“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.”
That is, the story of such things as came to him and his family, as Gen. 5:1 . He complained of the evil words and injuries which they spake and did against him. Or, slander.
“And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.”
God revealed to him by a dream what should come to pass.
“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.”
The more that God showed himself favorable to his, the more doth the malice of the wicked rage against them.
“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?”
Not despising the vision, but seeking to appease his brethren.
“And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.”
He knew that God was author of the dream, but he understood not the meaning. Or, kept diligently.
“And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.”
The holy Ghost covereth not men’s faults, as do vain writers, which make vice virtue.
“And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.”
Hebrew, let us not smite his life . Cross references: : Gen. 42:22
“And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.”
Their hypocrisy appeareth in this that they feared man more than God: and thought it was not murder, if they shed not his blood: or else had an excuse to cover their fault.
“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.”
Or, rosen, turpentine, or treacle.
“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.”
Moses writing according to the opinion of them which took the Midianites and Ishmaelites to be both one, doth here confound their names: as also appeareth, verse 36 and Gen. 39:1 , or else he was first offered to the Midianites, but sold to the Ishmaelites.
“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.”
To wit, the messengers which were sent.
“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.”
Or, I will mourn for him so long as I live.
“And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard. officer: Heb. eunuch: but the word doth signify not only eunuchs, but also chamberlains, courtiers, and officers captain: or, chief marshal: Heb. chief of the slaughter men, or executioners”
Or, captain of the guard. Which word doth not always signify him that is gelded, but also him that is in some high dignity.