12 Then his brothers went to pasture their father's flock in Shechem . 13 Israel said to Joseph , "Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem ? Come , and I will send you to them." And he said to him, "I will go ." 14 Then he said to him, "Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock , and bring word back to me." So he sent him from the valley of Hebron , and he came to Shechem . 15 A man found him, and behold , he was wandering in the field ; and the man asked him, "What are you looking for?" 16 He said , "I am looking for my brothers ; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock." 17 Then the man said , "They have moved from here ; for I heard them say , 'Let us go to Dothan .' " So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan . 18 When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death . 19 They said to one another , "Here comes this dreamer e ! 20 "Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits ; and we will say , 'A wild beast devoured him.' Then let us see what will become of his dreams !" 21 But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said , "Let us not take his life ." 22 Reuben further said to them, "Shed no blood . Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness , but do not lay hands on him"-that he might rescue him out of their hands , to restore him to his father .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 37:12-22
Commentary on Genesis 37:12-22
(Read Genesis 37:12-22)
How readily does Joseph wait his father's orders! Those children who are best beloved by their parents, should be the most ready to obey them. See how deliberate Joseph's brethren were against him. They thought to slay him from malice aforethought, and in cold blood. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, 1 John 3:15. The sons of Jacob hated their brother because their father loved him. New occasions, as his dreams and the like, drew them on further; but this laid rankling in their hearts, till they resolved on his death. God has all hearts in his hands. Reuben had most reason to be jealous of Joseph, for he was the first-born; yet he proves his best friend. God overruled all to serve his own purpose, of making Joseph an instrument to save much people alive. Joseph was a type of Christ; for though he was the beloved Son of his Father, and hated by a wicked world, yet the Father sent him out of his bosom to visit us in great humility and love. He came from heaven to earth to seek and save us; yet then malicious plots were laid against him. His own not only received him not, but crucified him. This he submitted to, as a part of his design to redeem and save us.