The Book of Genesis
Chapter 37
Genesis 37:1-4
And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
1. Joseph was how old in this chapter?
2. Whose son's did Joseph run with?
3. Who are Bilhah and Zilpah, are they wives or concubines?
4. Joseph brought 'their evil report' meaning...
a. Joseph was a tattletail?
b. Joseph clearly disapproved of bad behavior and complained?
c. Joseph was frank and outspoken against all evil?
d. All the above?
e. None of the above?
5. Who is Israel in verse 3?
6. What do you suppose 'old age' has to do with loving Joseph best?
7. At the end of verse 4 it says: 'could not speak peaceably unto him', does this give an impression of how much Joseph's brothers despised him?
Genesis 37:5-8
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
1. What was Joseph's dream?
2. Why did this dream cause Joseph to be hated even more?
3. Do you think hate here is too strong a word for what the brothers felt?
Genesis 37:9-11
And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
1. What was Joseph's second dream about?
2. What did it mean?
3. Who are the sun and moon in this dream with the 11 stars?
4. How did Joseph's father react to Joseph's dream?
5. How do you think Joseph's father would have reacted to Joseph's first dream?
6. What do you suppose it means that Israel 'observed (or marked) the saying' in verse 11...
a. To keep?
b. To watch?
c. To take heed to?
d. All the above?
e. None of the above?
7. What does the New Testament teach us about envy?
Genesis 37:12-14
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.
1. Israel sent Joseph on an errand to do what?
2. What do you think Joseph meant by 'Here I am" at the end of verse 13?
Genesis 37:15-17
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.
1. Were Joseph's brothers where they were suppose to be?
2. Where had they gone?
3. Did Joseph turn back to tell his father or did he continue on to find his brothers?
Genesis 37:18-19
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.
1. Were Joseph's brothers happy to see him?
2. What did they do when they saw him coming?
3. Do you think the word 'dreamer' was used with contempt?
Genesis 37:20-24
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.
1. What was the brother's plans concerning Joseph?
2. Who is Reuben?
3. What did Reuben want to change about this plan?
4. What was Reubens intent?
5. What difference would it have made whether or not there was water in the pit?
Genesis 37:25-27
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.
1. Do you think it possible that Joseph's brothers realized they couldn't let their little brother die in a pit or do you think they really were interested in profit?
2. Who were they threatening to sell Joseph to?
3. Who are the Ishmeelites?
Genesis 37:28
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.
1. While the brothers are making plans, that they may or may not have gone through with, someone came by and took matters out of their hands, who brought Joseph out of the pit?
2. What did they do with Joseph?
3. How much was Joseph sold for?
4. Jesus was betrayed for how many pieces of silver? (Matt.26:15)
Genesis 37:29-32
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? And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.
1. When Rueben found his little brother missing from the pit what was his reaction?
2. What was Rueben saying to his brothers in verse 30?
3. What plan did the brothers come up with to hide their involvement of Josephs disappearance?
Genesis 37:33-36
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.
1. Did Jacob believe Joseph was dead?
2. What did Jacob do?
3. Do you think Joseph's brothers had any idea, at the time of their plan, what grief their father would suffer?
4. Did others try to comfort Jacob?
5. Did Jacob find comfort in this chapter?
Bonus Questions:
1. Do you think Joseph's brothers really would have killed Joseph, or sold him?
2. Do you suppose that Reuben really loved his little brother?
3. Can you imagine what kind of mischief 11 brothers can get into?
4. Is their a lesson in this chapter on envy and lying?
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