# Overview Genesis Chapter 37 introduces the story of #Joseph, one of the twelve sons of #Jacob, also known as #Israel. The chapter begins with Jacob's deep affection for Joseph, his son by #Rachel, which causes tension and jealousy among Joseph's brothers. Jacob's favoritism is symbolized by the special coat of many colors he makes for Joseph. Joseph's dreams further escalate the tension, as they depict his family bowing down to him, suggesting his future prominence over them. These dreams, perceived as arrogant assertions by his brothers, fuel their animosity towards him, setting the stage for the ensuing conflict. The chapter culminates with the brothers' betrayal of Joseph. When Joseph is sent by Jacob to check on his brothers in #Shechem, they conspire against him. Initially intending to kill him, they are dissuaded by #Reuben, who suggests throwing Joseph into a pit with the intention of rescuing him later. However, while Reuben is absent, the brothers seize the opportunity to sell Joseph to a caravan of #Ishmaelites (or #Midianites), who take him to #Egypt. To cover up their actions, they dip Joseph’s coat in goat blood and present it to Jacob, leading him to believe that Joseph has been devoured by a wild animal. This chapter marks the beginning of Joseph's journey from favored son to a slave in Egypt, a pivotal moment in the unfolding narrative of God's providential plan for the nation of #Israel. ## Theological Insights Genesis 37 marks the beginning of the narrative of #Joseph, one of the twelve sons of #Jacob, also known as #Israel. This chapter is pivotal as it sets the stage for the unfolding of God's providential plan through the life of Joseph, which ultimately preserves the #Israelites during a time of famine. 1. **Divine Sovereignty and Human Agency**: Joseph's dreams, where his brothers' sheaves bow down to his sheaf and the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow to him, signify God's sovereign plan. These dreams foreshadow Joseph's future rise to power in Egypt and the eventual submission of his family to him. Despite the jealousy and hatred of his brothers, who plot to kill him and eventually sell him into slavery, God's purpose is not thwarted. This narrative demonstrates that human actions, even those with evil intent, are under God’s sovereign control and are used to accomplish His divine purposes (cf. [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 50|Genesis 50:20]]). 2. **Favoritism and Family Dynamics**: Jacob's favoritism towards Joseph, demonstrated by giving him a richly ornamented robe, breeds jealousy and conflict among the brothers. This theme of favoritism echoes previous generations, such as Isaac's preference for #Esau over #Jacob and #Rebekah's preference for Jacob over Esau, highlighting recurring familial patterns and the strife they cause. God's grace, however, is shown in His ability to work through these imperfect family dynamics to bring about His plans. 3. **Suffering and Growth**: Joseph's journey from favored son to slave is a path marked by suffering and injustice. Yet, this suffering is instrumental in Joseph's character development and the eventual salvation of his family. The narrative invites believers to trust in God's presence and purpose amid trials, echoing the assurance found in [[Romans/Romans Chapter 8|Romans 8:28]] that God works all things for the good of those who love Him. 4. **Foreshadowing of Christ**: Joseph is a type of Christ in several ways. Both are beloved sons sent by their fathers to seek the welfare of their brethren, both suffer unjustly at the hands of their own, and both ultimately become instruments of salvation. Joseph's life points forward to the greater deliverance accomplished by [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], who, though rejected by His own, becomes the Savior of the world. Genesis 37, therefore, is not just a story of family betrayal and dreams but a profound demonstration of God's providence, a call to trust in His sovereignty, and a preview of the redemptive work accomplished through Jesus Christ. ## Thematic Connections ### Dreams and Divine Revelation In #Genesis 37, #Joseph's dreams are central to the narrative, indicating divine revelation and foretelling his future prominence. Dreams as a means of divine communication are a recurring theme throughout the Bible, as seen in the life of #Daniel in the [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 2|book of Daniel]] and #Jacob's dream at #Bethel in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]]. These dreams signify God's sovereign plans and often serve as a catalyst for future events. ### Sibling Rivalry and Jealousy The theme of sibling rivalry is prominent in the story of Joseph and his brothers, echoing earlier narratives in #Genesis, such as #Cain and #Abel in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 4]] and #Esau and #Jacob in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 25]]. Joseph's favored status and his dreams provoke jealousy and hatred from his brothers, illustrating the destructive power of envy and the complexities of family dynamics. ### The Sovereignty of God Amid Human Actions Despite the malicious intent of Joseph's brothers, the unfolding events highlight God's sovereignty and providence. This theme is evident in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 50]], where Joseph acknowledges God's control over human affairs, stating that what his brothers meant for evil, God intended for good. This connection is a reminder of God's ability to work through human actions to fulfill His purposes, similar to the story of #Moses in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 2]], where God uses adverse circumstances to bring about deliverance. ### The Pit as a Symbol of Despair and Deliverance Joseph's casting into the pit by his brothers serves as a powerful symbol of despair and impending doom, yet it also foreshadows future deliverance and exaltation. This theme resonates with other biblical accounts, such as #Jeremiah's experience in the cistern in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 38]] and [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]' death and resurrection, where moments of apparent defeat lead to ultimate victory and fulfillment of God's plan. ### The Role of Favors and Partiality The preferential treatment given to Joseph by #Jacob, symbolized by the coat of many colors, introduces the theme of favoritism and its repercussions within a family. This theme is present in the earlier narrative of #Isaac's preference for #Esau and #Rebekah's for Jacob in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 25]], highlighting the potential for familial strife and division when partiality is displayed. ### God's Faithfulness to His Covenant People The narrative of Joseph, despite its immediate circumstances, is anchored in God's faithfulness to His covenant people. The unfolding story of Joseph ultimately contributes to the fulfillment of God's promises to #Abraham, #Isaac, and #Jacob, reinforcing the theme of divine faithfulness and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture. This echoes the covenantal promises seen in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]] and [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 15]]. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### Joseph's Dreams In Genesis 37, #Joseph's dreams serve as a foreshadowing of his future rise to power and the eventual fulfillment of God's plan for #Israel. These dreams, where his brothers' sheaves bow down to his sheaf and the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow to him, prefigure the events that unfold later in Joseph's life, including his rise to prominence in #Egypt and his role in preserving his family during famine. This narrative echoes the theme of God's sovereignty and providence, reminiscent of the prophetic assurance found in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 29|Jeremiah 29:11]], where God declares His plans to prosper and not to harm, to give hope and a future. ### The Rejection and Exaltation of Joseph #Joseph's initial rejection by his brothers parallels the rejection of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] by His own people, as referenced in [[John/John Chapter 1|John 1:11]]. Joseph's eventual exaltation in Egypt mirrors the exaltation of Jesus following His resurrection. This pattern of suffering followed by glory is echoed in the prophecies concerning the #Messiah, particularly in passages like [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 53|Isaiah 53]], which speak of the suffering servant who is ultimately vindicated by God. ### Preservation through Suffering The events in Genesis 37 also foreshadow the broader narrative of redemption and preservation that is central to the story of Israel and ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. Joseph's journey from suffering to salvation prefigures the suffering servant motif found in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 22|Psalm 22]] and the ultimate deliverance through Christ, who, though rejected and despised, becomes the cornerstone of salvation as highlighted in [[Psalms/Psalms Chapter 118|Psalm 118:22]]. This theme underscores God's ability to use trials and tribulations for His greater purpose and glory, culminating in the redemptive work of Christ. ## Verses - **Genesis 37:1** - "So Jacob settled again in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived as a foreigner." - #Jacob #Canaan #Isaac - See also: [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 17]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]] - **Genesis 37:2** - "This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father’s flocks. He worked for his half-brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing." - #Joseph #Bilhah #Zilpah - See also: [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 30]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 35]] - **Genesis 37:3** - "Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe." - #Jacob #Joseph - See also: [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 44]] - **Genesis 37:4** - "But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him." - #Joseph #Brothers - See also: [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 50]] - **Genesis 37:5** - "One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever." - #Joseph #Dreams - See also: [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 40]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 41]] - **Genesis 37:6** - "'Listen to this dream,' he said." - #Joseph #Dreams - **Genesis 37:7** - "'We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!'" - #Dream #Joseph - **Genesis 37:8** - "His brothers responded, 'So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?' And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them." - #Joseph #Brothers - **Genesis 37:9** - "Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. 'Listen, I have had another dream,' he said. 'The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!'" - #Dream #Joseph - **Genesis 37:10** - "This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. 'What kind of dream is that?' he asked. 'Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?'" - #Jacob #Joseph #Dream - **Genesis 37:11** - "But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant." - #Joseph #Jealousy #Jacob - **Genesis 37:12** - "Soon after this, Joseph’s brothers went to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem." - #Brothers #Shechem - **Genesis 37:13** - "When they had been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, 'Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them.' 'I’m ready to go,' Joseph replied." - #Jacob #Joseph #Sheep - **Genesis 37:14** - "‘Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are getting along,’ Jacob said. 'Then come back and bring me a report.' So Jacob sent him on his way, and Joseph traveled to Shechem from their home in the valley of Hebron." - #Joseph #Jacob #Hebron #Shechem - **Genesis 37:15** - "When he arrived there, a man from the area noticed him wandering around the countryside. 'What are you looking for?' he asked." - #Joseph - **Genesis 37:16** - "'I’m looking for my brothers,' Joseph replied. 'Do you know where they are pasturing their sheep?'" - #Joseph #Brothers - **Genesis 37:17** - "'Yes,' the man told him. 'They have moved on from here, but I heard them say, “Let’s go on to Dothan.”' So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan and found them there." - #Joseph #Dothan - **Genesis 37:18** - "When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him." - #Joseph #Brothers - **Genesis 37:19** - "'Here comes the dreamer!' they said." - #Joseph #Dreamer - **Genesis 37:20** - "'Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, “A wild animal has eaten him.” Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!'" - #Joseph #Brothers #Plot - **Genesis 37:21** - "But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. 'Let’s not kill him,' he said." - #Reuben #Joseph - **Genesis 37:22** - "'Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.' Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father." - #Reuben #Joseph #Cistern - **Genesis 37:23** - "So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing." - #Joseph #Robe - **Genesis 37:24** - "Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it." - #Joseph #Cistern - **Genesis 37:25** - "Then, just as they were sitting down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming toward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin from Gilead down to Egypt." - #Ishmaelites #Gilead #Egypt - **Genesis 37:26** - "Judah said to his brothers, 'What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime.'" - #Judah #Joseph - **Genesis 37:27** - "'Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!' And his brothers agreed." - #Judah #Joseph #Ishmaelites - **Genesis 37:28** - "So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt." - #Joseph #Ishmaelites #Midianites #Egypt - **Genesis 37:29** - "Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief." - #Reuben #Joseph - **Genesis 37:30** - "Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, 'The boy is gone! What will I do now?'" - #Reuben #Joseph - **Genesis 37:31** - "Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood." - #Joseph #Robe #Deception - **Genesis 37:32** - "They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: 'Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?'" - #Jacob #Joseph #Robe - **Genesis 37:33** - "Their father recognized it immediately. 'Yes,' he said, 'it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!'" - #Jacob #Joseph - **Genesis 37:34** - "Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time." - #Jacob #Mourning - **Genesis 37:35** - "His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. 'I will go to my grave mourning for my son,' he would say, and then he would weep." - #Jacob #Mourning - **Genesis 37:36** - "Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt." - #Joseph #Midianites #Potiphar #Egypt ### Cross-References by Chapter - **Joseph's Dreams** - [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 41]] - **Ishmaelites** - [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 16]] - **Judah** - [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 38]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 49]] - **Reuben** - [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 35]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 49]] - **Egypt** - [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 1]], [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 14]]