Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 37:5

"And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him yet the more." — Genesis 37:5 (ASV)

Joseph dreamed a dream. —Although dreams generally only arise from the mind being wearied by excessive activity (Ecclesiastes 5:3) or other trivial causes; yet, since they are used by God from time to time for providential purposes, they are occasionally described as a lower kind of prophecy (Numbers 12:6–8; Deuteronomy 13:1; 1 Samuel 28:15).

In the life of Joseph, they form the turning point in his history. It should be noted that while revelations were frequently made to Jacob, from that time forward we have no record of any such direct communication from God to humanity until the time of Moses. The most that was granted to Joseph was to dream dreams; and after this, the children of Israel in Egypt were left entirely to natural laws and influences. (Compare to the note on Genesis 26:2.)