Joseph Sold Into Egypt by His Brothers
May 10, 2022
Commentary
This passage is both a story of hatred and deception. When the brothers saw Joseph coming, they plotted to kill him (vv. 18-20), but Reuben wanting to protect his brother, suggested that they place him in a pit, which they did (vv. 21-22). Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later and take him back to his father. Soon after this a group of nomadic merchants, on their way to Egypt, came along. Judah suggested to his brothers that rather than killing Joseph they should sell him to these Ishmaelites for 20 shekels (vv. 23-28). This was equal to 8 ounces of silver. All the brothers, except Reuben who was gone at the time, agreed and thus Joseph’s life in the providence of God was preserved.
As an explanation, to their father Jacob, as to what happened to Joseph, they dipped his fancy coat in goat’s blood and took it to him (vv. 29-32). This was to deceive the patriarch into thinking that Joseph had been devoured by a ferocious animal. Their use of goat’s blood is ironic, for the skins of a goat were what Jacob used to deceive his father (Gen. 27:16) into thinking he was Esau. Jacob’s sin of years before had come back to haunt him. The brothers would have to learn as Jacob did that God does not give His blessing to those who do such things. Jacob recognized his son’s robe and in grief tore his clothes and put sackcloth around his waist. His children tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted (vv. 33-35). During this time the Midianites had sold Joseph in Egypt to a man named Potiphar, who was the King’s official in charge of the palace guard (v. 36).
Application
This is certainly a vivid example of the law of the harvest. What I sow I will reap (Galatians 6:7). Sometimes it’s hard to realize that because of something I have done I’m now reaping the results.
Genesis 37:18– 36 (NET)
18 Now Joseph’s brothers saw him from a distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this master of dreams! 20 Come now, let’s kill him, throw him into one of the cisterns, and then say that a wild animal ate him. Then we’ll see how his dreams turn out!”
21 When Reuben heard this, he rescued Joseph from their hands, saying, “Let’s not take his life!” 22 Reuben continued, “Don’t shed blood! Throw him into this cistern that is here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” (Reuben said this so he could rescue Joseph from them and take him back to his father.)
23 When Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his tunic, the special tunic that he wore. 24 Then they took him and threw him into the cistern. (Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.)
25 When they sat down to eat their food, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let’s not lay a hand on him, for after all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed. 28 So when the Midianite merchants passed by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites then took Joseph to Egypt.
29 Later Reuben returned to the cistern to find that Joseph was not in it! He tore his clothes, 30 returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy isn’t there! And I, where can I go?” 31 So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a young goat, and dipped the tunic in the blood. 32 Then they brought the special tunic to their father and said, “We found this. Determine now whether it is your son’s tunic or not.”
33 He recognized it and exclaimed, “It is my son’s tunic! A wild animal has eaten him! Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters stood by him to console him, but he refused to be consoled. “No,” he said, “I will go to the grave mourning my son.” So Joseph’s father wept for him.
36 Now in Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.