with him, though other their evil carriage be not excluded, becauſe that which follows in the next verſes ſeems to be added, to ſhew the reaſon of this evil, whereof Joſeph accuſed them, to wit, that becauſe of Jacobs ſingular love to Joſeph, his brethren hated him, and would not ſpeak peaceably unto him.
Verſ. 5. And Joſeph dreamed a dream, and told it his brethren.]
To wit, not out of a vain-glorious boaſting, but out of youthfull ſimplicitie, and becauſe himſelf wondred at it: yet withall doubtleſſe there was a ſpeciall providence of God in cauſing him thus to reveal his dreams, that by this prediction of his future exaltation, his father and brethren might the more plainly ſee vvhen it came to paſſe that it vvas of God.
Verſ. 6. Behold we were binding ſheaves in the field, &c.]
This dream, concerning their ſheaves of corn, was the fitter to repreſent their bowing down before Joſeph; becauſe it was for corn that they afterwards went down into Egypt and ſued to Joſeph, when they did (as was now foretold) in ſo ſubmiſſive a manner yield obeiſance unto him.
Verſ. 10. And his father rebuked him.]
Not knowing that theſe dreams were of God, to foreſhow what ſhould befall Joſeph; and being carried away at firſt with a ſudden fear leſt they proceeded from his own ambitious thoughts, and ſhould ſtirre up the envy of his brethren againſt him, he gives him a gentle reproof, both to prevent the exalting of Joſephs mind, and that his brethren might not imagine, to the increaſe of their envy, that he had any thought of preferring Joſeph before them: though afterward when he came to conſider with himſelf that he had two dreams tending both to ſignifie the ſame thing, and withall bethought himſelf what excellent gifts of mind God had beſtowed on him, he began to think that there might be ſomewhat in it more then yet they perceived, and ſo laid it the more to heart, as it is ſaid verſ. 12. His father obſerved the ſaying.
Shall I and thy mother, &c.]
The mother of the family, and ſo his ſtepmother, whether Leah, or Bilhah; for Rachel was now dead.
Verſ. 13. Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem, &c.]
Shechem was, as is generally held, above 16 miles from Hebron, where Jacob now dwelt, the very place where that maſſacre was by his ſonnes committed, Gen. 34. However his ſonnes were gone thither to feed their flock, becauſe happely the place was ever ſince uninhabited, at leaſt they having been gone from thence ſo many years ſince were not likely to be there known; yet this might make him the more carefull to inquire of their welfare, and though happely he had of late kept his Joſeph at home, to prevent all diſcord betwixt him and his brethren, yet now he ſends him to ſee how they did, becauſe this might alſo procure him favour amongſt them. All which doth aggravate the following wickedneſſe of Jacobs ſonnes, that did ſo ill requite the love of their caref…ll father.
Verſ. 15. And a certain man found him, &c.]
All this is thus particularly related, that his pains in ſeeking them might aggravate their crueltie to him.
Verſ. 21. And Ruben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, &c.]
That Reuben did at firſt diſſwade them earneſtly from offering any violence, is evident by his own vvords to his brethren when they vvere in Egypt, chap. 42. 22. Spake I not unto you, ſaying, Do not ſinne againſt the child, and ye would not hear? But novv he delivered him by perſwading them not to kill him, but to caſt him into a pit, and there to let him lye, intending withall to draw him out ſecretly afterward, and ſo to reſtore him to his father. Obſervable indeed it is that Reuben ſhould do this, who (being Jacobs eldeſt ſonne, and that by Leah) had moſt cauſe to be jealous of, and inraged againſt, the ſuſpected ſuperioritie of this ſonne of Rachel: But herein was the power of God magnified, vvho made him the inſtrument of delivering Joſeph that vvas moſt unlikely to have done it: and yet there may be ſome reaſons withall conceived, why Reuben above all the reſt ſhould ſeek to reſcue Joſeph out of their hands; for having lately repented him of that his foul inceſt, with Bilhah his fathers concubine (for vve cannot think that the Patriarchs vvhen they fell ſo grievouſly did alſo runne on in a ſtate of impenitency) he vvas doubtleſſe the more tender of having any hand again in ſuch a high degree of vvickedneſſe, and vvas happely glad to have ſo fair an occaſion to aſſvvage his fathers diſpleaſure, conceiving evil againſt him for his former ſinne, and fearing leſt this intended vvickedneſſe, ſhould it come to his fathers knovvledge, vvould be chiefly charged upon him, even becauſe of his former offenſe.
Verſ. 28. Then there paſſed by Midianites.]
The Merchants to vvhom Joſeph vvas ſold are in ſeverall places called ſometimes Iſhmaelites ſometimes Midianites, vvho yet vvere tvvo diſtinct nations, the one of Iſhmael Hagars ſonne, the other of Midian Keturahs ſonne, Gen 25. 2. but becauſe they dvvelt both in Arabia, it is moſt likely that there vvas in this company of Merchants both Iſhmaelites and Midianites, vvho did traffick together, and to that purpoſe vvere going together into Egypt, and are therefore called ſometimes Iſhmaelites, ſometimes Midianites.
And they drew & lift up Joſeph out of the pit.]
Reuben being formerly upon ſome pretence ſlipped avvay from them, that he might go about ſome other vvay, & take Joſeph out of the pit without their knowledge, in his abſence they ſold him to theſe Arabian Merchants, and chuckerd themſelves no doubt with thinking how farre they ſhould be now from crouching to him, that was himſelf made a bondſlave. Doubtleſſe Joſeph did both before when they caſt him into the pit, and now again, earneſtly beg of them with many tears that they would not do it, as is evident by their own confeſſion, Gen. 42. 21. And they ſaid one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we ſaw the anguiſh of his ſoul, when he beſought us, and we would not hear; but malice had for the preſent hardened their hearts.
Verſ. 29. And he rent his clothes.]
As the cuſtome was in thoſe times, when any grievous calamitie or ſorrow befell men, either thereby to expreſſe how their hearts were broken and torn with grief and anguiſh of ſpirit, or elſe how little comfort they took in any thing, and how little they cared what became of them, not minding thoſe things which were moſt uſefull for them.
Verſ. 30. And he returned unto his brethren, and ſaid, The child is not.]
Hereby meaning not onelyonly that he was not in the pit, but alſo that they had ſlain him in his abſence, as at firſt they intended; for in Scripture thoſe that are dead are ſaid not to be, Jer. 31. 15. Rachel weeping for her children refuſed to be comforted, becauſe they were not. Queſtionleſſe Reuben (for the reaſons before noted upon ver. 21.) was ſeriouſly and heartily diſtreſſed for that they had done; yet evident it is on the other ſide, that when they had told him, that they had onelyonly ſold him to the Iſhmaelites, and had not ſlain him, he conſented to conceal this their fact from their father, and to deceive him with a forget tale, becauſe he ſhould otherwiſe have ſtirred up the hatred of all his brethren againſt him, wherein though he cannot be excuſed from ſinning greatly, yet he was farre leſſe guilty then the reſt of his brethren.
Verſ. 35. And all his daughters roſe up to comfort him.]
He might have other daughters beſides Dinah, though they be not mentioned: but however, hereby may be meant his ſonnes wives or their daughters.
But he refuſed to be comforted.]
That is, ſo farre did his paſſions prevail over him that he minded not what they ſaid to him, but even gave way to the extremitie of his ſorrow; which is noted as an infirmitie in this good Patriarch, but chiefly to aggravate the wickedneſſe of his ſonnes, who had brought this ſorrow upon their father, yea upon Iſaac their aged grandfather too, for he lived thirteen years after this, as is before noted ver. 1. and had therefore his ſhare doubtleſſ… in this ſorrow.