Genesis 37:4

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2 This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a ^abad report of them to his father.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was ^athe son of his old age. Also he ^bmade him a tunic of many colors.

4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they ^ahated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.

6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:

7 ^aThere we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, ^athe sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and ^ayour brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”

11 And ^ahis brothers envied him, but his father ^bkept the matter in mind.

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

12 Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.

13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in ^aShechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.”

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Genesis 37:4

And could not speak peaceably unto him - Does not this imply, in our use of the term, that they were continually quarrelling with him? but this is no meaning of the original: velo yachelu dabbero leshalom , they could not speak peace to him, i. e., they would not accost him in a friendly manner. They would not even wish him well. The eastern method of salutation is, Peace be to thee! shalom lecha , among the Hebrews, and salam , peace, or salam kebibi , peace to thee my friend, among the Arabs. Now as peace among those nations comprehends all kinds of blessings spiritual and temporal, so they are careful not to say it to those whom they do not cordially wish well. It is not an unusual thing for an Arab or a Turk to hesitate to return the salam , if given by a Christian, or by one of whom he has not a favorable opinion: and this, in their own country, may be ever considered as a mark of hostility; not only as a proof that they do not wish you well, but that if they have an opportunity they will do you an injury. This was precisely the case with respect to Joseph' s brethren: they would not give him the salam , and therefore felt themselves at liberty to take the first opportunity to injure him.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Genesis 37:4:**

Genesis 37:14
Genesis 49:23

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Genesis 37:5 >>

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