What is happening in the story where Joseph is sent to his brothers?

In this passage, Joseph’s brothers have gone to feed their father’s flock near Shechem. Israel, who is Joseph’s father, sends Joseph from the valley of Hebron to see how they and the flocks are doing and to bring back news. Joseph obeys at once and goes, even though he knows his brothers dislike him. When he cannot find them in Shechem, an unnamed man tells him they have gone to Dothan, so Joseph keeps going until he finds them. This simple errand of obedience becomes the setting for their plot against him.

Why did Joseph’s brothers want to kill him and call him a dreamer?

Joseph’s brothers already hated him because he was loved by their father in a special way and because he had told them dreams that showed him in a place of honour over them. When they see him coming, they call him “this dreamer,” mocking the dreams and the idea that he might one day rule. Their jealousy and anger grow into a plan to murder him. By rejecting his dreams, they are really pushing back against what God had shown through those dreams. The passage shows how envy can harden a heart until even a brother’s life seems cheap.

Why did Reuben tell the brothers to throw Joseph into a pit instead of killing him?

Reuben hears the plan to kill Joseph and speaks up. He says, “Let us not kill him” and tells them to throw Joseph into a pit in the wilderness and not lay a hand on him. His hidden hope is to come back later, pull Joseph out, and bring him safely to their father. So he tries to lessen their sin and save Joseph’s life without directly fighting them. This shows that even among very sinful choices, there can still be a pull toward mercy. Yet his plan also reminds us that human attempts, on their own, cannot finally control how events unfold. God’s purpose still moves forward.

What is the meaning of Joseph being stripped and thrown into a dry pit?

When Joseph reaches his brothers, they grab him and strip off his coat of many colours, which had been a sign of his father’s love and favour. Taking the coat is like saying they reject that favour. Then they throw him into an empty pit with no water, leaving him helpless and alone. The dry pit pictures his deep suffering and isolation. At the same time, this moment begins the path by which God will later lift him up and use him to save many people. Joseph’s humiliation and rejection hint at another innocent one who would be rejected and yet used by God to bring salvation.

Why did Judah suggest selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites instead of leaving him to die?

As the brothers see a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, Judah raises a new idea. He asks what profit there would be in killing their brother and hiding his blood, and suggests selling Joseph to the traders instead. He argues they should not lay hands on him because he is their brother and their own flesh. His plan still treats Joseph like an object to trade, but it pulls them back from outright murder. It shows a twisted mix of greed, shame, and family feeling. Even this selfish decision is used by God to bring Joseph to Egypt, where his later work will save his family.

Who were the Ishmaelites and Midianites that bought Joseph, and why are both names used?

The passage speaks of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead and then also mentions Midianite merchantmen. These were trading groups that travelled by caravan, carrying spices, balm, and myrrh down to Egypt to sell. The wording here has been read in more than one way. Some understand the names as overlapping descriptions for the same trading party. Others think Joseph was first in the hands of Midianites and then sold on to Ishmaelites. Either way, the point is that foreign traders, focused on business, become the means by which Joseph is taken away to Egypt in God’s hidden plan.

What does this passage teach about God’s providence when people act with evil motives?

In this story, almost every human choice is shaped by sin. The brothers are driven by jealousy and hatred, they plot murder, then shift to selling their own brother for silver. They sit down to eat while he suffers in the pit. Yet, through all this, God is not absent. By Joseph being sent to his brothers, then to Dothan, then to the pit, and finally to Egypt, God is quietly arranging things so that Joseph will later be in a place to save his family from famine. The passage shows that even when people intend harm, God can bend their actions toward His good purposes.

How is Joseph’s experience in this passage a picture of Christ?

Joseph is sent by his father to seek the good of his brothers, even though they hate him. He goes willingly and says, “Here am I.” When he reaches them, they reject him, strip him of his special coat, and hand him over for pieces of silver to be taken away. In this, many see a picture of Christ, who was sent by the Father, came in love to his own people, was rejected, stripped, and betrayed for silver. Joseph’s suffering leads to later glory and rescue for his family, which points to how Christ’s suffering leads to salvation for many.

Why is the brothers’ decision to sit and eat after throwing Joseph into the pit so serious?

After they throw Joseph into the empty pit, the brothers sit down to eat bread. This simple detail shows how hard their hearts have become. Their own brother is crying out from a dark hole, yet they feel calm enough to enjoy a meal. It pictures how repeated sin can dull a person’s conscience. When anger and envy are fed for a long time, even very cruel actions can start to feel normal. This scene reminds us to guard our hearts, confess hatred and jealousy early, and not let sin grow until it numbs us to the pain we cause others.

How can this story of Joseph being betrayed and sold speak into my own suffering?

Joseph did everything right in this scene. He obeyed his father, went the extra distance to find his brothers, and still was met with hatred and betrayal. For a time, it looked like his life had been ruined. Yet God was quietly using even this deep pain to prepare a greater good. When you suffer because of others’ sin, this story says that your pain is seen by God and is not wasted. It does not excuse what others do, but it does show that God can weave even dark chapters into a bigger plan, and that suffering can be the path to later blessing.

Gen.37.12

Genesis 37:12

KJV

¶ And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.

Joseph Sold into Egypt

¶ And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.

And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

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.

¶ And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.

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.

And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

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.

And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is 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.

¶ And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

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 it down to Egypt.

And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

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 pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

¶ And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

Cross References

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