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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Genesis 37:1 - 37:1
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Gen 37:1-2
The statement in Gen 37:1, which introduces the tholedoth of Jacob, “And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's pilgrimage, in the land of Canaan,” implies that Jacob had now entered upon his father's inheritance, and carries on the patriarchal pilgrim-life in Canaan, the further development of which was determined by the wonderful career of Joseph. This strange and eventful career of Joseph commenced when he was 17 years old. The notice of his age at the commencement of the narrative which follows, is introduced with reference to the principal topic in it, viz., the sale of Joseph, which was to prepare the way, according to the wonderful counsel of God, for the fulfilment of the divine revelation to Abraham respecting the future history of his seed (Gen 15:13.). While feeding the flock with his brethren, and, as he was young, with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, who were nearer his age than the sons of Leah, he brought an evil report of them to his father (רָעָה intentionally indefinite, connected with דִּבָּתָם without an article). The words נַעַר וְהוּא, “and he a lad,” are subordinate to the main clause: they are not to be rendered, however, “he was a lad with the sons,” but, “as he was young, he fed the flock with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah.”
Gen 37:3-4
“Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his (other) sons, because he was born in his old age,” as the first-fruits of the beloved Rachel (Benjamin was hardly a year old at this time). And he made him פַּסִּים כְּתֹנֶת: a long coat with sleeves (χιτὼν ἀστραγάλειος, Aqu., or ἀστραγαλωτός, lxx at 2Sa 13:18, tunica talaris, Vulg. ad Sam.), i.e., an upper coat reaching to the wrists and ankles, such as noblemen and kings' daughters wore, not “a coat of many colours” (“bunter Rock,” as Luther renders it, from the χιτῶνα ποικίλον, tunicam polymitam, of the lxx and Vulgate). This partiality made Joseph hated by his brethren; so that they could not “speak peaceably unto him,” i.e., ask him how he was, offer him the usual salutation, “Peace be with thee.”