Monday, Sept. 2
Genesis 37:1-36 Read it here
This is sibling rivalry of literally biblical proportions. Joseph is not the oldest of Jacob’s sons, but he is the firstborn of Jacob’s true love, Rachel, so he has a special place in Jacob’s heart, and Jacob makes that clear.
One of the ways Jacob shows that love is giving Joseph a distinctive robe or cloak. Most of us are familiar with the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which takes its name from the common translation of this being a “coat of many colors.” The wording isn’t really clear; the New International Version translates it as being a “richly ornamented” robe. What is clear is that it was far nicer than what his brothers had, and didn’t endear him to them.
In verse 2 we get the sense that Joseph, even into adulthood, was a bit of a tattletale—again, not a way to gain popularity among his brothers.
And finally, we’re introduced to Joseph’s special gifts of receiving meaningful dreams and being able to interpret dreams. Those gifts, along with his lack of diplomacy, get him in trouble in this chapter, though they will serve him well later on.
When Joseph and his brothers are far away from the protection of his loving father, the brothers plot to kill Joseph.
The eldest, Reuben, suggests that rather than killing Joseph in cold blood they throw him into an empty cistern and leave him to die there—though Reuben plans to secretly return and save him.
But after the brothers dump him into the cistern, a group of traders pass by and another brother, Judah, suggests selling him into slavery instead. They do, getting 20 silver coins for their brother, who is taken on to Egypt to be sold.
The name “Judah” is a different form of the name “Judas.” In Genesis, one of the 12 suggests selling a favorite son. In the New Testament, another Judas—one of another 12—will trade pieces of silver for a favored son.
As in the New Testament story, this act of brutal betrayal will be used by God to save his people.