Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 37

In Joseph's history, we see something of Christ, who was first humbled and then exalted. It also shows the experience of Christians, who must enter the kingdom through many tribulations. It is a history that is unparalleled for displaying the various workings of the human mind, both good and bad, and the singular providence of God in making use of them to fulfill His purposes. Though Joseph was his father's darling, he was not raised in idleness.

Those do not truly love their children who do not accustom them to business, labor, and hardships. The coddling of children is, with good reason, called spoiling them. Those who are trained to do nothing are likely to be good for nothing. But Jacob showed his love by dressing Joseph more finely than the rest of his children.

It is wrong for parents to make distinctions between one child and another, unless there is significant reason for it, based on a child's dutifulness or undutifulness. When parents make such distinctions, children quickly notice, and it leads to quarrels in families. Jacob's sons did things when they were out of his sight that they dared not do at home with him; but Joseph gave his father an account of their misconduct so that he might restrain them.

Not as a tale-bearer, to sow discord, but as a faithful brother.

God gave Joseph early the prospect of his advancement, to support and comfort him under his long and grievous troubles.

Observe, Joseph dreamed of his promotion, but he did not dream of his imprisonment. Thus, many young people, when setting out in the world, think of nothing but prosperity and pleasure, and never dream of trouble.

His brothers rightly interpreted the dream, though they abhorred the interpretation of it. While they committed crimes in order to defeat it, they were themselves the instruments of accomplishing it.

Thus, the Jews understood what Christ said of his kingdom. Determined that he should not reign over them, they plotted to put him to death; and by his crucifixion, made way for the exaltation they had intended to prevent.

How readily Joseph awaits his father's orders! Those children who are most beloved by their parents should be the most ready to obey them. See how deliberate Joseph's brothers were against him. They planned to slay him with 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, such as his dreams and the like, provoked them further; but this lay rankling in their hearts until 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 proved to be his best friend. God overruled all to serve his own purpose of making Joseph an instrument to save many 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 did not receive him, but crucified him. He submitted to this, as a part of his design to redeem and save us.

They threw Joseph into a pit, to perish there with hunger and cold; so cruel were their tender mercies. They slighted him when he was in distress, and were not grieved for the affliction of Joseph ; for when he was pining in the pit, they sat down to eat bread. They felt no remorse of conscience for the sin. But the wrath of man shall praise God, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain (Psalms 76:10). Joseph's brethren were wonderfully restrained from murdering him, and their selling him as wonderfully turned to God's praise.

When Satan has taught people to commit one sin, he then teaches them to try to conceal it with another, such as hiding theft and murder with lying and false oaths. But whoever covers their sin will not prosper for long. Joseph's brothers kept their secret among themselves for some time, but their wickedness eventually came to light, and it is now published to the world. To grieve their father, they sent him Joseph's coat of many colors; and upon seeing the bloody coat, he hastily concluded that Joseph had been torn to pieces.

Let those who know a parent's heart imagine poor Jacob's agony. His sons despicably pretended to comfort him, but they were all miserable, hypocritical comforters. If they had truly wanted to comfort him, they could have done so immediately by telling the truth. The heart is strangely hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Jacob refused to be comforted.

Great affection for any person or thing prepares one for correspondingly greater affliction when that person or thing is taken from us or made bitter to us; undue love commonly ends in undue grief. It is wise for parents not to raise children too indulgently, as they do not know what hardships their children may face before they die. Throughout this chapter, we see with wonder the ways of Providence. The malicious brothers seem to have achieved their goals; the merchants, who do not care what they trade in as long as they profit, have also achieved theirs; and Potiphar, having acquired a fine young slave, has also achieved his!

But God's designs are, by these means, being set in motion. This event will ultimately lead to Israel's going down to Egypt; that, in turn, to their deliverance by Moses; that to the establishment of the true religion in the world; and that to its spread among all nations through the gospel. Thus the wrath of man shall praise the Lord, and the remainder thereof will he restrain.