mh_parser/vol_split/1 - Genesis/Chapter 37.xml

<div2 id="Gen.xxxviii" n="xxxviii" next="Gen.xxxix" prev="Gen.xxxvii" progress="24.67%" title="Chapter XXXVII">
<pb id="Gen.xxxviii-Page_212" n="212"/>
<h2 id="Gen.xxxviii-p0.1">G E N E S I S</h2>
<h3 id="Gen.xxxviii-p0.2">CHAP. XXXVII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Gen.xxxviii-p1">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, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.1-Gen.37.2" parsed="|Gen|37|1|37|2" passage="Ge 37:1,2">ver.
1, 2</scripRef>. 2. Because his father loved him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.3-Gen.37.4" parsed="|Gen|37|3|37|4" passage="Ge 37:3,4">ver. 3, 4</scripRef>. 3. Because he dreamed of
his dominion over them, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.5-Gen.37.11" parsed="|Gen|37|5|37|11" passage="Ge 37:5-11">ver.
5-11</scripRef>. II. The mischiefs his brethren designed and did to
him. 1. The kind visit he made them gave an opportunity, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.12-Gen.37.17" parsed="|Gen|37|12|37|17" passage="Ge 37:12-17">ver. 12-17</scripRef>. 2. They designed to
slay him, but determined to starve him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.18-Gen.37.24" parsed="|Gen|37|18|37|24" passage="Ge 37:18-24">ver. 18-24</scripRef>. 3. They changed their purpose,
and sold him for a slave, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.25-Gen.37.28" parsed="|Gen|37|25|37|28" passage="Ge 37:25-28">ver.
25-28</scripRef>. 4. They made their father believe that he was
torn in pieces, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.29-Gen.37.35" parsed="|Gen|37|29|37|35" passage="Ge 37:29-35">ver.
29-35</scripRef>. 5. He was sold into Egypt to Potiphar, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.36" parsed="|Gen|37|36|0|0" passage="Ge 37:36">ver. 36</scripRef>. And all this was working
together for good.</p>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37" parsed="|Gen|37|0|0|0" passage="Ge 37" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.1-Gen.37.4" parsed="|Gen|37|1|37|4" passage="Ge 37:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.37.1-Gen.37.4">
<h4 id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.11">The History of Joseph. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxxviii-p1.12">b. c.</span> 1729.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxviii-p2">1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father
was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.   2 These <i>are</i>
the generations of Jacob. Joseph, <i>being</i> seventeen years old,
was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad <i>was</i>
with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's
wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.  
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he
<i>was</i> the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of
<i>many</i> colours.   4 And when his brethren saw that their
father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and
could not speak peaceably unto him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p3">Moses has no more to say of the Edomites,
unless as they happen to fall in Israel's way; but now applies
himself closely to the story of Jacob's family: <i>These are the
generations of Jacob.</i> His is not a bare barren genealogy as
that of Esau (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.36.1" parsed="|Gen|36|1|0|0" passage="Ge 36:1"><i>ch.</i> xxxvi.
1</scripRef>), but a memorable useful history. Here is, 1. Jacob a
sojourner with his father Isaac, who has yet living, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.1" parsed="|Gen|37|1|0|0" passage="Ge 37:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. We shall never be at
home, till we come to heaven. 2. Joseph, a shepherd, <i>feeding the
flock with his brethren,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.2" parsed="|Gen|37|2|0|0" passage="Ge 37:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. Though he was his father's darling, yet he was not
brought up in idleness or delicacy. Those do not truly love their
children that do not inure them to business, and labour, and
mortification. The fondling of children is with good reason
commonly called the spoiling of them. Those that are trained up to
do nothing are likely to be good for nothing. 3. Joseph beloved by
his father (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.3" parsed="|Gen|37|3|0|0" passage="Ge 37:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>),
partly for his dear mother's sake that was dead, and partly for his
own sake, because he was the greatest comfort of his old age;
probably he waited on him, and was more observant of him than the
rest of his sons; he was the <i>son of the ancient</i> so some;
that is, when he was a child, he was as grave and discreet as if he
had been an old man, a child, but not childish. Jacob proclaimed
his affection to him by dressing him finer than the rest of his
children: He <i>made him a coat of divers colours,</i> which
probably was significant of further honors intended him. Note,
Though those children are happy that have that in them which justly
recommends them to their parents' particular love, yet it is the
prudence of parents not to make a difference between one child and
another, unless there be a great and manifest cause given for it by
the children's dutifulness or undutifulness; paternal government
must be impartial, and managed with a steady hand. 4. Joseph hated
by his brethren, (1.) Because his father loved him; when parents
make a difference, children soon take notice of it, and it often
occasions feuds and quarrels in families. (2.) Because he
<i>brought to his father their evil report.</i> Jacob's sons did
that, when they were from under his eye, which they durst not have
done if they had been at home with him; but Joseph gave his father
an account of their bad carriage, that he might reprove and
restrain them; not as a malicious tale-bearer, to sow discord, but
as a faithful brother, who, when he durst not admonish them
himself, represented their faults to one that had authority to
admonish them. Note, [1.] It is common for friendly monitors to be
looked upon as enemies. Those that hate to be reformed hate those
that would reform them, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Prov.9.8" parsed="|Prov|9|8|0|0" passage="Pr 9:8">Prov. ix.
8</scripRef>. [2.] It is common for those that are beloved of God
to be hated by the world; whom Heaven blesses, hell curses. To
those to whom God speaks comfortably wicked men will not speak
peaceably. It is said here of Joseph, <i>the lad was with the sons
of Bilhah;</i> some read it, and he was <i>servant to them,</i>
they made him their drudge.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxxviii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.5-Gen.37.11" parsed="|Gen|37|5|37|11" passage="Ge 37:5-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.37.5-Gen.37.11">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxviii-p4">5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told
<i>it</i> his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.   6
And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have
dreamed:   7 For, behold, we <i>were</i> binding sheaves in
the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and,
behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my
sheaf.   8 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 his brethren, and
said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and
the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.   10 And
he told <i>it</i> to his father, and

<pb id="Gen.xxxviii-Page_213" n="213"/>

to his
brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What
<i>is</i> this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother
and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the
earth?   11 And his brethren envied him; but his father
observed the saying.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p5">Here, I. Joseph relates the prophetical
dreams he had, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.6-Gen.37.7 Bible:Gen.37.9 Bible:Gen.37.10" parsed="|Gen|37|6|37|7;|Gen|37|9|0|0;|Gen|37|10|0|0" passage="Ge 37:6,7,9,10"><i>v.</i> 6, 7,
9, 10</scripRef>. Though he was now very young (about seventeen
years old), yet he was pious and devout, and well-inclined, and
this fitted him for God's gracious discoveries of himself to him.
Joseph had a great deal of trouble before him, and therefore God
gave him betimes this prospect of his advancement, to support and
comfort him under the long and grievous troubles with which he was
to be exercised. Thus Christ had a <i>joy set before him,</i> and
so have Christians. Note, God has ways of preparing his people
beforehand for the trials which they cannot foresee, but which he
has an eye to in the comforts with which he furnishes them. His
dreams were, 1. That his brethren's sheaves all bowed to his,
intimating upon what occasion they should be brought to do homage
to him, namely, in seeking to him for corn; their empty sheaves
should bow to his full one. 2. That the sun, and moon, and eleven
stars, did obeisance to him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.9" parsed="|Gen|37|9|0|0" passage="Ge 37:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. Joseph was more of a prophet than a politician, else
he would have kept this to himself, when he could not but know that
his brethren did already hate him and that this would but the more
exasperate them. But, if he told it in his simplicity, yet God
directed it for the mortification of his brethren. Observe, Joseph
dreamed of his preferment, but he did not dream of his
imprisonment. Thus many young people, when they are setting out in
the world, think of nothing but prosperity and pleasure, and never
dream of trouble.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p6">II. His brethren take it very ill, and are
more and more enraged against him (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.8" parsed="|Gen|37|8|0|0" passage="Ge 37:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>Shalt thou indeed reign over
us?</i> See here, 1. How truly they interpreted his dream, that he
should reign over them. Those become the expositors of his dream
who were enemies to the accomplishment of it, as in Gideon's story
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.7.13-Judg.7.14" parsed="|Judg|7|13|7|14" passage="Jdg 7:13,14">Judg. vii. 13, 14</scripRef>);
they perceived that he spoke of them, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.21.45" parsed="|Matt|21|45|0|0" passage="Mt 21:45">Matt. xxi. 45</scripRef>. The event exactly answered to
this interpretation, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.6" parsed="|Gen|42|6|0|0" passage="Ge 42:6"><i>ch.</i> xlii.
6</scripRef>, &amp;c. 2. How scornfully they resented it: "<i>Shalt
thou,</i> who are but one, <i>reign over us,</i> who are many?
Thou, who are the youngest, over us who are older?" Note, The reign
and dominion of Jesus Christ, our Joseph, have been, and are,
despised and striven against by a carnal and unbelieving world, who
cannot endure to think that this man should reign over them. The
dominion also of the upright, in the morning of the resurrection,
is thought of with the utmost disdain.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p7">III. His father gives him a gentle rebuke
for it, yet observes the saying, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.10-Gen.37.11" parsed="|Gen|37|10|37|11" passage="Ge 37:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10, 11</scripRef>. Probably he checked him
for it, to lessen the offence which his brethren would be apt to
take at it; yet he took notice of it more than he seemed to do: he
insinuated that it was but an idle dream, because his mother was
brought in, who had been dead some time since; whereas <i>the sun,
moon, and eleven stars,</i> signify no more than the whole family
that should have a dependence upon him, and be glad to be beholden
to him. Note, The faith of God's people in God's promises is often
sorely shaken by their misunderstanding the promises and then
suggesting the improbabilities that attend the performance; but God
is doing his own work, and will do it, whether we understand him
aright or no. Jacob, like Mary (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.2.51" parsed="|Luke|2|51|0|0" passage="Lu 2:51">Luke
ii. 51</scripRef>), kept these things in his heart, and no doubt
remembered them long afterwards, when the event answered to the
prediction.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxxviii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.12-Gen.37.22" parsed="|Gen|37|12|37|22" passage="Ge 37:12-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.37.12-Gen.37.22">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxviii-p8">12 And his brethren went to feed their father's
flock in Shechem.   13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy
brethren feed <i>the flock</i> in Shechem? come, and I will send
thee unto them. And he said to him, Here <i>am I.</i>   14 And
he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy
brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he
sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.  
15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, <i>he was</i>
wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest
thou?   16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray
thee, where they feed <i>their flocks.</i>   17 And the man
said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to
Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in
Dothan.   18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he
came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.  
19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
  20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him
into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him:
and we shall see what will become of his dreams.   21 And
Reuben heard <i>it,</i> and he delivered him out of their hands;
and said, Let us not kill him.   22 And Reuben said unto them,
Shed no blood, <i>but</i> cast him into this pit

<pb id="Gen.xxxviii-Page_214" n="214"/>

that <i>is</i> in the wilderness, and lay no hand
upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him
to his father again.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p9">Here is, I. The kind visit which Joseph, in
obedience to his father's command, made to his brethren, who were
feeding the flock at Shechem, many miles off. Some suggest that
they went thither on purpose, expecting that Joseph would be sent
to see them, and that then they should have an opportunity to do
him a mischief. However, Joseph and his father had both of them
more of the innocence of the dove than of the wisdom of the
serpent, else he had never come thus into the hands of those that
hated him: but God designed it all for good. See in Joseph an
instance, 1. Of dutifulness to his father. Though he was his
father's darling, yet he was made, and was willing to be, his
father's servant. How readily does he wait his father's orders!
<i>Here I am,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.13" parsed="|Gen|37|13|0|0" passage="Ge 37:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. Note, Those children that are best beloved by their
parents should be most obedient to their parents; and then their
love is well-bestowed and well-returned. 2. Of kindness to his
brethren. Though he knew they hated him and envied him, yet he made
no objections against his father's commands, either from the
distance of the place or the danger of the journey, but cheerfully
embraced the opportunity of showing his respect to his brethren.
Note, It is a very good lesson, though it is learnt with difficulty
and rarely practised, <i>to love those that hate us;</i> if our
relations do not their duty to us, yet we must not be wanting in
our duty to them. This is thank-worthy. Joseph was sent by his
father to Shechem, to see whether his brethren were well there, and
whether the country had not risen upon them and destroyed them, in
revenge of their barbarous murder of the Shechemites some years
before. But Joseph, not finding them there, went to Dothan, which
showed that he undertook this journey, not only in obedience to his
father (for then he might have returned when he missed them at
Shechem, having done what his father told him), but out of love to
his brethren, and therefore he sought diligently till he found
them. Thus let brotherly love continue, and let us give proofs of
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p10">II. The bloody and malicious plot of his
brethren against him, who rendered good for evil, and, for his
love, were his adversaries. Observe, 1. How deliberate they were in
the contrivance of this mischief: when they <i>saw him afar off,
they conspired against him,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.18" parsed="|Gen|37|18|0|0" passage="Ge 37:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. It was not in a heat, or upon a
sudden provocation, that they thought to slay him, but from malice
prepense, and in cold blood. Note, Whosoever hateth his brother is
a murderer; for he will be one if he have an opportunity, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:1John.3.15" parsed="|1John|3|15|0|0" passage="1Jo 3:15">1 John iii. 15</scripRef>. Malice is a most
mischievous thing, and is in danger of making bloody work where it
is harboured and indulged. The more there is of a project and
contrivance in a sin the worse it is; it is bad to do evil, but
worse to devise it. 2. How cruel they were in their design; nothing
less than his blood would satisfy them: <i>Come, and let us slay
him,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.20" parsed="|Gen|37|20|0|0" passage="Ge 37:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>.
Note, The old enmity hunts for the precious life. It is the
<i>blood-thirsty</i> that <i>hate the upright</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.29.10" parsed="|Prov|29|10|0|0" passage="Pr 29:10">Prov. xxix. 10</scripRef>), and it is the blood
of the saints that the harlot is drunk with. 3. How scornfully they
reproached him for his dreams (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.19" parsed="|Gen|37|19|0|0" passage="Ge 37:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>): <i>This dreamer cometh;</i>
and (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.20" parsed="|Gen|37|20|0|0" passage="Ge 37:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>), <i>We
shall see what will become of his dreams.</i> This shows what it
was that fretted and enraged them. They could not endure to think
of doing homage to him; this was what they were plotting to prevent
by the murder of him. Note, Men that fret and rage at God's
counsels are impiously aiming to defeat them; but they imagine a
vain thing, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.1-Ps.2.3" parsed="|Ps|2|1|2|3" passage="Ps 2:1-3">Ps. ii. 1-3</scripRef>.
God's counsels will stand. 4. How they agreed to keep one another's
counsel, and to cover the murder with a lie: <i>We will say, Some
evil beast hath devoured him;</i> whereas in thus consulting to
devour him they proved themselves worse than the most evil beasts;
for evil beasts prey not on those of their own kind, but they were
tearing a piece of themselves.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p11">III. Reuben's project to deliver him,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.21-Gen.37.22" parsed="|Gen|37|21|37|22" passage="Ge 37:21,22"><i>v.</i> 21, 22</scripRef>. Note,
God can raise up friends for his people, even among their enemies;
for he has all hearts in his hands. Reuben, of all the brothers,
had most reason to be jealous of Joseph, for he was the first-born,
and so entitled to those distinguishing favours which Jacob was
conferring on Joseph; yet he proves his best friend. Reuben's
temper seems to have been soft and effeminate, which had betrayed
him to the sin of uncleanness; while the temper of the next two
brothers, Simeon and Levi, was fierce, which betrayed them to the
sin of murder, a sin which Reuben startled at the thought of. Note,
Our natural constitution should be guarded against those sins to
which it is most inclinable, and improved (as Reuben's here)
against those sins to which it is most averse. Reuben made a
proposal which they thought would effectually answer their
intention of destroying Joseph, and yet which he designed should
answer his intention of rescuing Joseph out of their hands and
restoring him to his father, probably hoping thereby to recover his
father's favour, which he had lately lost; but God overruled all to
serve his own purpose of making Joseph an instrument to save much
people alive. Joseph was here a type of Christ. Though he was the
beloved Son of his Father, and hated by a wicked world, yet the
Father sent him out of his bosom to visit us in great humility and
love. He came from heaven to earth, to seek and save us; yet then
malicious plots were laid against him. He came to his own, and his
own not only received him not, but consulted against him: <i>This
is the heir, come let us kill him; Crucify him,

<pb id="Gen.xxxviii-Page_215" n="215"/>

crucify him.</i> This he submitted to, in pursuance
of his design to redeem and save us.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxxviii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.23-Gen.37.30" parsed="|Gen|37|23|37|30" passage="Ge 37:23-30" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.37.23-Gen.37.30">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxviii-p12">23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come
unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat,
<i>his</i> coat of <i>many</i> colours that <i>was</i> on him;
  24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit
<i>was</i> empty, <i>there was</i> no water in it.   25 And
they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and
looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with
their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry
<i>it</i> down to Egypt.   26 And Judah said unto his
brethren, What profit <i>is it</i> if we slay our brother, and
conceal his blood?   27 Come, and let us sell him to the
Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he <i>is</i> our
brother <i>and</i> our flesh. And his brethren were content.  
28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and
lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites
for twenty <i>pieces</i> of silver: and they brought Joseph into
Egypt.   29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold,
Joseph <i>was</i> not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.  
30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child <i>is</i>
not; and I, whither shall I go?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p13">We have here the execution of their plot
against Joseph. 1. They stripped him, each striving to seize the
envied coat of many colours, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.23" parsed="|Gen|37|23|0|0" passage="Ge 37:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>. Thus, in imagination, they degraded him from the
birthright, of which perhaps this was the badge, grieving him,
affronting their father, and making themselves sport, while they
insulted over him. "Now, Joseph, where is the fine coat?" Thus our
Lord Jesus was stripped of his seamless coat, and thus his
suffering saints have first been industriously divested of their
privileges and honours, and then made the off-scouring of all
things. 2. They went about to starve him, throwing him into a dry
pit, to perish there with hunger and cold, so cruel were their
tender mercies, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.25" parsed="|Gen|37|25|0|0" passage="Ge 37:25"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. Note, Where envy reigns pity is banished, and
humanity itself is forgotten, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.27.4" parsed="|Prov|27|4|0|0" passage="Pr 27:4">Prov.
xxvii. 4</scripRef>. So full of deadly poison is malice that the
more barbarous any thing is the more grateful it is. Now Joseph
begged for his life, in <i>the anguish of his soul</i> (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.21" parsed="|Gen|42|21|0|0" passage="Ge 42:21"><i>ch.</i> xlii. 21</scripRef>), entreated, by
all imaginable endearments, that they would be content with his
coat and spare his life. He pleads innocence, relation, affection,
submission; he weeps and makes supplication, but all in vain.
Reuben alone relents and intercedes for him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.22" parsed="|Gen|42|22|0|0" passage="Ge 42:22"><i>ch.</i> xlii. 22</scripRef>. But he cannot prevail to
save Joseph from the horrible pit, in which they resolve he shall
die by degrees, and be buried alive. Is this he to whom his
brethren must do homage? Note, God's providences often seem to
contradict his purposes, even when they are serving them, and
working at a distance towards the accomplishment of them. 3. They
slighted him when he was in distress, and were not grieved for the
affliction of Joseph; for when he was pining away in the pit,
bemoaning his own misery, and with a languishing cry calling to
them for pity, <i>they sat down to eat bread,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.25" parsed="|Gen|37|25|0|0" passage="Ge 37:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>. (1.) They felt no
remorse of conscience for the sin; if they had, it would have
spoiled their appetite for their meat, and the relish of it. Note,
A great force put upon conscience commonly stupefies it, and for
the time deprives it both of sense and speech. Daring sinners are
secure ones. But the consciences of Joseph's brethren, though
asleep now, were roused long afterwards, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.21" parsed="|Gen|42|21|0|0" passage="Ge 42:21"><i>ch.</i> xlii. 21</scripRef>. (2.) They were now
pleased to think how they were freed from the fear of their
brother's dominion over them, and that, on the contrary, they had
turned the wheel upon him. They made merry over him, as the
persecutors over the two witnesses that had tormented them,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.8" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.10" parsed="|Rev|11|10|0|0" passage="Re 11:10">Rev. xi. 10</scripRef>. Note, Those
that oppose God's counsels may possibly prevail so far as to think
they have gained their point, and yet be deceived. 4. They sold
him. A caravan of merchants very opportunely passed by (Providence
so ordering it), and Judah made the motion that they should sell
Joseph to them, to be carried far enough off into Egypt, where, in
all probability, he would be lost, and never heard of more. (1.)
Judah proposed it in compassion to Joseph (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.9" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.26" parsed="|Gen|37|26|0|0" passage="Ge 37:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>): "<i>What profit is it if we
slay our brother?</i> it will be less guilt, and more gain, to sell
him." Note, When we are tempted to sin, we should consider the
unprofitableness of it. It is what there is nothing to be got by.
(2.) They acquiesced in it, because they thought that if he were
sold for a slave he would never be a lord, if sold into Egypt he
would never be their lord; yet all this was working towards it.
Note, The wrath of man shall praise God, and the remainder of wrath
he will restrain, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.76.10" parsed="|Ps|76|10|0|0" passage="Ps 76:10">Ps. lxxvi.
10</scripRef>. Joseph's brethren were wonderfully restrained from
murdering him, and their selling him was as wonderfully turned to
God's praise. As Joseph was sold by the contrivance of Judah for
twenty pieces of silver, so was our Lord Jesus for thirty, and by
one of the same name too, <i>Judas.</i> Reuben (it seems) had gone
away from his brethren, when they sold Joseph, intending to come
round some other way to the pit, and to help Joseph out of it, and
return him safely to his father. This was a kind project, but, if
it had taken effect, what had become of God's purpose concerning
his preferment in Egypt? Note, There

<pb id="Gen.xxxviii-Page_216" n="216"/>

are
many devices in man's heart, many devices of the enemies of God's
people to destroy them and of their friends to help them, which
perhaps are both disappointed, as these were; but the counsel of
the Lord, that shall stand. Reuben thought himself undone, because
the child was sold: <i>I, whither shall I go?</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.11" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.30" parsed="|Gen|37|30|0|0" passage="Ge 37:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>. He being the eldest,
his father would expect from him an account of Joseph; but, as it
proved, they would all have been undone if he had not been
sold.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxxviii-p13.12" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.31-Gen.37.36" parsed="|Gen|37|31|37|36" passage="Ge 37:31-36" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.37.31-Gen.37.36">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxxviii-p14">31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid
of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;   32 And they
sent the coat of <i>many</i> colours, and they brought <i>it</i> to
their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it
<i>be</i> thy son's coat or no.   33 And he knew it, and said,
<i>It is</i> my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph
is without doubt rent in pieces.   34 And Jacob rent his
clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son
many days.   35 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 into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father
wept for him.   36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, <i>and</i> captain of the
guard.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p15">I. Joseph would soon be missed, great
enquiry would be made for him, and therefore his brethren have a
further design, to make the world believe that Joseph was torn in
pieces by a wild beast; and this they did, 1. To clear themselves,
that they might not be suspected to have done him any mischief.
Note, We have all learned of Adam to cover our transgression,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.31.33" parsed="|Job|31|33|0|0" passage="Job 31:33">Job xxxi. 33</scripRef>. When the
devil has taught men to commit one sin, he then teaches them to
conceal it with another, theft and murder with lying and perjury;
but he that covers his sin shall not prosper long. Joseph's
brethren kept their own and one another's counsel for some time,
but their villany came to light at last, and it is here published
to the world, and the remembrance of it transmitted to every age.
2. To grieve their good father. It seems designed by them on
purpose to be revenged upon him for his distinguishing love of
Joseph. It was contrived on purpose to create the utmost vexation
to him. They sent him Joseph's coat of many colours, with one
colour more than it had had, a bloody colour, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.32" parsed="|Gen|37|32|0|0" passage="Ge 37:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>. They pretended they had found
it in the fields, and Jacob himself must be scornfully asked, <i>Is
this thy son's coat?</i> Now the badge of his honour is the
discovery of his fate; and it is rashly inferred from the bloody
coat that <i>Joseph, without doubt, is rent in pieces.</i> Love is
always apt to fear the worst concerning the person beloved; there
is a love that casteth out fear, but that is a perfect love. Now
let those that know the heart of a parent suppose the agonies of
poor Jacob, and put their souls into his soul's stead. How strongly
does he represent to himself the direful idea of Joseph's misery!
Sleeping or waking, he imagines he sees the wild beast setting upon
Joseph, thinks he hears his piteous shrieks when the lion roared
against him, makes himself tremble and grow chill, many a time,
when he fancies how the beast sucked his blood, tore him limb from
limb, and left no remains of him, but the coat of many colours, to
carry the tidings. And no doubt it added no little to the grief
that he had exposed him, by sending him, and sending him all alone,
on this dangerous journey, which proved so fatal to him. This cuts
him to the heart, and he is ready to look upon himself as an
accessory to the death of his son. Now, (1.) Endeavours were used
to comfort him. His sons basely pretended to do it (<scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.35" parsed="|Gen|37|35|0|0" passage="Ge 37:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>); but miserable
hypocritical comforters were they all. Had they really desired to
comfort him, they might easily have done it, by telling him the
truth, "Joseph is alive, he is indeed sold into Egypt, but it will
be an easy thing to send thither and ransom him." This would have
<i>loosened his sackcloth, and girded him with gladness</i>
presently. I wonder their countenances did not betray their guilt,
and with what face they could pretend to condole with Jacob on the
death of Joseph, when they knew he was alive. Note, The heart is
strangely hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. But, (2.) It was
all in vain: <i>Jacob refused to be comforted,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.35" parsed="|Gen|37|35|0|0" passage="Ge 37:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>. He was an obstinate
mourner, resolved to go down to the grave mourning. It was not a
sudden transport of passion, like that of David, <i>Would God I had
died for thee, my son, my son!</i> But, like Job, he hardened
himself in sorrow. Note, [1.] Great affection to any creature does
not prepare for so much the greater affliction, when it is either
removed from us or embittered to us. Inordinate love commonly ends
in immoderate grief; as much as the sway of the pendulum throws one
way, so much it will throw the other way. [2.] Those consult
neither the comfort of their souls nor the credit of their religion
that are determined in their sorrow upon any occasion whatsoever.
We must never say, "We will go to our grave mourning," because we
know not what joyful days Providence may yet reserve for us, and it
is our wisdom and duty to accommodate ourselves to Providence. [3.]
We often perplex ourselves with imaginary troubles. We fancy things
worse than they are, and then afflict ourselves more than we need.
Sometimes there needs no more to comfort us than to undeceive us:
it is good to hope the best.</p>
<pb id="Gen.xxxviii-Page_217" n="217"/>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxxviii-p16">II. The Ishmaelites and Midianites having
bought Joseph only to make their market of him, here we have him
sold again (with gain enough to the merchants, no doubt) to
Potiphar, <scripRef id="Gen.xxxviii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.36" parsed="|Gen|37|36|0|0" passage="Ge 37:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>.
Jacob was lamenting the loss of his life; had he known all he would
have lamented, though not so passionately, the loss of liberty.
Shall Jacob's freeborn son exchange the best robe of his family for
the livery of an Egyptian lord, and all the marks of servitude? How
soon was the land of Egypt made a house of bondage to the seed of
Jacob! Note, It is the wisdom of parents not to bring up their
children too delicately, because they know not to what hardships
and mortifications Providence may reduce them before they die.
Jacob little thought that ever his beloved Joseph would be thus
bought and sold for a servant.</p>
</div></div2>