Genesis 37:1-36

37:3 | The Hebrew phrase for a tunic of many colors describes a robe with “long sleeves and skirts” rather than varied hues. Although Joseph’s coat was definitely an ornamental, distinctive garment, the coat was significant for its symbolism, not its beauty: Joseph would be the heir of his father. Joseph’s 11 brothers had coats too. Their tunics were short-sleeved and short-waisted, making it easier for them to do their work.

37:12-17 | Because it was the dry season, Jacob’s 10 older sons traveled from Hebron to find grasslands and water for their flocks. Joseph’s obedience to his father was courageous (considering the hostility of his siblngs) and complete. Whe he did not find his brothers near Shechem as expected, he continued to Dothan, about 12 miles away by the roads of the day.

37:18-22 | the brothers plotted to kill Joseph and throw him in a cistern (pit). Reuben, the oldest brother, convinced them to cast Joseph into a cistern alive instead, with the secret hope that he might rescue Joseph later. This move saved Joseph’s life. Cisterns were dug as reservoirs for water, sloping downward and outward with a narrow opening at the top. A person thrown into one would be unable to escape because there were no handholds or footholds.

37:25-28 | Judah, seeing a way to profit from their crime, recommended they sell Joseph as a slave. The sale was tantamount to death (42:21), but the brothers believed it would relieve them of direct responsibility. The price of twenty shekels of silver marks the integrity of this account; later in Israel’s histlry, a slave would be sold for 30 shekels of silver. Ironically, the traveling merchants were Ishmaelites, descendants of Ishmael, the first son of Abraham.

37:29-35 | Reuben was distressed when he returned and found the cistern empty. As the firstborn, he bore great responsibility for his younger brothers. Where shall I go? describes his feelings of turmoil for both Joseph and himself. Jacob - a deceiver in earlier times - was deceived by his sons into thinking that Joseph was dead.