seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Chapter 37:37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.
2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate[a] robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
2 This is the account of Jacob’s family line.
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate[a] robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
a. Genesis 37:3 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verses 23 and 32.
So, now that we've finished looking at Esau's family album, it's time to look at Jacob's [Israel's] son. Remember, Jacob really wanted to marry Rachel. It was love at first sight. She only had two boys. They were Joseph and Benjamin. She died in childbirth with Benjamin. These two boys were closer to Jacob than the children he had with the other wives he had.
The first time I read verse 2 I thought "Joseph is a tattletale". I want to put Joseph in that "perfect" light that most people put Bible characters.... but after meeting this really dysfunctional family, I can see how someone in this family would be the "perfect" kid. That's really irritating. So now we know that he's the favorite child and he's a tattletale on top of it!
Here's what the studylight.org commentary says about these verses.
These chapters are remarkable for the insight they give us into an obviously troubled family. From the beginning, we get the impression Joseph is sort of a pampered favorite of Jacob, who doesn't mind tattling on his older brothers at all.
Jacob's favoritism of Joseph was plain to all, including Joseph and his brothers. As an outward display of this, he was given a tunic of many colors. This signified a position of favor, princely standing, and birthright. It was a dramatic way of saying he was the son to receive the birthright.
Jacob's favoritism of Joseph is a source of conflict in the family. The brothers naturally hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.
Jacob's favoritism of Joseph was plain to all, including Joseph and his brothers. As an outward display of this, he was given a tunic of many colors. This signified a position of favor, princely standing, and birthright. It was a dramatic way of saying he was the son to receive the birthright.
The real idea behind the Hebrew phrase for tunic of many colors is that it was a tunic extending all the way down to the wrists and ankles, as opposed to a shorter one. This was not what a working man wore. It was a garment of privilege and status.
Jacob's favoritism of Joseph is a source of conflict in the family. The brothers naturally hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.
Wait maybe Joseph was a complainer.... At any rate, it appears that Jacob [Israel] really spoiled Rachel's oldest son.
What a family! Just think... this is the human family side of Jesus!
