Genesis 37

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXXVII. Ver. 1—17. Joseph envied and hated by his brethren.—We now come to a character the most amiable, and to a history, one (at least) of the most interesting in the Old Testament; for if any child accustomed to read the Scriptures were asked to name such, he would say, the history of Joseph. There is no part of Scripture, indeed, which affords richer materials for practical reflections; yet these reflections so naturally suggest themselves to every serious reader, that there is no part less requires the labour of a commentator, exdent that Duke Korah was here inserted by the mistake of some transcriber, not agreeing with ver. 5. which makes him the son of Aholibamah, as does also ver.

18. To this agree Dr. Boothroyd, Dr. A. Clarke, and others. Ver. 24. Dr. Boothroyd, conceiving there is no foundation for rendering the Hebrew word Emim, mules, translates it waters; and observes that asses are very sagacious in discovering water. The Samaritan understands it of a warlike people, named Hmim, bordering on the Horites. But the Rabbins think that Anah was the first that produced mules. Jerome translates warm baths; and Onkelos, giants !—Dr. Clarke. Ver. 31. These are the kings, &c.—{Moses probably alludes to the promise which God made to Jacob, (ch. xxxv. 11.) that kings should proceed from him; and here states that these kings reigned before that prophecy begn to be fulfilled. |—Bagster.

Dr. Clarke supposes these verses not to ave been written. by Moses, but to have been inserted here by some ancient scribe, from (1 Chronicles 1:43), &c. for the purpose of connecting the history of Edom in one view. _ So Shuckford, Kennicott, &c. Dr. Boothroyd therefore wholly omits them in this chapter. rm Ver. 33, Bozrah.—(Bozrah, Bezer, or Bostra, was situated in Arabia Deserta, and the eastern part of Edom; and, according to Eusebius, was 24 miles from Edrei. It afterwards belonged to Moab, and was given by Moges to Reuben; but again reverted to Edom. It isnow called Baszra; and is deacribed by Burckhardt as the largest town in the Haouran, including its ruins, though only inhabited by about twelve or fifteen families.

It is situated in e 1Sa.2.22..24. b c.17.8.; 23.4.; 28.4.5; 36.7. He.11.9,.1 6. 1Co. L. lle; 5.15 11.18.; 69.4. Tit3.3. Eze. 16.16. g c.49.23. Ps.38.19. cept as to a few circumstances, occasioned by the high antiquity and the peculiar manners of the country. We have not found the lives of any of the Patriarchs barren of instructive incidents, but Joseph’s life is peculiar for the reverses it exhibits, in the depth of misery in which he was sunk, through the faulty indulgence of his father, and the height of power and splendour to which he was advanced by the guardian, fosterin, care of Divine Providence. We have laid the foundation of} Joseph’s misfortunes, if they may be so called, in the overweening affection of an injudicious parent.

His fine coat of different colours raised the envy of his brothers, and, probably, too much self-importance in the manncrs of the youth himself, who dreamed of nothing but superiority and distinction, which, though verified in the issue, appeared now improbable and pre- - _ These dreams were injudiciously related to his brethren, and increased their animosity till it grew to a settled hatred; and even his father, when he heard them, seems to have been somethe open plain, two hours distant from Aare, and is at present the last inhabited place in the south-east extremity of the Haouran. It is of an oval shape, its greatest length being from east to west; and its circumference three quarters of an hour.)]—Bagsver.

‘ Ver. 34. Temant.—{ Eusebius places Teman, or Theman, which probably gave name to “ the land of Temani,” in Arabia Petrwa, five miles from Petra, and says there was a Roman garrison there. ]}—Bagsrer. Chap. XXXVIL Ver. 1. The land wherein his father was a stranger.—Here (as often) the Hebrew is more literally rendered in the margin; “ the land of his father’s sojournings”—the land of Canaan. Ver. 2. Their evil report.—There seems some doubt whether thie means their report of Joseph, So the Alexandrian, LXX., and some of the fathers: but itis much more likely to have been his report of them. Being a pious _youth, with what he saw and heard they “vexed his righteous soul from day to day.” See 2 Peter ii.

7, 8.—-These are the generations of Jacob.— That is, in our language, Here follows another chapter of his history. Ver, 3. A coat of many colow’s.—There is no word for nary in the original, and there is a doubt among commentators whether it were party-coloured like that of Tamar, ((2 Samuel 13:18).) or only ornamented, like that prepare for Sisera, with “ divers colours of needlework.” ((Judges 5:30).) It was certainly a mark of preference and distinction. Ver. 4. They could not speak peaceably.—Rather, ‘‘ They could not speak peace to him, or give him the usual salam, Peace be unto thee.”—Dr. ‘Clarke. Ver. 9. The sunand moon, and (the) eleven stars.—The article he should be here omitted, ae not in the original; and it is observable how promptly Jacob interpreted these images, as they were afterwards used in Scripture prophecy, and gemerally in the Eastern nations.

According to Achmet, as quoted by Mede, “the sun signifies a king; the moon, the next to him. in dignity; the morning star, the third in rank; and the other stars inferior Ver. 19. This dreamer.—Hefrew; ‘This master df dreams;” this artful nobles." Sap a c: dreamer. So his brethren are afterwards called, in the Hebrew, “ masters of arrows; which is properly rendered by Ainsworth, “ cunning arclrers.” (Genesis 49:23). They probably meant to insinuate, that he had fabricated these dreams. » i Ver. 20 and 33. Evil dedst.—That is, a wild beast, _ A 2 Ver. 25. Spicery.—[Nechoth, is rendered by the LKX, ‘incense;’" Syriac, “resin?” Samaritan, “balsam;? Aquila, ‘storax;"\ which is followed by Bochart.

‘This drug is abundant in Syria, according to Pliny, and here Mo. ses joins with it resin, honey, and myrrh; which agrees with the nature of the storax, which is the resin of a tree of the same name, ofa reddish colour, and peculiarly pleasant fragrance. Bailm.—Tzeri, which in Arabic, as a verb, is 40 flow, seems to be 4 Common name, as balnt or Valsarm willy us, for many of those oily resinous substances, which flow spontaneously, or by incision, from various trees or plants; accordingly the ancients have generally interpreted it resin. |— Bagster. Ver. 29. Rent his clothes.—One of the most ancient modes of expressing extreme grief and sorresw. Compare ver. 34. Ver. 33. Joseph is without doubt rent.—The Hebrew has here an eloquent and expressive repetition, ‘‘ Joseph is rent, is rent in pieces.’ Ver.

36, An oficer.—Hebrew, ‘‘ A eunuch; but our translators properly add, in the margin, “The word doth signify, not only eunuchs, but also chamberlains, courtiers, and officers.’’ (Esther 1:10).— Captain of the guard.— Hebrew, ‘‘ Chief (or marshal) of the slaughtermen, or executioners.” His oftice was to cut off the heads of all whom the king might order him. See Dr. Clarke