GENESIS CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN OVERVIEW
Overall what is happening in this chapter is that Joseph tells his dreams to his brothers who sell him into slavery.
Thomas Coke (1801) – Genesis 37
Joseph relates his dreams to his brethren: they envy him; and, conspiring his death, first cast him into a pit, and afterwards sell him to some merchants, who carry him down to Egypt, and sell him to Potiphar. Jacob, supposing him slain, laments him with the deepest grief.
Matthew Henry (1714) – Genesis 37
Joseph is loved of Jacob, but hated by his brethren. (Genesis 37:1-4)
Joseph's dreams. (Genesis 37:5-11)
Jacob sends Joseph to visit his brethren, they conspire his death. (Genesis 37:12-22)
Joseph's brethren sell him. (Genesis 37:23-30)
Jacob deceived, Joseph sold to Potiphar. (Genesis 37:31-36)
Joseph Benson’s Commentary (1857) – Genesis 37
At this chapter begins the story of Joseph, Jacob’s eldest son by his beloved wife Rachel. We have:
(1.) The malice his brethren bore against him: they hated him:
1. Because he informed his father of their wickedness,
(Genesis37:1-2).
2. Because his father loved him, (Genesis 37:3-4).
3. Because he dreamed of his dominion over them, (Genesis 37:5-11).
(2.) The mischiefs his brethren designed and did to him:
1. The visit he made them, at his father’s command, gave them an opportunity, (Genesis 37:12-17).
2. They first designed to slay him, but afterward determined to starve him, (Genesis 37:18-24).
3, They again changed their purpose, and sold him for a slave, (Genesis 37:25-28).
4, They made their father believe that he was torn in pieces, (Genesis 37:29-35).
5. He was sold in Egypt to Potiphar, (Genesis 37:36). And all this was working together for good.
His whole story is so remarkably divided between his humiliation and his exaltation, that he evidently appears to have been designed to be a type of Christ, who was first humbled and then exalted. His history also shows the lot of all true Christians, who must, through many tribulations, enter the kingdom.
John Gill (1746) – Genesis 37
In this chapter begins the history of Joseph, with whom the remaining part of this book is chiefly concerned; and here are related the hatred of his brethren to him, because he brought an ill report of them to his father, and because his father loved him, and which was increased by the dream he dreamed, and told them of, (Genesis 37:1); a visit of his to his brethren in the fields, whom he found after a long search of them, (Genesis 37:12); their conspiracy on sight of him to slay him, but by the advice of Reuben it was agreed to cast him into a pit, which they did, (Genesis 37:18); and after that, at the motion of Judah, sold him to the Ishmaelites, who were going to Egypt, (Genesis 37:25); this being done, Reuben being absent, and not finding Joseph in the pit, was in great distress, (Genesis 37:29); their contrivance to deceive their father, and make him believe that Joseph was destroyed by a wild beast, which on the sight of the coat he credited, and became inconsolable, (Genesis 37:31); and the chapter concludes with the sale of Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, (Genesis 37:36).
Matthew Henry (1714) – Genesis 37
At this chapter begins the story of Joseph, who, in every subsequent chapter but one to the end of this book, makes the greatest figure. He was Jacob's eldest son by his beloved wife Rachel, born, as many eminent men were, of a mother that had been long barren. His story is so remarkably divided between his humiliation and his exaltation that we cannot avoid seeing something of Christ in it, who was first humbled and then exalted, and, in many instances, so as to answer the type of Joseph. It also shows the lot of Christians, who must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom.
In this chapter we have:
I. The malice his brethren bore against him. They hated him,
1. Because he informed his father of their wickedness (Genesis 37:1-2).
2. Because his father loved him (Genesis 37:3-4).
3. Because he dreamed of his dominion over them (Genesis 37:5-11).
II. The mischiefs his brethren designed and did to him.
1. The kind visit he made them gave an opportunity (Genesis 37:12-17).
2. They designed to slay him, but determined to starve him (Genesis 37:18-24).
3. They changed their purpose, and sold him for a slave (Genesis 37:25-28).
4. They made their father believe that he was torn in pieces (Genesis 37:29-35).
5. He was sold into Egypt to Potiphar (Genesis 37:36).
And all this was working together for good.
KEY VERSE
Genesis 37:5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
KEY CROSS-REFERENCE
Numbers 12:6 He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream.
KEY EVENT
Joseph has a dream.
KEY THOUGHT
There is not suggestion that Joseph was “showing off” when he told his dream. He was only telling them what he had seen.
KEY QUOTE
“When God gives a dream – He will fulfill it in His timeline. His plans will never fail, and He will fulfill it – when He fulfills it.”
