seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 37:23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.
28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels(b) of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.
28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels(b) of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
b. Genesis 37:28 That is, about 8 ounces or about 230 grams
A cistern is a big hole which was carved into the rock. It would have been larger at the bottom than the top. During the rain, it would fill, then watering flocks and evaporation would slowly dry it out. Because it was like a beaker, there was no way a man could get out without help.
They sold him for less than $20. It was not the price that concerned them. His brothers wanted him gone. He was in the way of their inheritance. It was annoying how Jacob [Israel] fawned over him all the time. They just did not like him and they wanted him gone.
I found this in bible-commentaries.com.
In Truman Capot's book "In Cold Blood" two men murder a family of four, husband and wife and two children. After committing the crime they get in their car and drive away. Then they stop, eat something and laugh. Sometimes sitting down and eating can be more criminal than killing someone.
While the brothers are eating and relaxing they see a caravan of merchants pass. They are described as Ishmaelites and Midianites coming from Gilead on their way to Egypt. These people were not slaves handlers. At least, we are told that their merchandise consisted of spices, balm and myrrh. It is Judah who conceives the idea that to sell Joseph would even be better than killing him. Selling him they make at least some money. Selling Joseph is the lesser of two evils, but it is evil. Whether Judah had some qualms or not, we cannot tell. His conscience does not bother him as it does Reuben, but there may have been a tender spot that could lead to his salvation. We have to remember that the brothers are more motivated by their hatred of their father than of Joseph. Ultimately what they do is an effort to get back at Jacob as we shall see later.
While the brothers are eating and relaxing they see a caravan of merchants pass. They are described as Ishmaelites and Midianites coming from Gilead on their way to Egypt. These people were not slaves handlers. At least, we are told that their merchandise consisted of spices, balm and myrrh. It is Judah who conceives the idea that to sell Joseph would even be better than killing him. Selling him they make at least some money. Selling Joseph is the lesser of two evils, but it is evil. Whether Judah had some qualms or not, we cannot tell. His conscience does not bother him as it does Reuben, but there may have been a tender spot that could lead to his salvation. We have to remember that the brothers are more motivated by their hatred of their father than of Joseph. Ultimately what they do is an effort to get back at Jacob as we shall see later.
History lesson.... the traders were descendants of Abraham. The merchants were family.... they were descendants of Ishmael and Midian. These were cousins. After Sarah and Hagar, Abraham had another wife or wives. Midian is one of Abraham's sons. Remember, Ishmael was the son of Hagar and Abraham. He was driven away because Sarah was jealous and Abraham just wanted to make her happy. In Genesis 25:1-6 we already learned that all the sons were jilted when Abraham left everything to his favorite son, Isaac. There's no family love here at all.
I have to mention Judah here. Judah was Leah's son. Leah, was the wife Jacob [Israel] didn't mean to marry. Judah has direct ties to the New Testament. Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, was a descendant of Judah. Can't you just see God planting that idea in Judah's head. "Don't kill him, sell him."
Should I add "Boys will be boys"? What a family....
